Do you have a pet peeve?
You know, those annoying little things that don’t seem to irritate anyone else, but drive you positively insane?
I actually found a site— GetAnnoyed.com—that lists 500 pet peeves, including:
- People who whistle when they are happy.
- Greeting cards that throw sparkles, sequins or confetti on the hapless recipient.
- Keeping your Christmas lights up until February.
- People who dress their pets.
- Leaving the toilet seat up.
- Road maps that aren’t folded correctly.
- Things sticking out of drawers.
I admit that the items on this short list draw different reactions from me. I think it’s silly to dress a pet, for example, but I wouldn’t call it a pet peeve. An incorrectly folded map I can take or leave. And I don’t mind happy whistling at all!
No, for something to qualify as a pet peeve, it has to drive me absolutely batty. Nuts. Fingernails-on-a-chalkboard crazy.
Misplaced Apostrophes
I have several pet peeves—as do you (admit it). But let me introduce you to just one of them: the misplaced apostrophe.
The apostrophe has two uses: contraction and possession. Unfortunately, people are so totally confused that they’re always sticking random apostrophes where punctuation marks should fear to tread:
- In simple plurals, such as “No pet’s allowed” (should be “No pets allowed”)
- In family names when referring to the family as one unit, such as “The Wilson’s live there” (should be “The Wilsons live there”)
Do You Know the Uchida’s Uchidas?
Watch out when using apostrophes with singular or plural last names! Grammar guides can differ on how to use apostrophes, but if you follow these rules, you’ll get it right.
One Person’s Last Name
To show possession of one person, add -’s.
Sarah Smith: Mitts is Sarah Smith’s dog.
Jared Jones: Heinz is Jared Jones’s dog.
Reid Roberts: Arrow is Reid Roberts’s dog.
Last names that end in -s can be tricky!
Wrong: Arrow is Reid Robert’s dog.
Right: Arrow is Reid Roberts’s dog.
Does Roberts’s look weird to you? Don’t worry—you’re not alone. Even if it LOOKS wrong, that doesn’t mean it IS wrong. Just follow the rules and you’ll be golden.
3. Don’t use apostrophes when you mean to make last names plural.
Wrong: The Smith’s also want a gerbil.
Right: The Smiths also want a gerbil.
The Whole Family’s Last Name
To show possession of a whole family:
- Add -es or -s to write the family’s last name in plural form.
- Add an apostrophe at the end to show possession.
SMITH | Jet belongs to the Smiths. Wrong: Jet is the Smith's cat. Wrong: Jet is the Smiths's cat. Right: Jet is the Smiths’ cat. JONES | Pip belongs to the Joneses. Wrong: Pip is the Jones' cat. Wrong: Pip is the Jones's cat. Right: Pip is the Joneses’ cat. BARRY | Tiger belongs to the Barrys. Wrong: Tiger is the Barries' cat. Wrong: Tiger is the Barry's cat. Right: Tiger is the Barrys' cat.
MORE EXAMPLES
Single person: Mike Miller Whole family: The Millers Family’s Possessive: The Millers’ hamster Single person: Hubert Sing Whole family: The Sings Family’s Possessive: The Sings’ parakeet Single person: Gladys Sanchez Whole family: The Sanchezes Family’s Possessive: The Sanchezes’ llama Single person: Mrs. Sanders Whole family: The Sanderses Family’s Possessive: The Sanderses’ goat
Practice Forming Plural and Possessive Family Names
Want to give yourself (or your kids) some practice correctly using apostrophes forming plural and possessive surnames? Visit a website that lists common last names and give it a whirl! Here are two to get you started.
>> Most Common Last Names in the US
>> 100 Most Popular Spanish Surnames
The more your kids practice forming plurals and possessives, the more natural it will become for them to do so correctly.
Need Extra Help?
Do you or your teens need help with apostrophes, hyphens, or other confusing punctuation marks? The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation is an easy-to-use reference book that can help you learn and understand basic but important grammar and punctuation conventions.
What is correct?
What’s that family’s name? or What’s the name of that family?
These are both correct!
For the nameplate outside my apartment, if I have to denote plural possessive, can I mention the surname as just “Millers’ ” without prefixing “The” as well as no suffixes.
Thanks
If you want to write “MIllers” I think you’ll be fine. However, without “The,” it would be more correct to put “Miller” so people don’t assume the surname is “Millers.” (For example, I know both a “Phillip” family and a “Phillips” family.)
Hello!
We have new neighbors and I have a Christmas ornament to personalize for them but am struggling with correct grammar. I don’t have enough room to have it say “Welcome Home Rios Family” so it needs to say “Welcome Home Rios___”. Please help.
Thank you!
Merry Christmas!
Hi Jolee, and Merry Christmas to you too. What a thoughtful gift! The correct wording would be “Welcome Home Rioses.” Definitely not Rios’ or Rios’s.
But if Rioses looks too weird for you, I’d try “Welcome Home Rios Fam” (or “Clan” or “Gang”).
We are designing a koozie and want to make sure we do it right: Lewis’ Family Annual Picnic.
No apostrophe is needed. Just use: Lewis Family Annual Picnic.
Thanks for response.
Dinner at the McCaskills’ I want to leave out the word home. Is this correct?
Dinner at the McCaskills’ is perfect, Gail.
Trying to send out an invite to a chili cook-off. The surname is Harvey. Should the invitation read as follows: The Harveys’ First Annual Chili Cook-Off? Thank you!
Bingo! You nailed it, Denise! The Harveys’ First Annual Chili Cook-Off is correct. Have a tasty time!
Help! I live in a row of four Almshouses in Chesham, Buckinghamshire that were bequeathed by Thomas Weedon. The Trust are about to commission a new name plaque. It has been suggested it should read “Weedon’s Almshouses” …. is this correct or should it be “Weedons Almshouses”? Would appreciate advice please.
Thanks for your question, Gloria. In this case, “Weedon’s Almshouses” is correct because the almshouses were bequeathed by one man, Thomas Weedon. (“Thomas Weedon’s Almshouses” works as well. The apostrophe remains the same because, again, we’re talking about one person.)
Now, had they been bequeathed by the Weedon FAMILY, the sign would need to say “The Weedons’ Almshouses,” or “Weedons’ Almshouses” to indicate they had belonged to more than one person named Weedon.
In either situation, “Weedons Almshouses” would be incorrect; the name needs an apostrophe.
My pet peeve is the misuse of the word I after preposition, e.g.
“He gave it to her and I.”
Ugh. That bugs me too, Janet … as you can see: https://writeshop.com/i-or-me
Fantastic! Thank you so much!
You’re welcome!
Hello Kim. I’m having a ceramic welcome sign made for friends as a house warming gift. The family last name is Franke. Should the plaque read Welcome to the Frankes or Welcome to the Frankes’. The sign is welcoming people to their home, not their family, so I feel the possession is implied (Welcome to the Frankes’ house) and that the apostrophe is necessary. But I also know there needs to be a noun after the apostrophe to be modified. I’m agonizing over this. Please help me.
Hey, Dawn! Your intuition has served you well. 🙂 An apostrophe is warranted whenever the possession is implied. So Welcome to the Frankes’ is correct.
Hi, we’re having a sign made for our family. It reads: first line: “The Browns” second line: “Family Rules”. Should it be Browns or Browns’ ?
Thanks for you help, appreciate the website.
Either “The Browns’ Family Rules” or “The Brown Family Rules” will work.
Whatever you do, don’t use “The Browns Family Rules” — unless your last name is “Browns.” 🙂
I was recently married and my family name is now Barkley. I am making a sign for the entrance of our home. Do I use “The Barkleys” referring to the family or “The Barkley’s” showing possession of the home?
Congratulations on your marriage, Nichole! I wish you all the best.
Ideally, you’ll want your sign to say “The Barkleys.” To show possession, it would need to say “The Barkleys’ Home.” And in no circumstance would it be correct to use “The Barkley’s.” Hope that helps!
Hello! I read through most of your comments and replies yet I still can’t find a particular scenario. I am making a sign for a family and am unsure on how it needs to read. Their last name is Westbrook and they want to have it read “The home of the Westbrooks”.
In this scenario is the proper grammar ” The home of the Westbrooks” or The home of the Westbrooks'”?
Thank you!
The sign should read: The Home of the Westbrooks
Hello! Our family motto is “Prathers never give up!” Should it be written the way I just stated, or “Prather’s never give up!” Thank you for your help!
I love your family motto, Debbie! The way you wrote it originally is correct. (Since you’re talking about Prathers as a group, you definitely want the plural spelling, not the possessive.) So do yourself a favor and run away from that apostrophe. 🙂
Thank you so much!!
I am making anniversary invitations for my parents 50th wedding anniversary. Should I write Charles and Emily Edgars 50 Anniversary or Charles and Emily Edgar’s or Charles and Emily Edgars’. I am just not sure where to put the apostrophe? Thank you for your help.
Congratulations to your parents! What a wonderful milestone.
It would actually be Charles and Emily Edgars’s 50th Anniversary. Here’s another article that specifically addresses last names that end in “s.”
APA Style Blog: Forming Possessives with Singular Names
Still a bit confused. What if a sentence goes like this: “Operations were still operating but only places like the Kosoviches and the Toliches and so on on were very small wine farms.” No apostrophe after name needed? Before I sent it off I like to be perfectly correct. Thanks
Hmmmm. The sentence is pretty awkward and doesn’t make a lot of sense, probably due to translating into English. I’m not quite sure what it’s saying, so I hesitate to offer advice. Can you reword the sentence and try again?
Late reply. I type verbatim oral histories so a lot of the wording does not make sense. I cannot correct grammar or sentence structure in this instance. It is not like writing a book as most people, when giving their interview, join sentences with ‘and’, ‘but’, ‘so’ etc.
Excellent as I am typing an oral history full of iches….and ics
Having trouble with Yugoslavian names like Yusich, Rakich, Tolich etc. In a sentence: Next door were the Yusich?????
That’s a great question! Consider how many American last names have their roots in other countries! So, generally speaking, foreign surnames will follow the same rules. For example:
Plural: The Yusiches live next door. (Or, The Yusich family lives next door. )
Plural possessive: We like to visit the Yusiches’ home.
Plural: Season’s Greetings from the Rakiches.
Plural possessive: The Rakiches’ gift is in the mail.
Plural: The Toliches invited me to the party.
Plural possessive: The party will take place in the Toliches’ garden.
Such a fast response. Thank you so much!
Hi. I’m so happy to find this website. I am having a recipe book made for a shower gift and want to personalize it. So I think the correct way is Andi Ollila’s Recipes. Is that correct? Thank you.
What a lovely gift, Ann! Yes, you are correct.
My last name is Jackels. So would the plural form be the Jackelses? That looks and sounds terrible.
Names ending in “s” have it rough sometimes! Unfortunately, the plural form of Jackels is Jackelses. I ran into this same problem while ordering address labels with the last name of Fredricks. The Fredrickses just didn’t look good, even though it’s correct. I debated between The Fredricks Family and K. Fredricks. Either would have worked, but in this case I went with K. Fredricks.
My answer to your question partially depends on how you plan to use the name. Here are my thoughts:
Engraved on a personalized item (such as a wooden cutting board): JACKELS
On a door mat, mailbox, etc.: JACKELS (or THE JACKELS FAMILY)
On a greeting card: THE JACKELS FAMILY
Hope that helps!
Correct way of signing a Christmas card. The Hernandez or The Hernandezes, if referring to the entire family?
Thanks for asking, Pat. It’s correct to write “The Hernandezes,” but it might look better on a card to write “The Hernandez Family.” You can’t go wrong with either.
Hello there I am making a sign for a teacher & the sign will say Mrs. Amezcua’s Class. Is that correct? Amezcua’s with or without an apostrophe?
Mrs. Amezcua’s Class is correct.
Thank you for stopping in, Jen! If you want your name only, it should say The Greens. Adding an apostrophe (The Greens’) makes your name a possessive adjective, which can’t stand alone; it needs a noun to modify.
My choices would be either The Greens (name, no apostrophe) or something along the lines of Greens’ Goodies, Greens’ Basket, or The Greens’ Grub (possessive name that modifies a noun, with or w/o “The”).
Thank you so much for your answer! It makes perfect sense. I appreciate the thorough explanation that the possessive can’t stand alone. Plus, the suggestion for Greens’ Goodies or Greens’ Grub makes for even cuter possibilities with alliteration!
Yes, I’m always a sucker for alliteration! Glad to be of help, Jen. 🙂
So glad you are here! I’ve been trying very hard to decide what is correct. I am ordering a personalized picnic basket. Do I put The Greens or do I put The Greens’? I know The Greens is the correct way to refer to the family, but this is going to be the Greens’ picnic basket. Isn’t the purpose for the personalization to show ownership of the picnic basket? I’ve been thinking about this for some time and can’t come up with a definitive answer.
Just to double check- I am order a card box for my wedding. “The Arnettes Est. 2019” would be correct, right? The company’s example used “The Parker’s Est. 2018” as an example and I am pretty sure that is incorrect and it is driving me crazy.
Hoo boy! Someone’s head should roll for that one! LOL! Yes, you are absolutely correct, Jackie. No apostrophe because “The Arnettes” is plural, not a possessive.
How would you write ‘what is the name of the wife of Guy?’ Does ‘wife’ have an apostrophe?
“What’s is Guy’s wife’s name?”
Hi, Alison! You actually have two separate possessives here: Guy’s wife and his wife’s name, so you’re correct in writing “What is Guy’s wife’s name?”
How would you punctuate the Historians collection? Is an apostrophe required?
Great question, Maureen. It all depends on what you’re trying to communicate. “Biographies collection” is a good example. This would refer to a collection made up of biographies. Likewise, you could say “Historians collection” to identify a collection of works by various historians. (“Have you seen our museum’s Historians collection?”) On the other hand, if the collection was curated by a number of historians, you would then say “Historians’ Collection.” (“Have you seen the Historians’ Collection at our museum?”)
Thanks. We are writing a History book in our town and we are giving credit on the photos…..Such as Lumby Historians collection, and we aren’t sure if we need to put an apostrophe on the Historians. These are on the photos that belong to us.
Since you’re a group of historians from Lumby, I would lean toward Lumby Historians’ collection.
Thank you very much! ?
Im not paying for the shirts tho.
Thank you very much!! ?
Oops! I misread your original post and thought the T-shirt company was disagreeing with you. I see now that it’s the ORGANIZERS! That makes it a little trickier. Hope you can convince them! 🙂
About 200 shirts!
Can u please explain why in a way a kid can understand? I think they’ll need more explanation.
Thank you for the answer.
Ray, in my opinion, if you are paying for the shirts, you have the right to decide on the wording and the spelling. You don’t owe the company an explanation.
If you write Bok Family, it means everyone wearing the shirt either has the last name Bok or is related to a Bok in some way.
If you write Bok’s Family, it refers to one person whose name is Bok. The people wearing the shirts all belong to Bok, just as Bok’s car, Bok’s house, and Bok’s kids all belong to him. It would be like saying “Mary’s Family” or “Ray’s Family.”
“…explain why in a way a kid can understand? I think they’ll need more explanation.”
Bwaaahahaha!!
This back and forth about the T-shirts had me laugh out loud! Now I’m curious how long it took the organizers to comprehend all the ‘grammatically correct’ you were able to show them, Ray…and I think we ALL want to know what their reaction was as well!?!
hi, i would just like to clarify something, our family reunion is coming up and the organizers wanted to print on the t-shirt “Bok’s family” our last name is Bok. is this correct or if not can you please give an explanation because an argument was made and they insisted this is correct. i just want to be sure. thank you!
Oh, dear! I wonder how many other families’ T-shirts this company has misprinted!
You are correct, Ray. The shirt should say something like “Bok Family 2018,” or “Bok Family Reunion,” or “The Bok Family,” etc. But it should definitely NOT say “Bok’s Family.” This implies there is ONE person named “Bok,” and everyone wearing the shirt is “his” family.
Hi Kim, can you please help? I want to say, “Please join us for Gina Diaz’ 13th birthday party.” Is this correct?
Thank you!
Thanks for asking! Adding an /s/ after the apostrophe is the best rule of thumb, so “Gina Diaz’s 13th birthday party” would be correct.
Thank you Kim!!!
I’m engraving a beverage tub for a shower gift, should I do The Smith’s or the Smiths. thank you
You’ll want to use “The Smiths.” If it helps, “The Smith’s” is never correct. 🙂
I am personalizing a gift for a family whose last name is Gray. I want to engrave Grays(?) Goodies on a cookie tray. Should it be Grays Goodies, Grays’ Goodies or Gray’s Goodies?
Since the “goodies” belong to the Grays, it’s a plural possessive, so you’ll want to engrave the tray with Grays’ Goodies. What a special gift that will be!
It is that time of year again and I have to send out Christmas cards. My last name is Gibbons and I want it to say The Gibbons Crew. So, is this correct, or should there be a different way to write my last name.
The Gibbons Crew is perfect!
Thank you!
Hi, what if you want to start a business and your last name is Barrera?
Barrera’s Pizza or Barreras Pizza or Barreras’ Pizza? Still a little confused.
Thanks!
To be grammatically correct, I would recommend adding an apostrophe before the /s/, so Barrera’s Pizza. Examples include Denny’s, Kohl’s, and McDonald’s. However, there are plenty of businesses that don’t use an apostrophe in their name, including Starbucks, Popeyes, and Baskin-Robbins. There seems to be some controversy over this, so I can’t give you a definitive answer, but here’s an interesting article discussing the issue.
Thank you so much!!!!
You’re welcome, Shanda!
if my surname is Rule. what should i use RULES, RULE’S or RULES’ i will use this for my Christmas card. thanks in advance
Thanks for asking, Jay! Without knowing how you want to use the name, it’s harder for me to answer, but I’m pretty confident you won’t use RULE’s or RULES’. Some examples could include:
The Rules
The Rule Family
Merry Christmas from the Rules
When making a name sign for your family would you put “The Smiths Est. 1984” or “The Smith’s Est. 1984” ?
Definitely “The Smiths.” This plural spelling (NO apostrophe) refers to several people who share the name “Smith.” It’s exactly what you want for your sign!
On the other hand, “Smith’s” implies that one person named Smith owns something (John Smith’s car, Dr. Smith’s stethoscope). So using “The Smith’s” (with an apostrophe) would be grammatically incorrect.
I was taught by my professor that technically the only two names that end with S and and an apostrophe S to show possessive are Jesus and Moses. In other cases it is just an apostrophe. Jess’ shoes vs Jesus’s sandals
Thank you for weighing in, Mary. Rules can be confusing and daunting, especially when even the experts disagree!
When writing biblical names that end in /s/ or /z/, many style guides still seem to recommend adding just the apostrophe (e.g., Jesus’ sandals or Moses’ staff or Artaxerxes’ wealth). I believe the Chicago Manual of Style now recommends adding ‘s in every case where a name ends in /s/ or /z/. I’ve found that customs of style evolve over time, so personally, I’m inclined to accept either as correct. My main concern is helping people realize that it’s never OK to write a singular possessive name (e.g., the Smith’s) when the intention is to make the plural name possessive (the Smiths’ or the Smiths’s) OR to write the singular possessive (e.g., the Smith’s) when they simply want to pluralize (e.g., the Smiths).
It does. I’m not perfect, but I try to be correct and precise wherever possible. It’s in my DNA. Ha!
The grammatically correct information here warms my heart! I have a last name (by marriage) that ends in S. I am completely aware that when we have a sign at our home is should read The Rosses. My grammatically-challenged in-laws think that it should read The Ross’s and that the correct version just doesn’t look right. I can’t roll my eyes [internally] hard enough. Hmff! They have several signs made incorrectly. I had a sign made for them as a Christmas gift that said The Ross Family. It makes me smile every time I see it. 🙂
Here are a few I haven’t read yet:
People that write… “alot” instead of “a lot”
“alot a” or “allotta” instead of “a lot of”
“wanna” instead of “want to”
“them guys/things/people” instead of “those guys/things/people”
I could go on and on but it’s better for my blood pressure if I don’t. 🙂 Then there is spelling… YIKES!
You bring up some good ones, Catherine! It takes effort to learn and practice correct usage, doesn’t it?
haha!! Yes this a a big pet peeve of mine as well and I just came across this… all the information here is correct by the way. I was looking up something the other day with the family name Romans and nowhere did I see the plural form written correctly! As crazy as it sounds the plural of Romans (as a family name) is Romanses and don’t hit me with any Gollum memes!! LOL
Some of these can be so tricky, so no Gollum memes here, Dan. 🙂 Thanks for chiming in!
What if the last name ends in an “I”? Would it be Korduckis or Korduckies? So sorry, I am terrible with this rule.
That’s actually a great question! It would be Korduckis. If the last name ends in “y,” the same rule applies, so Kellys, not Kellies.
John and Jane Rans’ anniversary party or John and Jane Ran’s anniversary party?
Thanks!
Technically, it should be John and Jane Rans’s anniversary party, but Rans’ would also work. Just don’t use Ran’s! 🙂
I’ve ordered a print for a friend that reads
The Gandy’s
Est. 2009
Is this correct?
Also is this incorrect:
Christmas at the Ambrose’s
Kelly: Unfortunately not. Hope it’s not too late to change your order! It should say The Gandys (no apostrophe). You’d only need the apostrophe if you wanted to make it possessive, such as The Gandys’ Home or The Gandys’ Place.
For the second question, Ambrose’s only refers to ONE person, so “Christmas at Kelly Ambrose’s” is the only time Ambrose’s can work. Since you’re inviting people to the family home, any of these would be correct:
Christmas at the Ambroses’
Christmas at Bob and Kelly Ambroses’
Christmas at the Ambrose home
For a family T-Shirt for the Coles Family, would you write, Coles Family Vacation? It’s multiple Coles, but I’m thinking of it as a title, not that they posses the vacation. Thanks.
I agree with you, Holly. I also would write “Coles Family Vacation,” just as I would write “Smith Family Vacation.”
I am buying a clock for a couple who is retiring. The top will have their last name. Should it read “Bainum”, “Bainums” or “Bainums'”
I recommend Bainum. I ordered a wall plaque with our family name, Kautzer, and it looks great.
Bainums would be okay, but if this is your choice, it would look better to put The Bainums.
Either way, steer clear of Bainums’.
Great advice, thank you!
I’m editing a manuscript about the first 100 years of baseball. In it, the author constantly uses an apostrophe when referring to a player or position on a team. For instance, “the Mohawks’ catcher.” I submit the apostrophe isn’t needed. He insists it is. If the team name didn’t end in “s” — the Stanford Cardinal for instance — there wouldn’t be a problem. It would simply be the Cardinal catcher, wouldn’t it? My thinking is that the apostrophe denotes possession, not membership.
Quick question. I have a company I am starting. My last name is painter , and I sell drill juice. I’ve already made stickers . is painter’s drill juice the correct way?
Hey, Greg! Yes, your stickers are fine. “Painter’s Drill Juice” is correct because the name of the company is singular: “Painter.”
If you and your brother or dad were in business together, and the company name were plural: “Painters,” then you’d need to say “Painters’ Drill Juice.”
Thank you for you’re time. I’m kidding with that one:)
You’re a funny guy! That made me chuckle.
My last name Suarez, my daughters last name Avery. :0)
I’m not sure I can be very helpful. I’m guessing you want the cutting board to show that it belongs to both of you? You actually don’t need to make the last names possessive at all. If you had a sign on your front door, it could say “Suarez” or “The Suarez Family” or “The Suarezes.” Same for the cutting board. Here are your best choices,depending on what will fit:
1. Suarez-Avery
2. Suarez · Avery
2. Suarez & Avery
3. Suarezes & Averys
My vote is for #2.
Hello, can you please assist me? On a personalized cutting board I can not fit “The”, so I am going to just have it say “Suarez Averys” Which one should it be? Averys, Avery’s or Averys’. Last name is Avery. Meaning our cutting board
Just to clarify before answering: Is the last name “Suarez Avery”? Is the first name “Suarez”? Is the cutting board going to belong to the “Suarez Avery” family? Is “Suarez-Avery” hyphenated? Thanks.
This one is very annoying. I hear it constantly on all types of television programs.
I seen it. I seen him. I seen her. I seen them.
Why?
Kim: That one bugs me too!
My married last name is Ross. I have been searching the internet for the correct way to write “The Ross Family” without saying “family”. For instance, what is the correct way to sign off on a Christmas card from the entire family? Is it the Ross’s or the Rosses or the Ross’? Any help on this would be appreciated!
Heather: Sorry for the delayed reply. I’m not quite sure how I missed seeing your question.
You would say “The Rosses.” (It might help to think of one boss, two bosses. One cross, many crosses. One Ross, a family of Rosses!)
We have no doubt that we are the Williamses and we have some friends that we have no doubt should be called the Clemmonses. But they say that, because their name is Scottish, the plural should be only the “Clemmons” with no “es” on the end. Thus. if this were their message to you, they would certainly say that it was the Clemmons’ post and we would say it was the Clemmonses’ post. When does it matter that the name is of foreign origin? Or does it if we are speaking English? If we are speaking in English of the Jewish family, the Abrahamses, could it really be that they should be called the Abrahamsim or Abrahamim? Is Scottish really radically different from English? I thought it was more of a dialect of English.
Bo: Because I’m American, I write primarily to an American audience. Through the Internet, our blog reaches people around the world, but when I give grammar tips, I follow American grammar rules as much as possible. British grammar rules are often the same, but there are notable differences. I’m sure you can imagine that it’s easier all around if I stick to one set of rules.
When the name is of foreign origin, the rules still apply. Don’t most American surnames have their roots in other countries and cultures? America is a giant melting pot, and we all ultimately hail from somewhere else. An American Clemmons or Abraham family may have Scottish or Jewish ancestors, but if they are American, then American grammar rules should apply.
So many people don’t know the difference between your and you’re. It’s ridiculous! It’s best to go by this rule: If you can substitute the word for “you are,” use you’re. If not, use your.
Examples:
“I saw your friend at the store.”
“Let me know if you’re interested.”
I couldn’t agree more. We actually address the you’re/your dilemma in another post. It’s always a good reminder to use those apostrophes correctly!
Cheryl: The example is correct—there should be no apostrophe. The plural of Nicholson is Nicholsons. Since your house is home to a number of Nicholsons, the doormat should be written with the plural form of your last name. Should you want to include an apostrophe, it would go after the /s/ (The Nicholsons’).
CORRECT:
Welcome to
the Nicholsons
Welcome to
the Nicholson Home
Welcome to
the Nicholsons’
Welcome to
the Nicholsons’ Home
INCORRECT:
Welcome to
the Nicholson’s
Hope that helps!
Kim
Ah, yes, dumb mistake in my first ex. I meant short for “The Nicholsons’ home.” I guess “Welcome to the Nicholsons” just doesn’t sound right to me, but thanks for your response!
I’m customizing a doormat, and they all say “Welcome to (next line) The Nicholsons.” Should there be an apostrophe in there, because it is actually an abbreviation for “The Nicholson’s home?”
I hear you, Jody. Grammar can be confusing. It takes a lot of practice to master the different skills.
Recently, I went to school to up grade my accidemic skills. There we covered Concreate nouns and abstract noun, along with common, proper collective, and compound nouns. Rather difficult to learn.
If I hear one more person say “lay down” instead of “lie down,” well, I’ll just have to bite my tongue. Over the decades, somehow people have just stopped saying “lie.” You LAY carpet or bricks, you don’t “lay” down. Unless, of course, you’ve got some duck feathers that you’re setting down somewhere. “Lay” is also the past tense of “lie”.
Another one for me is “broke” and “broken.” If something doesn’t work anymore, it’s BROKEN. If it’s “broke,” then I guess it’s out of cash?
Thanks for letting me vent!
And to piggyback on your own peeves, Peggy, I just read that it’s now acceptable to use “alright” instead of “all right.” Really? Say it isn’t so!
People (and there seem to be a lot of them on Facebook) who confuse “lose” and “loose” – drives me batty!
“Lose” and “loose” — that’s another good one!
Andy: Funny!
Chrissey: So true. I’m also grieved by misuse of its/it’s, your/you’re, and their/there/they’re.
My big grammar pet peeve is people who can’t seem to correctly use then and than. They mean two different things and are not interchangeable!!
Our last name is ‘Hawks’
Sincerely,
The Hawks Family
Is that correct? It feels right. LOL
Yes, that’s correct, Shannon!
One of my grammar pet peeves was heard on the radio this morning on my way to work. The traffic congestion following a very serious accident was referred to as a fatal investigation. I didn’t know that investigations could be that dangerous.
Is this correct? (Quiño’s clan)
If u dnt mind sir can you teach me?
If Quiño refers to one person, then Quiño’s clan is correct. But if Quiño refers to the family as a group, it would be Quiños’s clan.
Wait, now you’ve got me confused. Why isn’t it Quinos’ clan? Singular: Quino. Plural: Quinos. Plural Possessive: Quinos’…or not?
Kathleen: Some English reference books state that apostrophe + s (Quinos’s) is correct. Others say the apostrophe alone is correct (Quinos’).
Both are, in fact, acceptable, though the more traditional way of forming a plural possessive would be Quinos’s.
I still don’t understand why the second s is there. There’s only one s in your example for Miller and Sing. Why is Quino different?
OH! Now I understand what you’re saying, Kathleen. [blush] I need to go make a clarification, I see!