Grammar Police/English Teachers- Quick Q

cahistoryteacher · April 2011

Another teacher and I are collaborating on our syllabi/discipline plans for next year and we both do something differently and we can't get a straight answer for which is correct. We both have names that end in S. So when we talk about Mrs. so and so's syllabus would we do Mrs. S' syllabus or Mrs. S's syllabus? A poll of the Language arts teachers was no help, they were nearly divided in half on which one it was. Are we both correct? One teacher said either way was correct but I remember learning that you don't do the 's, but I could be wrong. Thanks!

PuppiesAndRainbows · April 2011

I would do S's.

PuppiesAndRainbows · April 2011

I may be wrong, but I think S' is plural, as in the James' new house, versus the James's.

sallygal · April 2011

It depends which style guide you are using (for example, Chicago Manual of Style is a common one). Depending on the style guide, each usage can be correct. If your school doesn't have a style guide, then I think the important thing in this case is simply to be consistent. I prefer s's.

mythaldo · April 2011

I'm a professional writer and I still have to look this one up every now and then.

The Associate Press Stylebook punctuation guide says to use only the apostrophe for singular proper names ending in S (i.e. Achilles' heel, Descartes' theories, Tennnessee Williams' plays).

So "Mrs. S' syllabus" is correct. I'm just glad that you didn't ask for the rule for plural proper names ending in S, because my AP book doesn't have one! But I believe it would be apostrophe and S (i.e. the Jones's estate, the Williams's family business).

Hope this helps!

sakelp · April 2011

it's S'.

liza0828 · April 2011

A singular noun ending in s should be s's. For example, "Jesus's tomb". S' is acceptable, but generally you should use s's.

NSL · April 2011

S' is correct when the final "s" sounds like a "z." S's is appropriate when it sounds like an "s ." For example: "I wrote a paper on Charles Dickens' books.". Vs. "I borrowed Charles's eraser."

cahistoryteacher · April 2011

Hmmm, ok it looks like we could both be right or depending on who's answer I take we are both wrong for our individual names. I'll see what style guide the school uses (or the high school next door) and do what they say. So confusing! We have the different type of S sounds at the end so I suppose we would be different anyway. Thanks.

mythaldo · April 2011

liza0828:
A singular noun ending in s should be s's. For example, "Jesus's tomb". S' is acceptable, but generally you should use s's.

The rule is different for proper nouns ending in S, so it would actually be "Jesus' tomb."

mamie329 · April 2011

mythaldo:
I'm just glad that you didn't ask for the rule for plural proper names ending in S, because my AP book doesn't have one! But I believe it would be apostrophe and S (i.e. the Jones's estate, the Williams's family business).
Hope this helps!

More than one Williams - Willamses

Belong to more than one Williams - Williamses' business

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