Author Topic: I hate apostrophes (Read 1934 times)

kojabu · « **on:** December 25, 2006, 08:00:58 PM »

When you have a name that ends in 's' (such as mine - James), where does the apostrophe go? Would it be James's music or James' music?

Porter · « **Reply #1 on:** December 25, 2006, 09:49:48 PM »

I hate apostrophe's too.

I believe it's James' music.

rivka · « **Reply #2 on:** December 25, 2006, 11:11:18 PM »

Quote

Would it be James's music or James' music?

Yes.

You will find a fairly even split among style guides on this issue. (And every time we poll Lois' v. Lois's on my Lois&Clark forum, we get an almost perfect split.)

I prefer James'. (And apparently, so does Google Spellcheck.)

Tante Shvester · « **Reply #3 on:** December 26, 2006, 06:24:51 AM »

Now, if there is more than one James, and you are talking about their stuff, would it be the Jameses's stuff? The Jameses' stuff?

I'm having an apostophic fit!

kojabu · « **Reply #4 on:** December 26, 2006, 08:29:04 AM »

One of my friends calls me Jameses when he talks to me online.

Icarus · « **Reply #5 on:** December 26, 2006, 02:19:38 PM »

It would be James's music.

kojabu · « **Reply #6 on:** December 26, 2006, 02:33:48 PM »

Conflicting answers! *head asplode*

Icarus · « **Reply #7 on:** December 26, 2006, 02:55:27 PM »

My work here is done . . .

pooka · « **Reply #8 on:** December 27, 2006, 06:32:13 PM »

There was a whole thread about this on the Hatrack Writer's Workshop. IIRC, Biblical names like Moses and Jesus have the post-apostrophe but other stuff doesn't.

Icarus · « **Reply #9 on:** December 27, 2006, 08:44:42 PM »

That's a bizarre solution.

I stand by my answer.

Jonathon · « **Reply #10 on:** December 28, 2006, 01:13:03 PM »

As others have already said, different style guides will give different answers. I add an s after the apostrophe according to my pronunciation.