Wednesday, November 4, 2009
A Grammar Problem
While it is more grammatically correct to add an 's to Lucas's name to show possession, The AP style guide recommends only to add an apostrophe, as in Lucas'. The Chicago Manual says to add the 's if the name doesn't end in a z sound. Most will say either is interchangeable and acceptable. I lean toward being more grammatically correct, but would hate people to think I am oblivious to grammar conventions. I didn't consider this would be such a problem until I sent an invitation for my son's baptism. My husband thinks it's wrong to add an additional 's. When you pronounce the name of someone whose name ends in s in the possessive form, don't you pronounce the extra s? This is why I don't mind it. S' always looks like a plural to me. I get obsessed about the most meaningless things. See below sling post.
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3 comments:
i happened to read this last night: http://apostrophe.me/
i feel you--this is a serious dilemma: 'would hate people to think I am oblivious to grammar conventions'.
despite having been taught by the nuns--who are, of course, the uncontested highest authority in california wrt english grammar--to use s', i have in the past few years switched to 's, because it feels more consistent with the rest of the language's apostrophe use.
my impression is that s' will generally be construed as the more 'proper' decision, so i guess it would be wise to opt for that when in situations that will expose you to the most judgment.
I was just waiting for you to comment on this issue. You took a lot longer than I thought you would! :)
I've heard that it's acceptable either way. I think it's so ugly with the extra s, so I'm with Robert.
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