May. 12th, 2009
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gnomi's Grammar Grrr
May. 12th, 2009 03:26 pmDear media:
A usage note -- names that end with s *can* be made possessive, but both of these examples are incorrect:
(from here)
(from here)
Both Mr. Nathans and Mrs. Edwards deserve their names' final s-es. If you feel like making their names possessive, you can use "Mr. Nathans's" or "Mrs. Edwards's"; some style guides will allow you to use "Mr. Nathans'" and "Mrs. Edwards'" if you don't like multiple uses of s. But removing the s from the end of their names is unacceptable.
Please make a note of this for the future. Thank you.
A usage note -- names that end with s *can* be made possessive, but both of these examples are incorrect:
Elizabeth Edward’s reasons are her own, and she’s justified to make them. Who are we to sit in judgment?
(from here)
On Aug. 14, 2007, Nathans was struck in the head attempting to stop a bat-wielding Jose Offerman, the former Red Sox second baseman, who charged the mound after being hit by a pitch in a game between the Bridgeport Blues and the Long Island Ducks in the independent Atlantic League. Bridgeport pitcher John Beech suffered a broken middle finger on his non-pitching hand but was spared further injury thanks to Nathan's actions.
(from here)
Both Mr. Nathans and Mrs. Edwards deserve their names' final s-es. If you feel like making their names possessive, you can use "Mr. Nathans's" or "Mrs. Edwards's"; some style guides will allow you to use "Mr. Nathans'" and "Mrs. Edwards'" if you don't like multiple uses of s. But removing the s from the end of their names is unacceptable.
Please make a note of this for the future. Thank you.
