Q&A for How to Use Apostrophes

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Do I use an apostrophe in a name when saying something belongs to them? For example: "Jessica's Art Folder." Or is it "Jessicas Art Folder"?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Use the apostrophe.

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Question

I'm making a sign for my home which will read The Porters, est. 1999. Apostrophe or no apostrophe in Porters?

Donagan

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If you're referring to the family, you don't need the apostrophe. If you're referring to the house, spell it Porters'.

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Question

Do you put an apostrophe after last names on a plaque? Is it The Millers, The Millers', or The Miller's?

Community Answer

No apostophe needed: The Millers, The Miller Family, or The Miller Home are all good options. The Millers' Home is technically correct as well. If your last name ends in S, Z, or CH, add an "es" at the end instead of an s: The Martinezes.

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Which is preferable: Lions' Field or Lions Field (as in Lions Club)?

Donagan

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If the field belongs to the Lions Club, you could write Lions'. If the field is simply named by or in honor of the club, you could write Lions.

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Is it St Philip's or St Philips Church?

Donagan

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St. Philip's. Also churches may refer to themselves as St. Philip Church, St. Luke Church, etc.

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Question

What is the difference between "the computer configuration" and "the computer's configuration"?

Donagan

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Essentially there's no difference.

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Question

My son's/sons' Joe and John?

Community Answer

Neither; as "sons" is plural rather than possessive, no apostrophe should be used.

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Question

Ms Lee's and Ms Wong's notifications - correct?

Donagan

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Correct.

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Question

Would it be correct to write Berg's Nest to indicate a lake home owned by the Berg family?

Donagan

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Yes. "Bergs' Nest" would also work.

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Question

"The Cullens always sat in the third pew." Shouldn't "Cullens" be "Cullen's"? Can you please list the rule?

Donagan

Top Answerer

There's no need for an apostrophe, because you're merely indicating that there is more than one Cullen. It's like saying "two dogs" or "three boys."

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Question

If naming different family members of the same clan as a heading on a plaque, is it acceptable to describe as The MacSween's for the surname MacSween?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Spell it "The MacSweens."

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Question

If I were to refer to my family's last name while talking about a farm/company, would it be "The Eatons family farm" or "The Eaton's family farm"?

Donagan

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"The Eatons' family farm." You could also write, "the Eaton family farm."

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Question

Where do you stand on the travel agent's apostrophe, "5 nights' bed & breakfast"?

Donagan

Top Answerer

There are two possibilities here: (1) If you consider that the B&B does not belong to the nights, this would not be a case of possession, and you would not need an apostrophe. You'd really be saying, "five nights (in a) bed & breakfast"; or (2) If you consider that the B&B really does belong to the nights, you would use an apostrophe after the "s" in "nights."

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Question

If I am making a sign for a couple with the newly married couple with the last name "Coleman" do I put "The Coleman's" or "The Colemans"?

Donagan

Top Answerer

If you're simply referring to the couple, no apostrophe is required. If you're referring to something they possess together, it would be "the Colemans'" (home, backyard, car, etc.) with an apostrophe after the "s."

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Question

Would "Love, Your Persons," require an apostrophe after it?

Donagan

Top Answerer

No.

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Question

Should there be an apostrophe in the sentence "The Millers' and Andrews' invite you to their children Diana and Mathew's wedding."

Donagan

Top Answerer

"Millers" and "Andrews" do not need apostrophes. "Diana and Mathew's wedding" is used colloquially, but "to the wedding of their children Diana and Mathew" is better.

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Question

Is "Fun day at the Lipscomb's" correct?

Donagan

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The Lipscombs'.

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Question

Where would the apostrophe go to make the name Babb possessive?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Babb's.

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Question

"Willowbank, Waikaka Valley, Maitland Schools reunion" - is an apostrophe needed?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Yes.

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Question

"W.C.s' Fields" - is this the correct way to express that the Fields (though it's his real name) belongs to W.C.?

Donagan

Top Answerer

It would be "W.C.'s" if you're indicating possession.

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Question

Is it "Grandad's chair" or "Grandads' chair"?

Donagan

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"Grandad's," assuming just one Grandad.

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Question

"My sons' day care is closed." Is the apostrophe correct in this statement?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Yes, if there is more than one son. If there is only one son, it should be "son's."

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Amelia's artwork. Is this correct ?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Yes.

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Question

Is it correct to say "one's attention"?

Donagan

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Yes.

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Question

Bowen disease or Bowen's disease?

Donagan

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Bowen's disease.

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He received his Bachelors and Masters degrees from Wright State University. Correct?

Donagan

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Bachelor's and Master's degrees.

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Question

How do I use an apostrophe to indicate ownership of two people?

Donagan

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In formal writing, it is "John's and Mary's children." To reflect informal speech, you can write "John and Mary's children." To make it simpler, you can write "the children of John and Mary."

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Question

Does "We are going to the Millers" have an apostrophe?

Donagan

Top Answerer

It is commonly written either with or without an apostrophe.

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Question

Should I write: "The authors' main achievement" or "the authors main achievement?"

Donagan

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"Author's" if only one author. "Authors' " if more than one.

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Question

If I have an apple and someone else gives me an apple, do I have two apple's? What does the apple own, or is it incorrect?

Donagan

Top Answerer

It's "two apples." No apostrophe.

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