The eggleses are a husband and wife consultant team. Marsh last term, the justices didnt just split over whether to uphold a kansas deathpenalty statute they also disagreed over a usage issue that has driven many lawyers to blows. In other style guides, chris takes an apostrophe and an s. The associated press stylebook and briefing on media law official style guide of the associated press, a notforprofit news agency thats been around since 1846. Add es for names ending in s or z and add s for everything else. Notably, the chicago manual of style accepts both jesus and jesuss.
It looks like all the main style guides, with the exception of the ap s, recommend using the s. Forming possessives of words ending in s or an s sound by karen yin 9 comments im going to focus on the difference between how the associated press stylebook and the chicago manual of style handle possessives for words ending in s or an s sound. Therefore, in the example above, the correct usage would be adamss 20 work. Both are acceptableit s merely a difference of style and personal preference. Aug 12, 2019 whew, so that seemed complicated, but remember most of the time its simple. Its is not possessive it is a contraction of it and is. Possessives learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Form the possessive of singular nouns and abbreviations by adding an apostrophe and an s. Plus, i will show you a helpful memory tool that you can use to determine whether her s or hers is the correct word when to use hers. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Other style guides like the chicago manual of style agree largely with strunk and white, while the ap stylebook uses only an apostrophe for proper names ending in s and common nouns ending in s where the first letter of the. For both ap and chicago style, if a singular noun does not end in s, add s. Its interesting to consider how our language standards reflect shifting cultural. Mary norriss thoughts on pesky possessives the new yorker.
Ap defers to webster s new world college dictionary for backstage. No exception is made depending on whether singular nouns preceding and following the apostrophe end and start with s, respectively. Per apa style, the answer is that the possessive of a singular name is formed by adding an apostrophe and an s, even when the name ends in s see p. What really matters to my readers is punctuation and ap style. The 2019 edition of the associated press stylebook and briefing on media law includes more than 200 new or revised entries, with chapters covering data journalism, business, fashion, food, religion and sports terms, as well as media law, news values, punctuation, social media, polls and surveys and a new chapter on health and science. Some style guides say that singular nouns ending in s sounds such as ce, x, and z may take either the apostrophe alone or s. Governors ball is the official name, and afterparties is the accepted spelling, also adopted by the stylebook. Eventually, incorrect usage will predominate and well abandon the. Thank you for the summary of these updates on the most recent ap style guide. The ap stylebook persons entry says do not use coined words such as spokesperson or chairperson in regular text. It may be because of the ap style manuals recommendation. For both ap and chicago style, if a singular noun does not end in s. A good dictionary may also be able to offer you some guidance. We prefer farmers market as a descriptive, rather than a possessive with an apostrophe.
When did it become correct to add an s to a singular possessive already ending in s. Ap reporters write fast, but their stylebook moves slow. Associated press style, for example, which prevails in newspaper journalism and other less formal contexts, requires the possessive form for the spelledout name as shown here. So we read the newspaper and learn this incorrect form. Written in 1918, the little book on grammar, style and usage begins with this advice.
What is the correct possessive for nouns ending in s. Oct 03, 2019 most clients in the b2b world will base their style on either ap or chicago style. The ap stylebook now includes they as a singular, gender. Most clients in the b2b world will base their style on either ap or chicago style. Most people are sure that there can be only one right way to make james possessive. And there exist, side by side, two conventions in forming the possessive of words ending in s, the aforementioned s and the apostrophe. Heres what my old ap style guide says about the possessive and singular common nouns ending in s. However, in the first section, the authors promote the use of s, no matter what the last letter of a word is, to show possessiveness.
A new stylebook entry, which was announced thursday as part of the aps session at the 21st national conference of aces. Forming possessives with singular names apa style blog. Extra rules and exceptions just make it more confusing. Using correct ap style for book, movie, and song titles. If possession is ninetenths of the law, just imagine how important correctly signifying it in your writing is. Descartes theories, dickens novels, kansas schools. Forming possessives with singular names by tyler krupa i dont think that im revealing a big grammar secret by letting you know that the possessive of a singular name is formed by adding an apostrophe and an s e. When indicating the possessive, if there is more than one owner add an apostrophe to the plural, if there is one owner, add s to the singular the smiths car vs smith s car.
The office of financial services report has been delayed, so the abbreviated form is the ofs report has been. Spiralbound book, updated each spring 2019 ap stylebook. You can understand the possessive just fine, and still not be sure how to spell it, because theres more than one correct way. Aps 2017 stylebook includes new rules for citing gender. Also i should mention that i did not quote chicago s entire recommendation. Answers to questions about possessives daily writing tips. Your style of writing can make or break your career if news release are deleted in journalists email inboxes. Strunk and whites famous book the elements of style states in rule 1 to add s no matter what the final consonant.
Jul 31, 2014 making compound words possessive, such as the attorney generals report. See, for example, garner s modern american usage at page 624. We took at look at the ap stylebooks section on possessions possessives and exorcised some demons coming up with these guidelines. Only when the word is plural and possessive do you place the apostrophe outside the s. If the common noun is plural, both styles use just an apostrophe. Its often used by news organizations, magazines, and web publications, but brands often use it to form the basis of their own style guides, too. Apr 10, 20 its common for a businesss name to be a proper single name in possessive form, as with mcdonalds, t. If youre new to news writing or switching from one to another, youll want to keep this ap cheat sheet handy and refer to it when in doubt. The associated press stylebook says it is opening the door to use of the singular they. Ap style is the standard for writing news release and other content for media in the united states. For cases like these, its best to check a comprehensive style guide, such as the chicago manual or the ap stylebook its dos and donts, according to the ap. If the possessive involves a last name with s or z, you can add either.
Possessives of nouns ending in s grammar underground with. Mar 04, 2007 you can understand the possessive just fine, and still not be sure how to spell it, because there s more than one correct way. When an italicized term appears in roman text, the possessive s should be set in roman the atlantic monthlys editor gone with the winds readers. These help the reader understand you more clearly because if you added an s to its, it is not clear whether you mean its as a possessive or its as a contraction.
Possessive of proper names ending in s by maeve maddox. Sep 15, 2016 if possession is ninetenths of the law, just imagine how important correctly signifying it in your writing is. Rules for plural and possessive names merriamwebster. Oct 28, 2019 written in 1918, the little book on grammar, style and usage begins with this advice. Ap style rules for possessives gatehouse media 20160915. Mar 28, 2017 the associated press says the use of they as a singular or genderneutral pronoun is acceptable in limited cases. We are discussing a possible change to our guidance on the possessive form of singular proper names ending in s. Even when the word already ends in s, this is the rule i follow. Associated press style quick reference guide to subscribe to the associated press stylebook online, or to find out about purchasing hard copies of the book, start here. For instance, if the subject of the sentence were queen elizabeth, we. Here s what the ap stylebook needs to change in its 2016.
The sense in a particular sentence is conveyed by the use of a singular or plural verb. Youd normally just add s to make a singular name possessive, such as mr. It indicates possession or ownership specifically, hers is a third person singular feminine pronoun and is used with singular feminine subjects. We took at look at the ap stylebook s section on possessions possessives and exorcised some demons coming up with these guidelines. Ap style for first time allows use of they as singular pronoun. In an older convention, described in the fifteenth edition of the chicago manual of style sec. Whew, so that seemed complicated, but remember most of the time its simple. Possessives of nouns ending in s grammar underground.
Though a true maven would write jesu, thus avoiding the problem altogether. When a singular proper noun ends in s, add an apostrophe to the end of the word and leave off. Mar 24, 2017 the associated press stylebook says it is opening the door to use of the singular they. Learn the major differences between chicago and ap style guides to assist. Whether to write kansas statute, as justice thomas did in his majority opinion, or kansass statute, as justice souter did in his dissent. Otherwise, use a neutral word such as representative, leader or authority. Their is a plural possessive pronoun and must agree in number with the antecedent. Your favorite author, director, or musician isnt likely to write you an angry letter over incorrect style usage when it comes to their art. In many areas of life, such cavalier carelessness is a bad idea. Bob doles concession speech was stoic and dignified. The notation ii or 2nd may be used if it is the individuals preference. Singular common nouns ending in s also define a possessive relationship by adding s to the end of the word. Possessive pronouns show ownership of a person, place, or thing. In ap style, you use a lone apostrophe to make singular nouns and names that end with s possessive, and in chicago style, most of the time you add an apostrophe and an s, with a few rare exceptions.
As mentioned above, this is the comma that appears before a conjunction such as and or or in a series. The ap style as its known in the trade is quite different from the new york times style or chicago manual of style. George is only one person, so in order to form the possessive singular we simply add an s. Dennis shoes correct in ap style kansass schools correct in chicago style. Here s what the ap stylebook needs to change in its 2016 edition. The ap stylebook holds that you should abbreviate junior and senior as jr. With the addition of s or sometimes just the apostrophe, a noun can change from a simple person, place, or thing to a person, place, or thing that owns something. When creating the possessive form of nouns, there are eight simple rules. Possessive pronouns are a part of speech that replaces a noun s.
To form a possessive construction from a singular common noun, add an apostrophe and the letter s. Sep 28, 2011 heres what my old ap style guide says about the possessive and singular common nouns ending in s. For singular common nouns that end in s, both ap and chicago styles use apostrophes. Feb 27, 2019 a century on, we at ragan communications are reexamining the elements of style in an occasional series. Mistaking a stylebook for a rule book baltimore sun.
Ap stylebook plurals follow these guidelines in forming and using plural words. Since the wedding is jointly possessed by margarita and kris, mla style treats margarita and kris as a single unit and adds an apostrophe s after kris. It is the indispensable reference for writers, editors, proofreaders, indexers, copywriters, designers, and publishers, informing the editorial canon with sound, definitive advice. See special expressions, but otherwise, for consistency and ease in remembering a rule. Its common for a businesss name to be a proper single name in possessive form, as with mcdonalds, t. When you are using a common noun ending in s that is possessive. The associated press stylebook, a widely used manual of journalistic writing standards, has made a shift in the use of the pronoun they to acknowledge the evolving landscape of gender identity. This resource, revised according to the associated press stylebook 2012, offers examples for the general format of ap style. The ap style as it s known in the trade is quite different from the new york times style or chicago manual of style.
How do you make names that end in s possessive and would you welcome a change to ap style. Roy peter clark settles the possessive apostrophe debate. I just bought the elements of style, an awesome little book. If you follow ap style, youll always use just the apostrophe to make. Possessive of proper names ending in s daily writing tips. Sep 01, 20 when creating the possessive form of nouns, there are eight simple rules. Its worth noting that the reference you gave advocates an idiosyncratic style, and other style manuals have different rules. When a word ends in s or x, do you add s or just an. Book style is simultaneously more complex and more consistent. Im going to focus on the difference between how the associated press stylebook and the chicago manual of style handle possessives for words ending in s or. To use some examples, the lasss book, the buss timetable, jamess homework, kansass statute, and so on. Use a possessive form after both words if the objects are individually owned. There are a few different ways to form the possessive of a noun.
The associated press stylebook is the goto guide for u. As a collective noun, company should take a singular verb and pronoun in formal writing. Supplement ap stylebook onlines extensive guidance with about 185,000 descriptions from the stylebooks main dictionary, websters new world college dictionary. However, if the noun ends in the letter s and the following noun begins with an s, add an apostrophe only. The chicago manual of style online is the venerable, timetested guide to style, usage, and grammar in an accessible online format. Possessives of nouns ending in s most people regularly write stuff like we went to jamess house without stopping to think whether it should be james house. If the plural form doesnt end in s, use apostrophe s. Because they are pronouns, a noun must be used before a possessive pronoun is used. Instead, use spokesman if referring to a man or the office in general, or spokeswoman if referring to a woman. Yet as we appreciate the book, its noteworthy that the first chapter contains guidelines of the sort white admitted were as whimsical as the choice of a necktie, yet strunk made them feel utterly convincing. She points out that it would sound normal to say, hes a friend of mine, and mine is the possessive. The possessive plural is formed by adding only an apostrophe except for a few irregular plurals that do not end in s. Cathys right, though you usually use only one possessive at a time. But if the singular they is used in spoken conversation about a company, ap would use that form unchanged in a direct quote.
A century on, we at ragan communications are reexamining the elements of style in an occasional series. That comes in time so with that, all that i read here. The ap stylebook now includes they as a singular, genderneutral pronoun. Regarding your examples, rephrasing is recommended in the stylebooks new entry on they, them, their. The truth is that chris takes just an apostrophe only if you follow the rules in the the associated press stylebook. Chicago style normally adds an apostrophe and s to singular nouns the horses mouth sandy joness theories fdrs legacy descartess philosophy 2016s top events. Many purists believe that double possessives should be relegated to informal and semiformal writing, if you use them at all. For plural, proper nouns that are possessive, use an apostrophe after the s. The best ap style cheat sheet every writer needs free.
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