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Pedants' corner

use of apostrophe with word ending in s

74 replies

pointydog · 29/08/2008 22:43

tell me, tell me, tell me!

I was told today I was wrong and I am most upset.

If you were writing about a garden belomging to an octopus (do not question), would you write

an octopus's garden
an octopus' garden

is one right or are both right?

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Overmydeadbody · 29/08/2008 22:45

both are right I think.

Lots of differing opinion on this as far as I remember.

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DontNeedAnything · 29/08/2008 22:46

I would do Octopus'.

But I am crap at grammar.

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edam · 29/08/2008 22:46

I'd write 'an octopus's garden' but that's because I'd have the Beatles song in my head. Generally either is correct. You can have:

James's bag

Or

James' bag

It's a matter of personal preference, ease of pronunciation and clarity.

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pointydog · 29/08/2008 23:04

oh yeeessssss! Ooooh yaaaasssss!

I knew both were correct. I am triumphant

Find me proof. I must go back with indisputable proof.

I was told that according to the King's Grammar (is it a book?) that only octopus' was correct. I will return victorious

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undervalued · 29/08/2008 23:04

Oooohhh Edam - well explained!!

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pointydog · 29/08/2008 23:06

someone used that James explanation against me. AGAINST me! They said it had to be James'. He is my new lin emanager.

I must have proof. VengeNCE shall be mine

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Legoleia · 29/08/2008 23:07

I think that in "eats shoots and leaves", Lynn Truss says that you should put the extra 's'. James's bag.

She says except in the case of Jesus, who just gets an apostrophe.

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HeinzSight · 29/08/2008 23:07

both right, one 'more modern' than other, my son is a James, so have often had this debate.

I choose just to add apostrophe after his name.

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Legoleia · 29/08/2008 23:08

I live near St James's Street, by the way. I suppose it could be an Olde Englishe type thing, though?!

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pointydog · 29/08/2008 23:09

which oine is more modern? The James's one?

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thumbwitch · 29/08/2008 23:09

I think it USED to be the case that it was only James' bag (or octopus' garden) but (and I can't find my copy of Eats, Shoots and Leaves quickly enough to verify this) the extra s is now allowed too.

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pointydog · 29/08/2008 23:10

A peaceful sleep for me tonight

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thumbwitch · 29/08/2008 23:10

ah Legoleia, we have different recollections

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HeinzSight · 29/08/2008 23:11

pretty sure the James's one is more modern

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pointydog · 29/08/2008 23:11

Get it up you, fat tony! (he of king;s grammar - what is that?)

Get it up you, new line manager!

And everyon else who sided with them. Ahaaaaa!

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HeinzSight · 29/08/2008 23:13

like Bridget Jones's Diary

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pointydog · 29/08/2008 23:15

Another good modern example, thank you.

I wish I was oging to work tomorrow

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edam · 29/08/2008 23:19

I thank you!

You should arm yourself with a copy of Fowler's Modern English Usage so you can stand your ground against new boss in any further grammatical or syntactical (I may have made that word up) disputes. Amazon

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HeinzSight · 29/08/2008 23:19

tell them to stick it up their arses

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thumbwitch · 29/08/2008 23:19

just found this link - and whilst it isn't strictly pertinent to the OP's question, it is quite funny!

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Squiggly · 29/08/2008 23:20

Message withdrawn

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pointydog · 29/08/2008 23:20

is this apostrophe business mentioned in Fowler's? Is it a match for King's?

(Wjhat is king's? Is it Grammar circa 1802?)

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pointydog · 29/08/2008 23:22

oh squiggly, I am all excited. I will wait to hear from your king's update before I have a bath

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Squiggly · 29/08/2008 23:22

Message withdrawn

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pointydog · 29/08/2008 23:22

Fat tony needs bring ing down a peg or two

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