How do you write the possessive form of a name ending in s?

[MyBabyIsNameless]

For example, if Thomas wanted a plaque on his bedroom door to indicate it was his room, would it be Thomas's or Thomas'?

Thomas’s is correct. There was a time when people were taught that names ending in s could just have the apostrophe after it, as in Thomas’, but not any more. I’m an editor and this is something I have to change frequently and feed back on. Some old names don’t have the apostrophe, and it can depend on how they are pronounced. Sophocles’ plays. Would you say Sophocles-z plays?

I was taught that it's Thomas's as you pronounce the second s. Same for James's, Harris's. If you don't pronounce the second s, then just apostrophe after the first s.

I was taught that single syllable words you could put the extra s or not: so both James's and James' were correct; but for longer words with more than one syllable you should not put the extra s - so only Thomas' is correct.

Never questioned it but come to think of it, it's a weird rule if it's correct.

Whwnever I saw it in our church (Catholic), it was always Jesus' or Thomas'

Either is correct. I used to prefer s', but now I think I'm leaning towards s's. No idea why 🤷🏽‍♀️

DD has a name ending S, I always use xxxx’ on anything I write.

I looked it up many years ago and both are correct but I think two S makes it look silly.

Both are correct and, like pps, I prefer Thomas's. I also think you should pronounce the second "s" and find it odd when people don't.

The pp who referred to Jesus' is probably correct as I am sure I was taught in grammar lessons that Jesus is the one exception that doesn't take nor the second "s" and nor is one pronounced.

Come into the fold DameSquashalot .

If there are two s sounds when you say it aloud, there are two when you write it. So Thomas's. The alternative is weird, though I'm to understand that it's the more usual in the US.

Yes, Jesus can be an exception, like Sophocles and a lot of antique names. Lynne Truss has a good section on it in her Ears Shoots and Leaves book on punctuation. She emphasises that it should be Thomas’s.

Eats that should say, not Ears!

Sophocles’ plays. Would you say Sophocles-z plays?

Yes I would I don’t understand your point. James’s play, Jessica’s play, Oliver’s play, id pronounce the possessive S for all of them.

DS has a name ending in S and I think I just use both interchangeably but s’ looks neater I think.

• I’d typical

I find it super weird when writing anything about my DH who is Russ. Russ’s - it’s just too many s’s

I learnt it was correct to write either but if the extra 's' is pronounced it's better to write the 's after the name, but if it's not pronounced than to just write the name and apostrophe, no extra s

Thomas'

Always

(I have a childs with a name ending with an S, and it is how we've always done it)

How about Archimedes’ screw? Would you say Archimedes-z screw? Or Achilles’ heel? Antique names can be punctuated differently. Sophocles’ plays- you might not pronounce the final -z, in the same way.

I have been thrown into this debate by having a child whose name ends in 's'. After a heated debate with my DSis I looked it up. Both are apparently correct but I much prefer s's due to it being logical, my child is not a plural. She still insists on using s' 'because it looks neater'. I'lltellher it'san American abomination next time, that'll get her.

Thomas'

Thomas's as the other version means that it belongs the all the people called Thomas.

Thomas's apple means that it belongs to a person called Thomas.

Thomas' apple gets very tricky trying to share it out between several 100,000 people.

No it does not. All the people called Thomas are Thomases. So something belonging to them would be the Thomases'

I'd write Thomas's. Would feel strange to me to omit the second s.

Well i've met english teachers who stick rigidly to

Thomas'

But to me it looks wrong, and the great god of google has assured me Thomas's is also acceptable. Although that also now looks wrong. I can't see any logic to missing out the final 's' but then English isn't known for being a logical language. I

Both correct. I prefer 's after names ending with S generally. @LadySpratt my husband thought the same until recently - I only realised when he was complaining about the doctor writing 's after our son's name.