To tell teacher friend about grammar error?

[ImaSababa]

A friend of mine is a primary school teacher, and is making and selling cushions on Facebook. Lovely. The problem is, they're riddled with mistakes, such as "Christmas at the Johnson's" when surely is should be "Johnsons'".

Should I tell her?

Lol at this thread!

Genuinely, the easy way to see with a possessive apostrophe is to turn it round. It will sound cumbersome, but will be clear.

The children's dinner = the dinner of the children
The girls' make-up = the makeup of the girls (all the dancers in the show)
The Smiths' household = the household of the Smiths (all of them).

You can say The Smith household using the surname as an adjective, which is fine and solves the issue for many. Apparently.

[quote Dahlietta]@CatherineSanderson, isn’t it slang for a penis? 🤭😂[/quote]
Certainly brings a whole new meaning to Christmas at the Johnson’s

This thread reminds me of my English teacher when I was a child, who marked me down in my spelling test because she insisted “seize” was spelled “sieze”. I’m still cross 35 years later. Really, teachers should be spot on with spelling and grammar but the reality is many of them are not.

I don’t think I’d say anything to your friend though, OP, just not sure it’s worth the hassle.

@Mrsmadevans

I was always taught, never put a comma before and .

So was I @Mrsmadevans, but I think you may be on the verge of launching this thread into the infamous 'oxford comma' wars!

@Neversleepingever

Because it's The Johnson's house.

No, because it's not one Johnson. And if it was, it would be Christmas at Johnson's not Christmas at the Johnson's. There is more than one Johnson so it's Christmas at the Johnsons'

Ah I like an Oxford comma at times. It can clarify meaning and then it is helpful. But I do read a lot of long fact-filled sentences in my job, Especially at the moment.

Certainly brings a whole new meaning to Christmas at the Johnson’s

Absolutely! Sadly, if we’re still in lockdown, it probably won’t be allowed.

Christmas at the Johnsons’ (because the house belongs to more than one Johnson).

Christmas with the Johnsons (multiple Johnsons but not showing ownership of anything).

Christmas at Mr Johnson’s (house belongs to only Mr Johnson).

Tell her. It's her job so she should be keen to improve and would probably be glad you told her. It's only a matter of time before a parent points it out of fb or something equally embarrassing!

Should I tell her?

I would want to know, but I'm odd. Most people don't. Perhaps you could buy her a grammar course for Christmas?

Where did you teach @Neversleepingever? Just so OP knows where to avoid.

OP is correct.

I'd tell her.

It belongs to the Johnsons. No apostrophe because we haven't done the possessive bit yet. So it's the Johnsons' house.

No, because it's not one Johnson. And if it was, it would be Christmas at Johnson's not Christmas at the Johnson's.

Unless this is one person who has changed his name by deed poll to 'The Johnson'. I so hope it's this.

It belongs to the Johnsons. No apostrophe because we haven't done the possessive bit yet. So it's the Johnsons' house.

I can't believe you managed to explain that in less than 'a few weeks'.

I heard Boris was thinking about it @donquixotedelamancha

Anyone getting name blindness reading this thread? I just had to google to remind myself what the Prime Minister's surname is.

'So was I @Mrsmadevans, but I think you may be on the verge of launching this thread into the infamous 'oxford comma' wars! '
@Pomegranatemolasses

Note to self: never use apostrophe's.

I would let her know, because this is a mistake that cannot be rectified afterwards. I would let her know anonymously. A kind and discreet message in the post, Otherwise someone else will notice and say it to her after a lot of grammatically faulty cushions are sold.

Teachers don't necessarily have that 'gift' with spelling and grammar.

It's not necessarily a gift as such, but rather something that's especially important to learn and understand if you choose to become a teacher. Most professions involve the learning and application of knowledge for which you may not have an innate proficiency. If you're unable to retain important information in your head, you must ALWAYS make sure that you refer to a reliable instruction manual or trustworthy website before proceeding.

I'd much rather have a new boiler installed by a trained, qualified Gas Safe person than somebody who isn't qualified but who reckons he was always 'good with boilers' from when he was a child.

A lot of her customers will probably not notice, but some of them will - and they will either start spreading the word and remarking that "You'd think a teacher would know better" or they might stay silent out of politeness, but merely think and likely remember it - and judge her for it.

What's the point of choosing to become a teacher if you don't have the ability to know - and can't even be bothered to check - the very basics of your trade? It just makes you look incompetent and slapdash. If I had a car mechanic friend who mentioned to me that he didn't know what an alternator was, or could never remember which pedal was the brake, I would most certainly not trust him to mend my car and would go elsewhere.

@DramaAlpaca

It’s Christmas at the Johnsons’ house. Or Christmas at the Johnsons’. The Johnson’s makes no sense, ever.

This ^^ is correct.

It should be "Johnsons' house" in whatever context it's used.

^Retired teacher here. This is correct.
Only use 's if there is one person. Example - Mrs. Johnson's house has lovely decorations.

OP is correct and does have the apostrophe following the S in the OP. I wouldn't say anything to my friend though. Also very different from James's. Try saying Johnsons's and James's our loud.

But one that is very confusing to me is my friend's family name of Moss. How would that work?

Unless this is one person who has changed his name by deed poll to 'The Johnson'. I so hope it's this.

What would happen if The Johnson decided to move abroad and establish a new two-person household with his good friend The Donald (whom I hear is looking to be moving house shortly) - how would you refer to their unit then?! If their very good friend The Rock also decided to come and join them, your head would probably explode when addressing your Christmas cards

So are both James' and James's correct. I see both used and always wonder.