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Cunning linguists
Original poster

Apostrophe for Christmas present help

22 replies

ChristmasQuestions · 30/10/2023 07:15

I'm ordering a sign for someone for their Christmas. It's a sign that goes at their front door/hallway. Their surname is Harris and the signs are set up to say

The Familysurname's

I presume to mean The Familysurname's [House] although could possibly be taken to mean The Familysurname [Family]?

Should the sign I order be

The Harris's
The Harrises

Or something else? What do you think would read best?

Thank you in advance

OP posts:
Goodornot · 30/10/2023 07:16

House of Harris?

The Harris' House

PinkflowersWhiteBerries · 30/10/2023 07:18

Harris’ House .

we have a similar surname and that’s how I would reference us in the plural

JustWhatWeDontNeed · 30/10/2023 07:19

The Harris' is what I'd go for. Definitely not Harrises. You could probably get away with The Harris House though?

Original poster
ChristmasQuestions · 30/10/2023 07:20

Thank you. The sign isn't big enough to have the last word so it would just say

The Harris's

So that's right? I'm usually quite good with this sort of thing but the s apostrophe s has thrown me this morning

OP posts:
HipTightOnions · 30/10/2023 07:21

Family surname: Smith
Plural: Smiths
Sign: Smiths'

Therefore...

Family surname: Harris
Plural: Harrises
Sign: Harrises'

BirthdayFlower · 30/10/2023 07:21

The Harrises’

BlackJumpsuit · 30/10/2023 07:22

Harris House?

All of the other options look a bit clunky.

Somewhatchallenging · 30/10/2023 07:23

Definitely not Harris’. That’s very wrong in all sorts of ways and doesn’t make sense.

Either: The Harrises (meaning the people, plural)

Or: The Harrises’ (meaning the house belonging to the Harrises)

BirthdayFlower · 30/10/2023 07:23

ChristmasQuestions · 30/10/2023 07:20

Thank you. The sign isn't big enough to have the last word so it would just say

The Harris's

So that's right? I'm usually quite good with this sort of thing but the s apostrophe s has thrown me this morning

No that’s wrong.

Somewhatchallenging · 30/10/2023 07:25

ChristmasQuestions · 30/10/2023 07:20

Thank you. The sign isn't big enough to have the last word so it would just say

The Harris's

So that's right? I'm usually quite good with this sort of thing but the s apostrophe s has thrown me this morning

No, that’s really wrong. It doesn’t make sense.

The Harrises’. ( plural possessive)

Mummy08m · 30/10/2023 07:25

Imo I would just go for

HARRIS

I remember my dad's postbox just had his surname on in block caps and I always thought it was very stylish (not fond of my dad but very fond of my family name)

NeverDropYourMooncup · 30/10/2023 07:27

Harris House is the least clunky option.

Original poster
ChristmasQuestions · 30/10/2023 07:29

No, that’s really wrong. It doesn’t make sense

Really? But something belonging to James could be James's. Is it because there are multiple Harris family members?

I think I'll just get HARRIS

The Harrises' doesn't look quite right to my eye (don't mean grammatically, just it doesn't look enough like their name).

OP posts:
GoodOldEmmaNess · 30/10/2023 07:30

It isnt clear what you want to do. If there is just one Harris and you want to indicate possession, then The Harris's would be correct. But that feels very weird. If there is more than one Harris and you want to indicate possession, then it should say The Harrises'.

The other possibilitiies are:

The Harris (just one Harris and no possession - like a label at a zoo).

The Harrises (just indicating plural, without possession - also a bit like a label at a zoo, but strangely this feels quite natural).

BirthdayFlower · 30/10/2023 07:31

Harrises’ is definitely right for what you want but Harris is also fine and may be the better choice.

Original poster
ChristmasQuestions · 30/10/2023 07:33

Thanks all. Clearly in need of another cup of coffee this morning Smile

OP posts:
MissBattleaxe · 30/10/2023 07:35

The Harris Family?

FusionChefGeoff · 30/10/2023 07:35

I'd get them something else!

Witchesdontburn · 30/10/2023 07:55

If I were a postwoman who is a non native English speaker. I would be totally confused by an envelope with Harris on the address and Harrises on the door

Goodornot · 30/10/2023 07:56

Witchesdontburn · 30/10/2023 07:55

If I were a postwoman who is a non native English speaker. I would be totally confused by an envelope with Harris on the address and Harrises on the door

A post woman has probably been trained not to refuse to deliver something that has the correct address on it.

JustWhatWeDontNeed · 31/10/2023 11:41

FusionChefGeoff · 30/10/2023 07:35

I'd get them something else!

So would I after seeing Harrises' being apparently correct.

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