The 's' followed by apostrophe s e.g. Vesalius's book

[hmc]

Am not a pedant as I am not well schooled enough on grammar etc... but wondered what you esteemed authorities thought of this...

My tutor corrected a recent assignment where I had typed 'Vesalius's book' to 'Vesalius' book'. I thought my version was correct because I had googled and checked it prior to writing the essay?

Not an expert by any stretch but I thought if the name ends in s then it just has the apostrophe and no added s.

I've only thought about it again today because I am reading a (deathy dull) text book where I have just seen "De Lellis's biographer piants a grim picture"

I wonder if it is a matter of personal preference?

I now think you're probably right hmc It looks like the apostrophe only goes at the end when it's a plural word ending in s eg two weeks' notice as opposed to one week's notice. Couldn't find an example of a name ending in s though.

you were right!

Both ways are possible.

I have always used eg James's/Charles's

There isn't one correct answer.

If you pronounce it jameses book then it's james's book.
If you pronounce it james book then it's james' book.

The rule I follow is, would I say just "s" at the end, or would I say "ses". If just 's', then it's "s'". If it's "ses", then it's "s's".

So I would say "Jameses book", so I write "James's book". I would say "the two boys books" so I write "the two boys' books".

Harumph! - so my tutor ought not to have corrected me.

I will rise above however