I'm going to James' house.

[LOLisNOTaPunctuationMark]

Prepared to admit I'm wrong. Really, I'm just seeking clarification.


Apostrophe and an S still apply when assigning an object to a person whose name ends with an S. Yes?

So why do so many people think otherwise? Is it an optional rule?
I'm honestly not one to get too bothered about grammar and the like.. but this is one thing that bothers me.

I've just received a text from my sister - an English teacher - saying, "I'm going to James' house tonight."

That doesn't make sense to me. It should be, "I'm going to James's house tonight."

You wouldn't say "I'm going to Anne house." You would say, "I'm going to Anne's house."

"I'm going to my mum house for Christmas."
NO!
"I'm going to my mum's house for Christmas."

Can anyone clear this up before my overtired head implodes?

[Bradsplit]

I have three ending in s. I always say "Jesus' "

[littlesquid]

I checked this with a University lecturer in English Language, because one of my DC ends in S and I was worried about getting it wrong, she told me it was James'.

[Onsera3]

Agree that it's 'James's' unless there's a historical weight to it eg Jesus'

[FriendlyLadybird]

To quote Burchfield:

Use 's for the possessive case in English names and surnames whenever possible; i.e. in all monosyllables and disyllables and in longer words accented on the penult, as Burns's, Charles's, Counsins's, Dickens's, Hicks's, St James's Square, Thomas's, Zacharias's.It is customary, however, to omit the 's when the last syllable of the name is pronounced iz, as in Bridges', Moses'. Jesus' is an acceptable liturgical archaism.

So there you go.

[campion]

If the car belongs to one Jones then Jones's car would fit but if it belonged to more than one Jones then Joneses' car it has to be.

es makes the name plural and the apostrophe gives possession.
Words ending in s, sh, ch, x or z need the es treatment.

[valiumredhead]

Both are fine

[BillyBanter]

St Jamie's Street. St Jim's Street. St. Jimmy's Street. They could all be confused in the hearing. Best to stick to St. Jocky's Street. No confusion.

[TheWomanTheyCallJayne]

I'm going to go back to calling ds2 Jamie.

[JoinYourPlayfellows]

"Join, I would use James' but I would say Jamesis/ziz."

You FREAK! :o

You can't have it both ways! (You can really. It doesn't matter.)

[BillyBanter]

I think spelling and saying James's is less confusing all round although I accept that in some circumstances it's possible it could be cumbersome and awkward to look at spell and say. Can't think of an example though.

[BoundandRebound]

Joneses' would never be right if meaning Jones possessive

It could be Jones' or Jones's but not Joneses' unless the name is Joneses of course

[TheWomanTheyCallJayne]

Join, I would use James' but I would say Jamesis/ziz.

[TheWomanTheyCallJayne]

Reading that I thought I like Horry's post that said
'I spell it like I say it. The Smiths' car is older than the Joneses' car. James's car is longer than Laurence's car.'
Then I realised that I have a James and would use James'.
I need a coffee.

[JoinYourPlayfellows]

"If it's written as James' would you still say James's or just say James'?"

People who leave off the second s when writing, also tend to leave it off when speaking.

Which can be confusing.

[LOLisNOTaPunctuationMark]

Same here, Billy, how should it be pronounced then? If it's written as James' would you still say James's or just say James'?

[LOLisNOTaPunctuationMark]

Thank you all. Can't believe such a big thing is optional. I'll read that link just now.

[TallulahBetty]

It's optional, but I always use it. My name ends in S and I've always used 's too. Looks nicer and definitely clearer.

[BillyBanter]

When I was going for an interview in St James's Street I thought I'd been told St Jane's street. when I looked at the map at the tube station I realised it must be St James's Street but had been pronounced St James' street despite the spelling. I still don't know how it should be pronounced. I say St. Jamesis street.

[BillyBanter]

It's optional. And has been for a while or on and off for a long time these would suggest:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_James's_Street


www.sjp.org.uk/historybuilding.html

[JoinYourPlayfellows]

I think it's far fussier not to add the extra S. It's not like it's too much effort after any other letter.

It's one of those things that people who pride themselves on their pedantry tend to think is the RIGHT way.

[LovelyMarchHare]

I never add the S after the apostrophe. Bit too fussy for my liking. I am aware that either are perfectly acceptable but I'm a bit stripped back when it comes to punctuation!

[ThenAgain]

Jesus has a house? :D

[mercibucket]

I prefer your sister's version. Both are fine though

[Moxiegirl]

I thought it was James's and same for similar names except Jesus.

[PacificDogwood]

Oh. Ok, I see.

Thanks for the link too