use of apostrophe with word ending in s

[pointydog]

tell me, tell me, tell me!

I was told today I was wrong and I am most upset.

If you were writing about a garden belomging to an octopus (do not question), would you write

an octopus's garden
an octopus' garden

is one right or are both right?

both are right I think.

Lots of differing opinion on this as far as I remember.

I would do Octopus'.

But I am crap at grammar.

I'd write 'an octopus's garden' but that's because I'd have the Beatles song in my head. Generally either is correct. You can have:

James's bag

Or

James' bag

It's a matter of personal preference, ease of pronunciation and clarity.

oh yeeessssss! Ooooh yaaaasssss!

I knew both were correct. I am triumphant

Find me proof. I must go back with indisputable proof.

I was told that according to the King's Grammar (is it a book?) that only octopus' was correct. I will return victorious

Oooohhh Edam - well explained!!

someone used that James explanation against me. AGAINST me! They said it had to be James'. He is my new lin emanager.

I must have proof. VengeNCE shall be mine

I think that in "eats shoots and leaves", Lynn Truss says that you should put the extra 's'. James's bag.

She says except in the case of Jesus, who just gets an apostrophe.

both right, one 'more modern' than other, my son is a James, so have often had this debate.

I choose just to add apostrophe after his name.

I live near St James's Street, by the way. I suppose it could be an Olde Englishe type thing, though?!

which oine is more modern? The James's one?

I think it USED to be the case that it was only James' bag (or octopus' garden) but (and I can't find my copy of Eats, Shoots and Leaves quickly enough to verify this) the extra s is now allowed too.

A peaceful sleep for me tonight

ah Legoleia, we have different recollections

pretty sure the James's one is more modern

Get it up you, fat tony! (he of king;s grammar - what is that?)

Get it up you, new line manager!

And everyon else who sided with them. Ahaaaaa!

like Bridget Jones's Diary

Another good modern example, thank you.

I wish I was oging to work tomorrow

I thank you!

You should arm yourself with a copy of Fowler's Modern English Usage so you can stand your ground against new boss in any further grammatical or syntactical (I may have made that word up) disputes. Amazon

tell them to stick it up their arses

just found this link - and whilst it isn't strictly pertinent to the OP's question, it is quite funny!

Message withdrawn

is this apostrophe business mentioned in Fowler's? Is it a match for King's?

(Wjhat is king's? Is it Grammar circa 1802?)

oh squiggly, I am all excited. I will wait to hear from your king's update before I have a bath

Message withdrawn

Fat tony needs bring ing down a peg or two