Apostrophe 's' after name ending with 's'

[tedmc]

This is a headline from a local newspaper:
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/c...-book-could-be-banned-minister-to-get-report/

Which is correct - Thomas' book or Thomas's book?

 

[GoesStation]

I'd write Thomas's. If I remember correctly, I was taught — many years ago — to write Thomas' book. That looks wrong to me now.

 

[emsr2d2]

I tend to use just an apostrophe after any name that ends in an "s" because "s's" can look messy. That is definitely the case when the next word starts with an "s" too.

This is James' scarf.
This is James's scarf.

Bear in mind, though, that regardless of how it's written, it's said as "This is Jameziz scarf" (sorry, I don't do phonetic symbols).

 

[Rover_KE]

… regardless of how it's written, it's said as "This is Jameziz scarf" (sorry, I don't do phonetic symbols).

You don't need to apologise for not doing IPA – plenty more of us don't and wouldn't understand it if you did.;-)

I generally find that American English speakers tend to omit the s after the apostrophe more than BrE speakers do (I'm glad GS doesn't). I boldly write it as I say it: James's, Jesus's, Moses's, Archimedes's etc, but to answer Ted's question, they're both correct.

 

[jutfrank]

I generally teach students to write the extra 's'. My thinking is that most people pronounce it, so why not write it too?

 

[Tdol]

This is a headline from a local newspaper:
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/c...-book-could-be-banned-minister-to-get-report/

Which is correct - Thomas' book or Thomas's book?

Many drop the apostrophe after surnames.

 

[TheParser]

NOT A TEACHER

Those who like to follow rules (such as I) always use the extra "s": "James's favorite topic is English grammar."

But if one is writing to an American (especially a younger American), my advice is NOT to use it.

As another contributor has said, it is now considered unnecessary clutter.

Another reason is that many people who are unaware of the rule will think that YOU are guilty of having made a mistake!

 

[GoesStation]

You can find rules promoting the S and other rules discouraging it. My feeling is that more writers and publishers use it now than in the past. I could be wrong.

In any case, whether you use the S or not, you're following someone's rule.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I use 's because that's way I say it: James's book, the lens's magnification, Christmas's arrival, cheddar cheese's flavor, jazz's greats.

The important thing is to be consistent.