# Hard "corps" question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 19, 2003, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-corps-question/196090 "2003-08-19T00:59:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-corps-question/196090/1 "2003-08-19T00:59:47Z")
_Corps_ is of course a plural noun in French. But in English it is, I think, a singular noun. So what’s the possessive? I want to write “the Corps’s regulations,” but nobody will let me. Can somebody back me up here? I know it’s technically correct to use the **s** , but it looks so _wrong_ that everyone I ask IRL says to make it an exception to the rule, like Jesus’ or Moses’. What say the Dopers? ---
**Author:** ![transitionality](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5e925/32.png) [@transitionality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/transitionality)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-corps-question/196090/2 "2003-08-19T01:15:51Z")
In English, the possessive of any noun that ends with an “s” is suffixed with an apostrophe only. It doesn’t matter whether the noun is singular or plural, proper or improper. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-corps-question/196090/3 "2003-08-19T01:25:45Z")
Um, transitionality, if you’re not sure of a factual answer in this forum, please look it up. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-corps-question/196090/4 "2003-08-19T01:30:29Z")
It sounds like transitionality is rather confident in that answer, and that you’re the one who’s not sure of it. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-corps-question/196090/5 "2003-08-19T01:40:05Z")
I agree with **transitionality**. And I looked it up, and AP and Chicago agree with us. In fact, AP specifically uses _one corps’ location_ as an example. This may be why nobody will let you do it the wrong way. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-corps-question/196090/6 "2003-08-19T01:48:11Z")
First of all, transitionality was wrong. Second, where’d you find it in Chicago? I couldn’t find it. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-corps-question/196090/7 "2003-08-19T02:02:16Z")
transitionality: From _Chicago Manual of Style, Fifteenth Edition_, p. 281: > [@](#): > > \*\*\*\*Possessives > [supTHE GENERAL RULE[/sup] > _Most nouns._ The possessive of most _singular_ nouns is formed by adding an apostrophe and an _s_, and the possessive of _plural_ nouns (except for a few irregular plurals that do not end in _s_) by an apostrophe only. This practice . . . reflects the way possessive forms are generally pronounce and is largely faithful to Stunk and White’s famous rule 1 (“Form the possessive of singular nouns by adding 's”). . . . But then in this specific case, I _did_ find this (although no reference to _corps_ itself), p. 283: > [@](#): > > _Words and names ending in unpronounced “s.”_ To avoid an awkward appearance, an apostrophe without an _s_ may be used for the possessive of singular words and names ending in an unpronounced _s_. Opt for this practice _only_ if you are comfortable with it and are certain that the _s_ is indeed unpronounced.[ul]Descartes’ three dreams > the marquis’ mother > Francois’ efforts to learn English > . . . . . . [/ul] In other words, it’s optional; but _Chicago_ seems to prefer omitting the _s_, so I think I’ll concede this battle. Thanks to everyone who played.