# Settle a grammar question for us **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 7, 2013, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/settle-a-grammar-question-for-us/657749 "2013-05-07T22:34:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2013, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/settle-a-grammar-question-for-us/657749/21 "2013-05-08T04:39:51Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > It’s not really a grammar question, either. So a guy jumps in a cab in New Orleans. “Where to?” The cabbie asks “I want to get scrod.” The guy responds “Buddy I’ve been running a cab for 20 years and I can honestly say this is the first time someone’s used the future pluperfect when asking that question.” ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2013, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/settle-a-grammar-question-for-us/657749/22 "2013-05-08T04:47:30Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > So a guy jumps in a cab in New Orleans. > “Where to?” The cabbie asks > “I want to get scrod.” The guy responds > “Buddy I’ve been running a cab for 20 years and I can honestly say this is the first time someone’s used the future pluperfect when asking that question.” Your geography is wrong. That’s the Boston joke. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2013, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/settle-a-grammar-question-for-us/657749/23 "2013-05-08T04:54:06Z")
The idea of a future pluperfect hurts my head. Will have had screwed? Will had screwed? ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2013, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/settle-a-grammar-question-for-us/657749/24 "2013-05-08T04:55:01Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > Sooooooooooooooooooooooo > > You’re saying it could go either way then? This is the best OP follow up post (after universal disagreement) ever! Cracked me right up. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2013, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/settle-a-grammar-question-for-us/657749/25 "2013-05-08T06:24:36Z")
I’d make a video of the person who sent the invitation, explaining why you’re doing so. Follow that person everywhere, occasionally recording your own hand pointing to him/her while you laugh. Then post it on YouTube. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2013, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/settle-a-grammar-question-for-us/657749/26 "2013-05-08T07:28:13Z")
A letter addressed to just one person wouldn’t use the possessive: Jeff Lichtman’s 1234 My Street My City, My State Since the possessive is wrong in the singular, it’s wrong in the plural. The letter is addressed to a person or persons, not to a residence. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2013, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/settle-a-grammar-question-for-us/657749/27 "2013-05-08T11:20:52Z")
Wrong: the letter isn’t going to be read by the house, which anyway would be the Simpsons’. ---
**Author:** ![brainstall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@brainstall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brainstall)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2013, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/settle-a-grammar-question-for-us/657749/28 "2013-05-08T12:22:56Z")
Probably would have been easier and less fraught to address the invitation to The Simpson Family, or if only you and your wife were invited, to Mr. and Mrs. Simpson, but then we wouldn’t be having this fun discussion. ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2013, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/settle-a-grammar-question-for-us/657749/29 "2013-05-08T13:06:26Z")
I used to work at a photolab that made christmas greeting cards featuring the family photo and whatever text they wanted on it. Amazing how many times people asked for “The Anderson’s” or “The Johnson’s” ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2013, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/settle-a-grammar-question-for-us/657749/30 "2013-05-08T13:07:29Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > The other choice not listed in the poll would be > The Simpsons’s > It is incorrect for the same reason that Simpson’s is incorrect but it is an [acceptable plural possessive](http://seiglefamily.com/gqfaq.html#apostrophe). No, that isn’t an acceptable form. When a singular word ends in an _s_ then you can either use _s’_ or _s’s_ — it’s purely a matter of style — but using _s’s_ to make a plural possessive is just plain wrong. The cites on the page you linked to say the same thing, e.g.: > [@](#): > > add 's to the plural forms that do not end in -s: > the children’s game > the geese’s honking > > add ’ to the end of plural nouns that end in -s: > two cats’ toys > three friends’ letters > the countries’ laws The only correct form for a house belonging to the Simpsons (plural) is “The Simpsons’ house”. If it was a house belong to one Mr Rogers, then it would be either “Mr Rogers’ house” or “Mr Rogers’s house” (both are correct). If it belonged to several people called Rogers then it would be “The Rogerses’ house”. If the owners were called Mr and Mrs Roger instead, then it would be “The Rogers’ house”. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2013, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/settle-a-grammar-question-for-us/657749/31 "2013-05-08T13:24:16Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > So we bring it to you, anonymous Dopers! What say you? I hope you didn’t wager any d’oh! on this. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2013, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/settle-a-grammar-question-for-us/657749/32 "2013-05-08T14:59:41Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > ..using _s’s_ to make a plural possessive is just plain wrong. My bad, didn’t stop to think. (The case where there is some controversy is whether a \*singular \*word ending in s should take a naked apostrophe or an 's.) ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2013, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/settle-a-grammar-question-for-us/657749/33 "2013-05-08T15:18:08Z")
To complicate the matter, common usage where the word “residence” is involved often omits the “'s” altogether, although this is more a telephone-answering convention: “The Simpson Residence”. So there’s another way in which the OP is wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2013, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/settle-a-grammar-question-for-us/657749/34 "2013-05-08T16:11:45Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I hope you didn’t wager any d’oh! on this. No. I’ve just been kicked out of the “No Homers Club” ---
**Author:** ![sundog66](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@sundog66](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sundog66)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2013, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/settle-a-grammar-question-for-us/657749/35 "2013-05-09T02:18:45Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > No. I’ve just been kicked out of the “No Homers Club” That should actually be the “No Homer’s Club”. Just FYI. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2013, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/settle-a-grammar-question-for-us/657749/36 "2013-05-09T09:42:12Z")
> [@sundog66](#): > > That should actually be the “No Homer’s Club”. Just FYI. Uhm … why? :dubious: 😕 ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2013, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/settle-a-grammar-question-for-us/657749/37 "2013-05-09T09:53:08Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > The case where there is some controversy is whether a \*singular \*word ending in s should take a naked apostrophe or an 's. I don’t understand what the controversy is. You use whatever sounds natural. If the word is a person’s name that’s already in the plural, you can use a naked apostrophe, e.g., “Mel Brooks’ movies.” You can also get away with it if the word just sounds like a plural, e.g., “St James’ Park,” “Samuel Pepys’ diary.” In both of the above cases, adding the final -_s_ after the apostrophe is perfectly acceptable, but not required. It does, however, make them a bit more difficult to pronounce. The one that baffles me is “Jesus,” with which most style guides will tell you **not** to use the final -_s_. This makes no sense at all. Peter wasn’t one of _Jesus’_ disciples, he was one of _Jesus’s_ disciples. It sounds silly (and just plain **wrong** ) if you say it the first way! ---
**Author:** ![Grestarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grestarian/32/3227_2.png) [@Grestarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grestarian)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2013, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/settle-a-grammar-question-for-us/657749/38 "2013-05-09T20:02:49Z")
> [@Suburban\_Plankton](#): > > “The Simpsons” is correct, as the invitation is being sent to you, not to your house. > > Unless it’s the structure itself that’s being invited to the graduation, that is. \*Mr. and Mrs. Robin Robins: I deeply appreciate the invitation to your son’s graduation. However, lacking suitable transportation due to the financial limitations of my benefactors, I will not be able to attend. Instead, please accept my invitation to bring your son and join us in celebration at my address. Naturally, you should feel welcome to invite friends, schoolmates, relatives, and other associates to this event. I am quite sure I can accommodate a large crowd. Sincerely, The Simpson’s Residence P.S. R.S.V.P. A.S.A.P. to the Simpson couple, as they will need time to prepare refreshments and decorations.\* —G!? I am a rock! I am an Island! …–Paul Simon (with Art Garfunkle) …_I am a Rock_ ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/settle-a-grammar-question-for-us/657749/39 "2013-05-10T10:02:18Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > You can also get away with it if the word just sounds like a plural, e.g., “St James’ Park,” That’s a confusing one - there’s a “St James Park” in New Zealand, a “St James’ Park” in Newcastle and a “St James’s Park” in London. And the Underground station by the park in London has (last I looked) signs saying both “St James’ Park” and “St James’s Park”. It’s enough to drive a pedant to distraction. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/settle-a-grammar-question-for-us/657749/40 "2013-05-10T11:27:24Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > I’ve just been kicked out of the “No Homers Club” > [@sundog66](#): > > That should actually be the “No Homer’s Club”. > [@terentii](#): > > Uhm … why? :dubious: 😕 To make it grammatically wrong by using an unwarranted apostrophe, thus reflecting the sin of the OP. [Foghorn Leghorn voice]It’s a jo- I say, it’s a joke, son.[/Foghorn Leghorn voice] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/settle-a-grammar-question-for-us/657749.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/settle-a-grammar-question-for-us/657749.md?page=3)