# s's or s' **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 24, 2010, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ss-or-s/561718 "2010-11-24T00:16:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2010, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ss-or-s/561718/21 "2010-11-25T07:23:45Z")
I couldn’t help but hear Gollum as I read this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Terra1041](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Terra1041](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terra1041)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2010, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ss-or-s/561718/22 "2010-11-25T16:22:04Z")
I put in the extra s, because I was taught that way and because I pronounce the s. So I do say James’s as “Jameses”, not “James”. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2010, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ss-or-s/561718/23 "2010-11-25T17:27:18Z")
Yes, I was taught that for singular proper nouns, one adds the s whenever it is pronounced: _James’s book, Marcos’s car, Jacques’s hat_ (that’s an extra s too, because normally the s isn’t pronounced). One would only omit the s where it isn’t pronounced, as with certain classical or biblical names (_in Jesus’ name we pray_). ---
**Author:** ![seosamh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@seosamh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seosamh)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2010, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ss-or-s/561718/24 "2010-11-26T13:12:22Z")
As noted elsewhere on these Boards previously, there is a St James’s Park in London which is always spelt that way nowadays. An exception is a single name board at the underground station (at the eastern end of the eastbound platform) which omits the additional S. This is deliberate, as it shows the station name as it appeared up until the early 1950s, when London Underground crystallised its policy on apostrophes. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2010, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ss-or-s/561718/25 "2010-11-27T02:54:44Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > Yes, I was taught that for singular proper nouns, one adds the s whenever it is pronounced: _James’s book, Marcos’s car, Jacques’s hat_ (that’s an extra s too, because normally the s isn’t pronounced). > > One would only omit the s where it isn’t pronounced, as with certain classical or biblical names (_in Jesus’ name we pray_). This is how both our in-house editor (me) and our contracted editor/proofreader treats it as well. We use the Canadian Press Stylebook. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2010, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ss-or-s/561718/26 "2010-11-27T04:34:03Z")
> [@Eats\_Crayons](#): > > This is how both our in-house editor (me) and our contracted editor/proofreader treats it as well. We use the Canadian Press Stylebook. Let’s have a look at _The Canadian Style_. _reaches up from sitting position to easily accessible copy_ _leafs through_ Here we are, page 141. (1997 ed.) > [@](#): > > Regarding the appropriate form for singular words that end in a sibilant, pronunciation is again the determining factor. If it would be natural to pronounce an extra _s_, add _'s_; if an additional _s_ would be difficult to pronounce, add only an apostrophe: > > Joyce’s _Ulysses_ > Ulysses’ wanderings > Brussels’ bureaucrats > the boss’s office > > Since awkwardness of pronunciation is the basic criterion, the decision to add or omit a possessive _s_ ultimately depends on the writer’s own sensitivities. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2010, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ss-or-s/561718/27 "2010-11-27T08:40:34Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > The AP definitively states that nouns ending in “s” (singular or plural, e.g., girls, measles, United States, General Motors) add only an apostrophe. So most media outlets will follow that style. Cite? I’m away from home, so don’t have the AP Manual of Style, but I remember the AP rule as add only apostrophe for possessives of proper nouns ending in “s.” For common nouns, add apostrophe-“s” unless the next word begins with “s.” ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2010, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ss-or-s/561718/28 "2010-11-27T08:42:55Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > James’ is incorrect in any usage. It _is_ correct in AP Style for the possessive of James. ETA: [Here’s the page](http://books.google.com/books?id=8wtW0p2wZVoC&pg=PA326&lpg=PA326&dq=%22SINGULAR+COMMON+NOUNS+ENDING+IN+S%22&source=bl&ots=oTTuyq1WOo&sig=PwvW6_VJQYkw6vikZfXvomszf4M&hl=en&ei=mcTwTLDsDYz0swPngOnICw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CCQQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q&f=false) from the AP Stylebook that addresses possessives of names and singular nouns ending in s. AP sez: proper nouns ending in “s” just get an apostrophe. Common nouns ending in “s” get an “apostrophe-s” (unless the next word begins with “s.”) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ss-or-s/561718.md?page=1)