Question for the grammar Nazis

LSPoorEeyorick · 04-13-2007, 04:20 PM

It depends on the style guide for whichever company employs you. Mine, for instance, is s-apostrophe in all cases. Although it can be debated, I think you'll find that most of the standard printers and newspapers almost always side with s-apostrophe.

I know MBC discovered recently that there's a semi-accepted standard to use s-apostrophe-s for religious figures (Jesus's, Moses's, etc) but I think that's pretty silly.

Motorboat Cruiser · 04-14-2007, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LSPoorEeyorick

I know MBC discovered recently that there's a semi-accepted standard to use s-apostrophe-s for religious figures (Jesus's, Moses's, etc) but I think that's pretty silly.

Actually, I think I was misunderstood. I was actually saying the opposite. According to good ol' Strunk and White:

Quote:

1. Form the possessive singular of nouns by adding 's. Follow this rule whatever the final consonant. Thus write,

Charles's friend
Burns's Poem
the witch's malice

Exceptions are the possessives of ancient proper names ending in -es and -is, the possessive Jesus', and such forms as for conscience' sake, for righteousness' sake. But such forms as Moses' Laws, Isis' temple are commonly replaced with,

The laws of Moses
The temple of Isis

04-13-2007, 04:20 PM	#1
LSPoorEeyorick scribblin' Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: in the moment Posts: 3,872	It depends on the style guide for whichever company employs you. Mine, for instance, is s-apostrophe in all cases. Although it can be debated, I think you'll find that most of the standard printers and newspapers almost always side with s-apostrophe. I know MBC discovered recently that there's a semi-accepted standard to use s-apostrophe-s for religious figures (Jesus's, Moses's, etc) but I think that's pretty silly.
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