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Apostrophes with Names Ending in s, ch, or z

English Tip Are you confused about how to show the plural and the possessive of certain names? Maybe you know to write I met the Smiths, I drove Brenda Smith's Ferrari, and I visited the Smiths' house. But what if the name is Sanchez or Church or Williams?

Rule: To show the plural of a name that ends in s, ch, or z, add es.

Examples:
The Sanchezes will be over soon.
The Thomases moved away.

Rule: To show singular possession of a name ending in s, ch, or z, use the apostrophe and another s.

Examples:
Bill Williams's car
Harry Birch's house
Mrs. Sanchez's children

Rule: To show plural possession of a name ending in s, ch, or z, form the plural first; then immediately use the apostrophe.

Examples:
the Williamses' car
the Birches' house
the Sanchezes' children

Due to the E-Newsletter's large readership, we are unable to respond to individual English usage questions.


Pop Quiz

Choose the correct proper noun in each sentence below. The original proper noun is in parentheses. Scroll down to view answers.

1. I'm going to marry Ms. Straus'/Strauses'/Straus's daughter. (Straus)

2. The Ortiz'/Ortizes'/Ortiz's dog bit the mailman. (Ortiz)

3. My son can't seem to get enough of Sandi Finches/Finches'/Finch's fried chicken. (Finch)

4. The Ames/Amess/Ameses are coming home from vacation tomorrow. (Ames)


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Pop Quiz Answers

1. I'm going to marry Ms. Straus's daughter.

2. The Ortizes' dog bit the mailman.

3. My son can't seem to get enough of Sandi Finch's fried chicken.

4. The Ameses are coming home from vacation tomorrow.


Wordplay

Our funny English language:

If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth beeth?

If the teacher taught, why didn't the preacher praught?

If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?


68 One-Minute English Usage Videos

English In A Snap: 68 One-Minute English Usage Videos FREE 

Learn all about who and whom, affect and effect, subjects and verbs, adjectives and adverbs, commas, semicolons, quotation marks, and much more by just sitting back and enjoying these easy-to-follow lessons. Tell your colleagues (and boss), children, teachers, and friends. Click here to watch.

 

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