If the noun is plural, or already ends in s, just add an apostrophe after the s. For names ending in s, you can either add an apostrophe + s, or just an apostrophe. The first option is more common. When pronouncing a possessive name, we add the sound /z/ to the end of the name.
If the name ends in s, z, ch, or sh, you must add es. That means the Davis family becomes the Davises, the French family becomes the Frenches, the Hernandez family becomes the Hernandezes, and the Glaves family becomes the Glaveses.
The spelling Chris's, with an additional S after the apostrophe, is a more common way to write the possessive form of Chris. Most style guides, such as the Chicago Manual of Style, recommend that you use an apostrophe and an S to create the possessive form of a singular noun.
To show possession using an apostrophe, add 's for individuals (“Smith's car”) and just the apostrophe after the s for plurals (“the Smiths' car,” “the Martinezes' dog”). By convention, names from classical mythology and the Bible ending in s show possession with the apostrophe only (“Jesus' teachings”).
It's Lopez's for singular possession (e.g., Lopez's car) and Lopezes' for plural possession (e.g., the Lopezes' house), but you can also use just an apostrophe for singular names ending in 's' or 'z' (e.g., Lopez' car) or rephrase to avoid the issue entirely by saying the Lopez family.
The possessive would be either Davis' (singular) or Davises' (plural), e.g., Tim Davis' car or the Davises' holiday plans.
Both Lucas's and Lucas' are generally considered correct for the possessive form of the name Lucas, but style guides differ; Lucas's (adding 's) is often preferred for clarity and by some U.S. guides (like MLA), while Lucas' (just an apostrophe) is also common, especially in British English or for classical names, with both being acceptable for singular names ending in 's'.
Difficult family names
Remember the basic rule: don't try to make a plural with an apostrophe. Everyone is trying to keep up with the Joneses (add –es to form the plural). The form Jones's (with an apostrophe) refers to something that one of the Jones family members owns.
If the noun is plural, or already ends in s, just add an apostrophe after the s. For names ending in s, you can either add an apostrophe + s, or just an apostrophe. The first option is more common.
In English, if it ends in 's', then there is an apostrophe after the 's' and that's it. Having something like St. Brutus's is incorrect grammar.
Curtis's is the correct way to say that something belongs to Curtis, since Curtis is singular. If a noun is plural you would using the trailing apostrophe to indicate the possessive.
The Associated Press Stylebook recommends just an apostrophe: It's Tennessee Williams' best play. But most other authorities endorse 's: Williams's. Williams's means “belonging to Williams.” It is not the plural form of Williams.
You use an apostrophe whether it's plural or not. Take the word including the s at the end if it's there, then add the apostrophe. If there wasn't an s at the end, you add one after the apostrophe, but in your case, you'd be right to leave it at families'.
The important thing to remember is that Thomas is singular. When you're talking about more than one, you first form that plural by adding -ES. One Thomas, two Thomases. Then, to note that something is owned by more than one Thomas, just take the plural and make it possessive: Thomases'.
One does NOT use an apostrophe to denote plurals: apostrophe denotes possessive. Possessive would be Morris's or Morris' (singular, as if Morris was a forename) or The Morrises' (as if Morris was a family surname and something belonged to all of them.)
Do you say James' or James's? Both James' and James's are grammatically correct. Certain academic writing styles prefer one version over the other, but it doesn't matter which one you use in your regular, written English.
When a common noun is plural and ends in s, add only an apostrophe. When proper names end in s (whether singular or plural), add only an apostrophe. Use Lewis University's, the University's or Lewis' when showing possession in a sentence. Never use Lewis's.
No apostrophe in "the Smiths" as it is just a plural, not a possessive.
Since there is more than one Lopez, a plural is needed. Because Lopez (singular) ends with z, we follow the rule of adding es to make it plural. Therefore, the invitation is from the Lopezes.
Both Chris's (apostrophe + s) and Chris' (apostrophe only) are acceptable for the singular possessive of "Chris," depending on the style guide, but Chris's is often preferred for clarity and follows traditional rules, while Chris' is used by some (like AP Style) to avoid the double 's' sound. For consistency, choose one style and stick with it, as both show possession for a single person named Chris.
Both are correct, although “s's” is preferred. “Marcus's” would be a singular possessive, not a plural. “Marcuses” is plural but not possessive.
When referring to the house that belongs to the Johnsons, this plural family name gets a possessive apostrophe added to the s, so that it becomes Johnsons'.)
Davis and its variants are more commonly used as last names in English, Welsh, Scottish, and Irish, but as a first name, it becomes a refreshing, modern take on tradition. A new parent seeking a name to symbolize their eternal love for baby will delight in this Welsh title.
You can avoid the problem by saying "The Cruz family"; otherwise, I suggest using "The Cruzes." And if you don't want to avoid the possessive problem with "the Cruz house" (using their name as an attributive noun), you should write "The Cruzes' house" (plural) or "Ralph Cruz's house" (singular).