I agree, Jennifer; I also have always believed that the likely
pronunciation of the word sets the written usage. So, if I say, "That's
the /jonesis/ car," I'd write it, "That's the Jones's car." But if I
say, "That's the /jones/ car," I'd write it, "That's the Jones' car."
==Reinhold
Jennifer Rabinowitz wrote:
>
> This is my first foray into these e-discussions, so hello to one and
> all. I like the rules and qualifications on the use of the possessive.
> I remember my college literature professor's hard and fast rule, which I
> always enjoyed, in determining the use of the possessive: if the
> pronounciation of a word was made awkward by an extra "s"--such as "the
> pizzas's toppings bubbled" (you try pronouncing it!)--then the extra "s"
> is appropriately omitted. What do you all think?
>
> >>> "Martha Kolln" <[log in to unmask]> 12/11/00 04:14PM >>>
> Kirstin:
>
> I agree with Richard that when you add a syllable you normally add the
> s,
> even when the word ends in a double s: Betsy Ross's flag; Hoss's
> Steak
> House. The questionable occasions are those in which the word has two
> sibilant sounds, as in Jesus or Texas. When these are possessive, they
> are
> often written without the s, probably because that third s is not
> sounded:
> Texas' laws; Jesus' followers.
>
> As with many punctuation conventions, you will find variations in the
> s
> possessive.
>
> Martha Kolln
>
> >Hi!
> >
> >Here's a new question to throw out. When you have a singular noun
> that ends
> >in s, to turn it into a possessive, do you add only the apostrophe,
> or
> >apostrophe "s"? For example: Christopher Columbus' birthday or is it
> >Christopher Columbus's birthday?
> >
> >-Kirstin Schwartz
> >Washington International School
> >[log in to unmask]
> >
> >To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web
> interface at:
> > http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html
> >and select "Join or leave the list"
> >
> >Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/
>
> To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web
> interface at:
> http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html
> and select "Join or leave the list"
>
> Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/
>
> To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at:
> http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html
> and select "Join or leave the list"
>
> Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/
To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at:
http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html
and select "Join or leave the list"
Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/
|
