Plural and possessive of proper names ending in "S".

Ben E Lou · 07-30-2016, 01:18 PM

1. My family as a whole should be called:
a. The Lewises
b. The Lewis'
c. The Lewis
d. other (specify)

2. My family's house should be called:
a. The Lewis's house
b. The Lewises' house
c. The Lewis' house
d. other (specify)

3. My car should be called:
a. Ben Lewis' car
b. Ben Lewis's car
c. Ben Lewises' car
d. other (specify)

Discuss

stevew · 07-30-2016, 01:24 PM

I think the correct answers are
Lewises(B is def wrong)
Lewis' house(possibly all are correct?)
Ben Lewis' car (c is def wrong)

But this sort of thing always makes me struggle so I'd end up typing "the car belonging to Ben Lewis" instead of "Ben Lewis' car."

Ben E Lou · 07-30-2016, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevew

But this sort of thing always makes me struggle so I'd end up typing "the car belonging to Ben Lewis" instead of "Ben Lewis' car."

Heh. I don't think I get as convoluted as "The car belonging to Ben Lewis," but I've definitely written things like "the Lewis family will be happy to host the meeting" to avoid this issue entirely.

SackAttack · 07-30-2016, 03:06 PM

1) a.
2) e. Party Central
3) d. The Patriotmobile

Izulde · 07-30-2016, 03:13 PM

1. The Lewises
2. To preserve the consistency of the structure, and to make the plural clear (a distinction that is lost in A and C), the Lewises' house.
3. A or B are acceptable, though I'm in personal favor of A because it's cleaner on the page.

Carman Bulldog · 07-30-2016, 05:46 PM

I'd go...
1. A
2. C
3. A

ColtCrazy · 07-30-2016, 07:29 PM

A. C. A. Pretty sure about the bottom ones as I remember looking those up before to teach. A makes sense for me for the first one. There's no possessive needed there.

Critch · 07-30-2016, 07:47 PM

Go for a bit of Roman class and refer to your family as the Lewii. Otherwise, I'd say A.C.A. too.

Vince, Pt. II · 07-31-2016, 11:55 AM

I was under the impression that if it was a proper name (or any proper noun) that ended in s, the possessive was just 's. So in your case, Lewis's.

cuervo72 · 07-31-2016, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben E Lou

1. My family as a whole should be called:
a. The Lewises

C'mon, you shouldn't need to ask about this one.

spleen1015 · 07-31-2016, 07:30 PM

A
B
A

britrock88 · 08-03-2016, 12:09 PM

Ryche · 08-03-2016, 12:47 PM

ABB is my inclination speaking as someone with ss at the end of my last name.

digamma · 08-03-2016, 01:37 PM

1. My family as a whole should be called:
a. The Lewises
b. The Lewis'
c. The Lewis
d. other (specify)

A is correct here. Only acceptable answer.

2. My family's house should be called:
a. The Lewis's house
b. The Lewises' house
c. The Lewis' house
d. other (specify)

B is correct here when talking about the whole family.

3. My car should be called:
a. Ben Lewis' car
b. Ben Lewis's car
c. Ben Lewises' car
d. other (specify)

My strong preference here is B, though you will see some books say A is also acceptable.

QuikSand · 08-03-2016, 05:19 PM

+1 on A,B,B>A

Bobble · 08-04-2016, 07:41 AM

+2 on ABBA as well. #TakeAChanceOnMe #TakeAChanceTakeAChanceTakeAChickaChanChance

07-30-2016, 03:06 PM	#4
SackAttack Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Green Bay, WI	1) a. 2) e. Party Central 3) d. The Patriotmobile Last edited by SackAttack : 07-30-2016 at 03:06 PM.

07-30-2016, 03:13 PM	#5
Izulde Head Coach Join Date: Sep 2004	1. The Lewises 2. To preserve the consistency of the structure, and to make the plural clear (a distinction that is lost in A and C), the Lewises' house. 3. A or B are acceptable, though I'm in personal favor of A because it's cleaner on the page. __________________ 2006 Golden Scribe Nominee 2006 Golden Scribe Winner Best Non-Sport Dynasty: May Our Reign Be Green and Golden (CK Dynasty) Rookie Writer of the Year Dynasty of the Year: May Our Reign Be Green and Golden (CK Dynasty)

07-30-2016, 07:29 PM	#7
ColtCrazy College Starter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Midwest	A. C. A. Pretty sure about the bottom ones as I remember looking those up before to teach. A makes sense for me for the first one. There's no possessive needed there. __________________ The Field Generals and Statis Pro Basketball Super League

07-30-2016, 07:47 PM	#8
Critch lolzcat Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Herndon, VA	Go for a bit of Roman class and refer to your family as the Lewii. Otherwise, I'd say A.C.A. too. Last edited by Critch : 07-30-2016 at 07:48 PM.

07-31-2016, 11:55 AM	#9
Vince, Pt. II Pro Starter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Somewhere More Familiar	I was under the impression that if it was a proper name (or any proper noun) that ended in s, the possessive was just 's. So in your case, Lewis's. Last edited by Vince, Pt. II : 07-31-2016 at 11:55 AM.

07-30-2016, 01:24 PM	#2
stevew Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: the yo'	I think the correct answers are Lewises(B is def wrong) Lewis' house(possibly all are correct?) Ben Lewis' car (c is def wrong) But this sort of thing always makes me struggle so I'd end up typing "the car belonging to Ben Lewis" instead of "Ben Lewis' car."

07-30-2016, 05:46 PM	#6
Carman Bulldog College Benchwarmer Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Canada	I'd go... 1. A 2. C 3. A

07-31-2016, 07:30 PM	#11
spleen1015 Coordinator Join Date: Sep 2003	A B A __________________ Why choose failure when success is an option?

08-03-2016, 12:09 PM	#12
britrock88 Pro Starter Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Madison, WI	ABB

08-03-2016, 12:47 PM	#13
Ryche College Benchwarmer Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Highlands Ranch, CO, USA	ABB is my inclination speaking as someone with ss at the end of my last name. __________________ Some knots are better left untied.

08-03-2016, 01:37 PM	#14
digamma Torchbearer Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: On Lake Harriet	1. My family as a whole should be called: a. The Lewises b. The Lewis' c. The Lewis d. other (specify) A is correct here. Only acceptable answer. 2. My family's house should be called: a. The Lewis's house b. The Lewises' house c. The Lewis' house d. other (specify) B is correct here when talking about the whole family. 3. My car should be called: a. Ben Lewis' car b. Ben Lewis's car c. Ben Lewises' car d. other (specify) My strong preference here is B, though you will see some books say A is also acceptable.

08-03-2016, 05:19 PM	#15
QuikSand lolzcat Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Annapolis, Md	+1 on A,B,B>A

08-04-2016, 07:41 AM	#16
Bobble College Prospect Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: High and outside	+2 on ABBA as well. #TakeAChanceOnMe #TakeAChanceTakeAChanceTakeAChickaChanChance Last edited by Bobble : 08-04-2016 at 07:42 AM.

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