Why Martin Lewis’ is correct grammar! Blog discussion

MSE_Jenny

This is the discussion to link on the back of Martin's blog. Please read the blog first, as this discussion follows it.

Read Martin's "Why Martin Lewis’ is correct grammar!" Blog.

Click reply to discuss below.

JimmyTheWig

I'm definitely with you on this one. I would always write it without the trailing "s". Words ending "s's" look wrong. I would write boss' shoes rather than boss's shoes? What if you were talking about the shoes of lots of bosses? Would you write "bosses's shoes"? Surely not.

Oldernotwiser

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

I'm definitely with you on this one. I would always write it without the trailing "s". Words ending "s's" look wrong. I would write boss' shoes rather than boss's shoes? What if you were talking about the shoes of lots of bosses? Would you write "bosses's shoes"? Surely not.

I agree with you on the point of Martin Lewis but your example of the "bosses's" shoes doesn't hold water as the rules for applying apostrophes to singular and plural nouns are different.

Errata

Martin Lewis' is grammatically correct, but it drives me banana's :rotfl:

MadMac_2

You are on thin ground according to my Oxford Style Manual and I'm amazed you're using Jesus as an example. I know the wording looks better as it is and understand that some see Martin as a god of all things money related, but that's going a little too far in my opinion!

Errata

Would somebody please take the apostrophe behind the barn, shoot it in the head, and put us all out of our misery.

PurseInDistress

Looks fine to me and was what I was taught at school. Didn't know that "classical" names came into it either. Can someone explain to me why "St Thomas' Hospital" is wrong? Surely it is the hospital of St Thomas and as he was a "classical" figure....:rolleyes:

MothballsWallet

I always write it like Lewis' or James', for example. But I know people who would write it Lewis's or James's (btw, Firefox UK English spellchecker doesn't like the former, but it does like the latter).

jamtart6

I can't believe anyone would be sad enough to e-mail you and complain!!

MSE_Martin

jamtart6 wrote: »

I can't believe anyone would be sad enough to e-mail you and complain!!

You'd be amazed how often...

ThinkingOfLinking

MothballsWallet wrote: »

I always write it like Lewis' or James', for example. But I know people who would write it Lewis's or James's (btw, Firefox UK English spellchecker doesn't like the former, but it does like the latter).

Same here.

jamtart6 wrote: »

I can't believe anyone would be sad enough to e-mail you and complain!!

Me neither....but then again, they do...

MSE_Martin wrote: »

You'd be amazed how often...

How sad that they have nothing better to do with their time. And it's not as if people can't understand the message you're trying to put across, regardless of spelling and grammar.

PS this is the first time I've used the multi-quote. Feeling SO proud.:D