In English, forming possessives is a bit tricky, especially when dealing with names that end in “s,” like “James.” In this article, we will explore when and how to use “James’” and “James’s.” We’ll break it down into easy-to-understand terms, along with a handy table to help you visualize the different possessive forms.
What is a Possessive?
A possessive is a grammatical form used to show ownership or that something belongs to someone or something. For example, if you want to say that the dog belongs to James, you would write James’s dog. The word “dog” is owned by James.
Simple Possessive
The basic rule to form the possessive for most singular nouns is adding ’s. But when it comes to names like “James,” it can get tricky. This is because there are different conventions based on personal preferences and style guides.
Singular Possessive: “James’s” or “James’”?
When we’re talking about one person or one thing possessing something, we use a singular possessive. Here’s where we can choose between “James’s” and “James’”.
Option 1: “James’s”
Many people believe that the correct form is James’s (adding an apostrophe and another “s”). This follows the basic rule of making the possessive form by adding ‘s. For example:
- James’s book (the book belonging to James)
- James’s car (the car belonging to James)
This is common in most style guides, including the Chicago Manual of Style.
Option 2: “James’”
Other guides suggest only adding an apostrophe without the extra “s,” especially with names ending in “s.” For example:
- James’ book (the book belonging to James)
- James’ car (the car belonging to James)
This is the choice preferred by the Associated Press (AP) Stylebook.
Which one is correct?
Both forms—James’s and James’—are acceptable. The important thing is consistency. Once you pick a style, stick with it!
Plural Possessive: The Difference with “James”
What about the possessive form for more than one James, or multiple people named James?
Plural Possessive with More Than One “James”
If you are talking about more than one person named James or a group of people who share the name, here’s what you do:
- First, make the name plural by adding an “s” (like we usually do with most plural forms).
- Then, add an apostrophe (and no extra “s”) to make it possessive.
For example:
- The Jameses’ house (the house of multiple people named James)
- The Jameses’ meeting (a meeting held by multiple people named James)
Simple Plural: Just “Jameses”
For the plural of James, we don’t need to add any apostrophe for just multiple people, because it’s simply about more than one person.
- The Jameses came over yesterday. (just referring to a group of people named James, not showing ownership).
A Handy Chart to Summarize
Here’s a simple chart that helps break things down:
| Possessive Type | Example | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Singular Possessive (James’s) | James’s car | A car belonging to James. |
| Singular Possessive (James’) | James’ car | A car belonging to James (alternate style). |
| Plural Possessive (Jameses’) | The Jameses’ car | A car belonging to a group of people named James. |
| Simple Plural | The Jameses | Refers to more than one person named James. |
Key Takeaways
- James’s and James’ are both acceptable ways to form the singular possessive of “James.” The difference depends on the style guide you prefer. Be consistent in your choice.
- The plural of “James” is Jameses.
- To form the plural possessive, you only add an apostrophe at the end, like Jameses’.
By using this chart and understanding these basic rules, you can feel confident when dealing with possessives in writing. Now you know how to correctly form possessives when it comes to “James,” whether it’s singular or plural!
