's on a surname ending in s?

Devil Ledbetter · Oct 20, 2007

I need to make a surname ending in s possessive. Do I do so by writing Graves' or Graves's. My instinct is to go with the former, but someone else who reads my work believes it's the latter.

What say you brilliant grammar and punctuation experts?

DeleyanLee · Oct 20, 2007

Grammatically, it depends on what you are possessing.

The sailboat belonging to the Mr. Graves would be Graves' sailboat

Whereas the land belonging to Mr. Graves would be Graves's land.

It's the triple s that you need to avoid.

At least unless they've changed the rules since my grammar book was published ('86)

Devil Ledbetter · Oct 20, 2007

It's singular. Ms. Graves' statement vs. Ms. Graves's statement. The second still sounds wrong to me, even though by what you've said, it should be right, I guess.

maestrowork · Oct 20, 2007

Either way, but many publishers have house style that says "Graves's."

Deleted member 42 · Oct 20, 2007

It's not a grammar issue; it's a style sheet issue. MLA wants s's; American Heritage Usage doesn't require it, and both of them, like the Chicago Manual of Style, have a list of exceptions.

Marlys · Oct 20, 2007

I usually follow The Chicago Manual of Style, and they prefer Graves's. But others do it differently, so I'd say just be consistent and you'll probably be all right. Easy enough to change if your editor wants it otherwise.

jannawrites · Oct 20, 2007

Doesn't it in part, too, have to do with how many in the Graves family you're talking about? Like...

It was Mr. Graves's second trip to the lake.

The whole family went together; it was the Graves' second trip to the lake.

What do you guys think?

Zelenka · Oct 20, 2007

My guidelines on essay writing from the university specify it should be Graves's. My boss though mentioned the method to avoid the triple 's' and I'd agree that the Graves' example sounds better if it's 'statement' you're using.
JessR

Deleted member 42 · Oct 20, 2007

Just pick one, and stick to it.

Devil Ledbetter · Oct 20, 2007

Thank you. It's in dialog, and singular.

's on a surname ending in s?

Devil Ledbetter

Come on you stranger, you legend,

DeleyanLee

Writing Anarchist

Devil Ledbetter

Come on you stranger, you legend,

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

Deleted member 42

Marlys

Resist. Love. Go outside.

jannawrites

no, really

Zelenka

Going home!

Deleted member 42

Devil Ledbetter

Come on you stranger, you legend,