What is the Proper use of the apostrophe?

[rosalinda-143.livejournal.com]

Okay, so I know the basics, the things they've taught me in the classroom. But there's one thing that gets me every time.

Is the correct grammar:

Poppy had James' baseball.

or

Poppy had James's baseball.

Thanks in advanced for the help!

peace.love.happiness.

~ J

Comments

[knittingknots.livejournal.com]

Both are correct. When I was a kid they were trying to move us into using James' baseball, but the Chicago Manual of Style, for instance, now prefers the old way of 's.

A handy lookup sheet: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/621/01/

[xeverywherex.livejournal.com]

I was also taught that both are acceptable, but there are still manuals and guides out there that stick by the James's version. I think most people use the James' version, though, because it looks better.

[esotericstyle.livejournal.com]

When I was in school, they taught us that James' is correct, but in the case of a holy or famous person, you would add the 's, such as Jesus's or John Adams's. Personally, I usually leave it off. There are entirely too many contradictory rules these days.

[piranhabites.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure it's the opposite, lol - in the case of a holy or ancient person, the extra 's' is unnecessary, but in everyday use, it's needed.

[words-of-ela.livejournal.com]

English grammar is one of my weak points and something I had to work on. But I had the same problem, only with the name Lucas, and I had to dug through the pile of my grammar books to get the answer.

You only omit the s in s's with plurals, but in singular the s stays except if you have a multisyllabic singular noun that ends in an s or z sound and if it's followed by a word beginning with an s or z sound (for goodness' sake).

Poppy had James's baseball is correct since James is a singular noun.

[thebonedawg.livejournal.com]

I was taught both ways depending on the teacher. I first learned that James's was correct. Later (in high school, I think) I was told that James's was wrong and James' was correct. I was never told that both were correct. It was always one or the other.

And I generally use James', although I try to avoid using it altogether because I don't like the way it sounds.