English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
THE APOSTROPHE
3. The apostrophe is also used to indicate ownership. When it does, it is guided by some rules:
1. A singular noun which does not end in “s” should attract apostrophe and an “s”:
I read GABs daily lesson. ✖️
I read GAB’s daily lesson. ✔️
2. A singular noun that ends in “s” attracts apostrophe alone or apostrophe and an “s”:
This is James’ car. ✔️
This is James’s car. ✔️
The car is James’. ✔️
The car is James’s. ✔️
The car is James’/James’s own. ✖️
Note that when apostrophe has been used to indicate ownership, the use of “own” in such sentence makes it ungrammatical.
3. When writing ancient classical or biblical names, the old practice is to use only the apostrophe but modern English supports the use of apostrophe and an “s” as supported by the Chicago Manual of Style:
We pray in Jesus name. ✖️
We pray in Jesus’ name. ✔️
We pray in Jesus’s name. ✔️
Note too that the use of apostrophe and s in rules 2 and 3 can serve the purpose of contraction, rather than possession:
James’s done the work (James has done the work).
GAB
