We’ll start with the tough ones: does your last name end in -s, -x, -z, -ch, and -sh? How to pluralize last names ending in -s, -x, -z, -ch, and -sh Words like churches and girls are regular nouns that have been made plural. A regular noun is singular in one form and plural in another, and it follows some pretty straightforward pluralization rules.
So, what should you do? If you already know how to make regular nouns plural, you’re on your way to getting it right. Don’t use an apostrophe to make your last name plural.Īpostrophes can be used to show possession-à la the Smiths ʼ house or Tim Johnson ʼs pad- but they don’t indicate there’s more than one person in your family. OK, let’s get the most important piece of the puzzle out of the way first. You know the type: the people who own stock in red ink manufacturing and are quick to point out when you’ve misused that apostrophe and inappropriately pluralized your last name.īut have heart! We are here to answer all your questions about how to make your last name plural so you can start stamping those cards or hanging that sign! How do you make a last name plural?
Luz's car, Marx's house.).If writing out your holiday cards or ordering a sign for the front of your house makes you break out in hives, you may know a few grammar sticklers who like to poke fun. Moses leadership, Hercules' wife.) For names that end in z or x, grammarians suggest adding an apostrophe and an s ( e.g. the Obamas' dog.) For biblical and antiquity names, add only an apostrophe ( e.g. However, if the proper name is plural, add juts an apostrophe ( e.g. Charles's dog) or just an apostrophe ( e.g. But as a rule of thumb, add an apostrophe as well as an s ( e.g. The traditional exceptions that take apostrophe alone are the following:Īs you can see, the formation of the possessive case of proper nouns may be confusing.
If the name ends in z or x, add an apostrophe and an s. If the name ends in s, add just an apostrophe or add an apostrophe and an s. For names not ending in s, z, or x, simply add an apostrophe and an s. If you are looking for a summary, here is a table that wraps up all the rules to form the possessive case of proper nouns: Proper Nouns Possessive Case Examples Explanation Names not ending in s, z, or x Alan's car. This page will attempt to clear up the confusion. Deciding on the proper use is not as simple as other grammatical rules. The possessive noun formation for words ending in s, z, or x is one of the most passionately discussed grammatical topics in the English language.