Most experts and guides say you should add an apostrophe and an S to both proper and common nouns to make them possessive even when they end.

Names ending with s possessive. For names ending in s or es and having two or more syllables you usually just add an apostrophe. For example should you use Adams 2013 work or Adamss 2013 work. We make names that dont end in s possessive by adding s for example Mr.

In general you form a possessive singular noun both proper and common by adding an apostrophe and the letter S to the end of the word. The exception to non-plural words ending in s taking the s if for biblical names like Jesus and Moses for the sole reason that the grammatical rules were only standardized after the bible was translated in English and the grammarians preferred to make an exception than to suggest the bible was grammatically incorrect. See the examples below for an illustration of this type of possessive noun.

Possessive Singular of Nouns ending in s. The jury is still out on how to form the possessive for s -final names. When it comes to possessives last names are again like other nouns.

But the Chicago Manual of Style says that forming the possessive with names ending in s is just like forming the possessive with names that dont end in s. Add an apostrophe-s s. Proper nouns ending in s are made possessive by adding an apostrophe only.

Both styles are acceptable in formal writing. A foxs brush Note. One of the most confusing punctuation rules is when to use an apostrophe to make a name possessive if it ends in S.

Some people might be tempted when following the pattern in the list above to write it as James. You use the apostrophe s for names ending in s. Therefore in the example above the correct usage would be Adamss 2013 work.