We're not arguing, just debating the issue, but which is the correct way to put a family name on a sign?
For example: if I'm making a sign for a family whose last name is Crepin, should it appear as: A) the Crepins B) the Crepin's
Does it matter?
I know B) would be appropriate when used with other words like "The Crepin's Place"
And what is the proper use of an apostrophy for names ending in "s" A) the James or B) the James'
Does it matter?
Posted by David Harding (Member # 108) on :
The Crepins The Crepin’s Place
The James The James’ Place also correct: The James’s Place
An apostrophe is used for several reasons but NEVER to show plurality.
It is used to replace missing letter(s) in a contraction: Cannot=Can’t Did not=Didn’t It is=It’s
It is used to show possession: In singular possession, it comes before the “s”. Joe’s hat. Oklahoma’s weather In possession on words that end with “s”, it comes after the “s”. Kansas’ basketball team It is also correct (and preferred my many) to add an additional “s” after the apostrophe in possession on words that end with “s”. Kansas’s basketball team
An exception to the possession rule is the possessive form of “it”, which would be “its”. To put an apostrophe in there would turn it into a contraction for “it is”. What helps me to keep that straight is to pretend the apostrophe is the missing “I”, which is what it essentially is.
On plural words that are made up of initials, the apostrophe is not used RVs=Correct RV’s=Wrong (this is showing possession–when I see that, I think “The RV’s what? What does the RV own?”) The 1980s=Correct The 1980's=Wrong (unless you finish the statement with what the 1980s possessed) The ‘80s=Correct (the apostrophe replaces the “19") The ‘80's=Wrong (unless you again finish the statement with what the ‘80s possessed)
Sometimes, in examples such as “The Crepins”, people will say “It doesn’t look right without the apostrophe”. That is because they’ve seen it wrong so many times that it starts to look like the proper way to do it. That doesn’t make it correct, and to me, shows the sign maker hasn’t done his homework.
You can look up online for correct apostrophe usage. There are some humorous sites that address it.
Posted by Joe Cieslowski (Member # 2429) on :
So long as their check is good, it doesn't matter.
Joe,
Makin Chip$ and Havin Fun!
Posted by Ricardo Davila (Member # 3854) on :
Very good, David !
Posted by David Harding (Member # 108) on :
Thank's
...I just had to!
Posted by Brad Ferguson (Member # 33) on :
Well put, David.
I have also seen the plural of James written as Jameses. This would make the plural possessive Jameses'.
This would harmonize with the plural of common nouns ending in 's,' which require adding 'es.' For example, kiss, plural: kisses, plural possessive: kisses' bus, plural: buses, plural possessive: buses'
Posted by Jean Shimp (Member # 198) on :
Personally, I don't like the look of apostrophies on a sign - just a bunch of disconnected space. It may be grammatically correct to use them, but graphically correct "not" to use them. Posted by Shirley Carron (Member # 2446) on :
Thanks Dave,
I guess why the 'debate' came up was that in the case of these address signs...(the client was saying to include the apostrophy) there was contaversary about the question being asked as you went past any home.
The question...Who lives here? The Crepins
Who's place is this? The Crepin's place.
I made the sign and spelled it Crepins, but thank for making it perfectly clear.
Posted by Shirley Carron (Member # 2446) on :
...but Dave (or anyone) some if the address signs I make have the word WELCOME across the top, a pictoral in the middle and either the family name or house number at the bottom.
In the case of when they say welcome AND have the family name isn't it assumed you would read the sign Welcome to the Crepin's, even though the "to" is only imagined and not actually on the sign anywhere?
And in this case Crepin's is possesive...
Posted by Jerry Starpoli (Member # 1559) on :
David is right on,
Posted by Joe Cieslowski (Member # 2429) on :
Shirley,
It that case I would be comfortable with....
WELCOME.......The CAPINS
WELCOME.......CAPIN'S.....not so much.
Can you show us a picture with the welcome and a name?
Thanks,
Joe,
Makin Chip$ and Havin Fun!
Posted by Ricardo Davila (Member # 3854) on :
NUMBER OF FAMILY MEMBERS:
ONE CAPIN, TWO CAPINS, THREE CAPINS AND FOUR CAPINS.
HOW MANY MEMBERS ARE IN THE CAPIN FAMILY?
FOUR MEMBERS !............THE CAPINS !!
WHO OWNS THIS HOUSE, WHERE THE CAPINS LIVE? THE CAPIN FAMILY.......THEREFORE, THIS IS THE CAPINS'S HOUSE. ( OR THE CAPINS' HOUSE )
Kent Moss Paint On... Sweet Charleston
Posted by Rodger MacMunn (Member # 4316) on :
Shirley, I pointed out the grammatical/spelling mistake re an apostrophe over on the Vectric Forum one time & they were all over me like a fat kid on a Timbit. I don't care. "The Carron's", or whatever, is still wrong. I don't have much education but it still drives me nuts so see such errors on signs.
Posted by Kent Moss (Member # 4295) on :
Bess wahay twew halpf doun iat waus lyek iye paindented mey Dadeys huose sgin inn nean tine sexaty serax. THe Mosses THe Mosss THe Moss"s THe Mosss"
Kent Moss Paint On... Sweet Charleston
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
In Texas "y'all" is singular and "all y'all" is plural. Try to get it right when you pass through.
Posted by Shirley Carron (Member # 2446) on :
Thanks for the...input? everyone.
Earlier most people seemed to agree with David Harding and while my confusion continued I emailed and sent the sign layout to him (I can't post pictures here)and he was kind enough to continue working on this with me.
I think I learned my lesson for all future signs.
You're too funny Rodger...where do you come up with those sayings? Pretty girl with too much makeup...fat kid on a Timbit???
Kent, do you ever smell smoke coming from your computer when you use Spellcheck?
Just goes to show...even after years of making signs, I'm still learning. And seriously considering moving to Texas!
Posted by David Harding (Member # 108) on :
Shirley,
August is about to hit. I'd wait two or three months before I moved here.
Unless you really like dealing with the white stuff, winters are great down here... right... all y'all?
Posted by Shirley Carron (Member # 2446) on :
...but in Texas is it "Welcome Y'all" or "All Y'all Welcome"?
Posted by Dennis Kiernan (Member # 12202) on :
Ricardo, WHO OWNS THIS HOUSE, WHERE THE CAPINS LIVE? OLD MAN CAPIN.
Posted by Rusty Bradley (Member # 6938) on :
The Crepians
Posted by David Harding (Member # 108) on :
Rusty,
Now, you've added spelling to the question of "Which is Correct?"
Of course, one sign person I worked with forty years ago told me I'd have to be awfully ignorant not to know two or three ways to spell any word!
Posted by Rusty Bradley (Member # 6938) on :
The Crepinites
Posted by Ricardo Davila (Member # 3854) on :
Hey, Dennis,
I thought you guys were referring to the CAPINS.....but, I see that you are, in fact, referring to the CREPINS......Sorry about that......But,still, the same spelling rule applies the same to the CREPINS, too, or any other last name.
Except, of course, for the Granny Capin story( not Crepin ) ...Who does not belong in this thread....Well, you already know...The story I won't tell.
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