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.
-------------------- David Harding A Sign of Excellence Carrollton, TX Posts: 5084 | From: Carrollton, TX, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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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'
-------------------- Brad Ferguson See More Signs 7931 Wornall Rd Kansas City, MO 64111 signbrad@yahoo.com 816-739-7316 Posts: 1230 | From: Kansas City, MO, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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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.
-------------------- Jean Shimp Shimp Sign & Design Co. Jacksonville Beach, Fl Posts: 1266 | From: Jacksonville Beach, Fl. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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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.
-------------------- Shirley Carron Black Sheep Designs 184 John St. N. Arnprior,On.,Canada shirleyc@magma.ca 613-623-7053 Posts: 503 | From: Arnprior, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Nov 2001
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...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...
-------------------- Shirley Carron Black Sheep Designs 184 John St. N. Arnprior,On.,Canada shirleyc@magma.ca 613-623-7053 Posts: 503 | From: Arnprior, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Nov 2001
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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"
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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.
-------------------- Rodger MacMunn T.R. MacMunn & Sons C.P.207, Sharbot Lake, ON 613-279-1230 trmac@frontenac.net Posts: 472 | From: Sharbot Lake, Ontario | Registered: Nov 2003
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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"
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!
-------------------- Shirley Carron Black Sheep Designs 184 John St. N. Arnprior,On.,Canada shirleyc@magma.ca 613-623-7053 Posts: 503 | From: Arnprior, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Nov 2001
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Ricardo, WHO OWNS THIS HOUSE, WHERE THE CAPINS LIVE? OLD MAN CAPIN.
-------------------- dennis kiernan independent artist san francisco, calif, usa Posts: 907 | From: san francisco, ca usa | Registered: Feb 2010
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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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