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Writer's Haven => Quill and Feather Pub [Public] => Topic started by: Vidya on January 03, 2020, 03:59:06 PM

Title: does this need an apostrophe?
Post by: Vidya on January 03, 2020, 03:59:06 PM

I wrote:

Why do so many Marilyn Monroe’s marry Arthur Miller’s?

My beta reader added the apostrophes. i’m sure I read once that when you make a plural of proper names, no  apostrophe is needed. Thoughts?

Title: Re: does this need an apostrophe?
Post by: guest78 on January 03, 2020, 04:02:06 PM

Unless Marilyn Monroe's boobies are marrying Arthur Miller's brains, you don't need the apostrophes.

Title: Re: does this need an apostrophe?
Post by: TimothyEllis on January 03, 2020, 04:52:24 PM

Quote from: gonegonegone on January 03, 2020, 04:02:06 PM

Unless Marilyn Monroe's boobies are marrying Arthur Miller's brains, you don't need the apostrophes.

 :tup3b

Title: Re: does this need an apostrophe?
Post by: PJ Post on January 04, 2020, 02:37:37 AM

(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/a0/21/fe/a021fe13ec07f747ddcb6311d17da90e.jpg)

Title: Re: does this need an apostrophe?
Post by: She-la-te-da on January 04, 2020, 11:27:43 PM

Definitely no apostrophe either time. Might be time to reconsider that beta, if you're depending on their grammar skills.

Title: Re: does this need an apostrophe?
Post by: Vidya on January 05, 2020, 12:36:38 AM

Thanks, everyone. She-la-te-da, that beta is excellent at catching instances of repetitive words and phrases and gives me detailed edits that I appreciate. I don't rely on any beta for grammar. No beta is ever right about everything.

Title: Re: does this need an apostrophe?
Post by: The Bass Bagwhan on January 21, 2020, 07:49:59 PM

But what if their names are Marilyn Monroes or Arthur Millars? Is the plural then "Marilyn Munrosess" and "Arthur Millarss"? Or alternatively, "Marilyn Munroeses" or "Arthur Millarses"? In which case you might drop the "e" and they become "Marilyn Munroes's" and "Arthur Millars's" and the apostrophre represents the missing "e" in the same way as contractions and "don't" is "does not"...

Just askin' ...

Title: Re: does this need an apostrophe?
Post by: Jeff Tanyard on January 22, 2020, 06:53:46 AM

Quote from: The Bass Bagwhan on January 21, 2020, 07:49:59 PM

But what if their names are Marilyn Monroes or Arthur Millars? Is the plural then "Marilyn Munrosess" and "Arthur Millarss"? Or alternatively, "Marilyn Munroeses" or "Arthur Millarses"? In which case you might drop the "e" and they become "Marilyn Munroes's" and "Arthur Millars's" and the apostrophre represents the missing "e" in the same way as contractions and "don't" is "does not"...

Just askin' ...

My two cents:



I'm going over to Arthur Miller's house.  (singular possessive)

Have you met the Millers?  (plural)

I'm going over to the Millers's house.   (plural possessive)



I'm going over to Henry James's house.  (singular possessive, name ends in s)

Have you met the Jameses?  (plural, name ends in s)

I'm going over to the Jameses' house.  (plural possessive, name ends in s)



Hope that helps.  :)

Title: Re: does this need an apostrophe?
Post by: T. M. Bilderback on January 22, 2020, 10:06:29 PM

The crux of the biscuit is the apostrophe. --Frank Zappa