this post was submitted on 09 Nov 2026
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Mildly Interesting

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[–] bus_factor@lemmy.world 1 points 18 hours ago

Why would that be grammatically incorrect? I was always taught that if the name ends with an "s" you omit the "s" after the apostrophe.

I looked it up, and it's not quite that simple.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/what-happens-to-names-when-we-make-them-plural-or-possessive

For names that end in an s or z sound, though, you can either add -'s or just an apostrophe. Going with -'s is the more common choice

Ok, so it's kinda optional in most cases, but reading on:

For classical and biblical names there are other rules. For names ending in s or es and having two or more syllables, you usually just add an apostrophe. If the name is only one syllable, add -'s.

  • Socrates' students
  • Ramses' kingdom
  • Amos' prophecy
  • Zeus's warnings

The names Jesus and Moses are always made possessive with the apostrophe alone:

  • Jesus' disciples
  • Moses' law

So pretty obscure stuff, but the bottom line is that the title is the only correct way to write it according to M-W at least.