Click here to play

the use of an apostrophe in a name

   Share on Facebook  
Anonymous  #319883  Thu, 25 Jan 07 05:44 PM

When making a title slide for the Beck family slide show would the name be proper as The Beck's or just The Becks, without an apostrophe?

  
This is a live chat room, hosted on the chat page. You can also click here to see the chat in fullscreen.
Lil' Ruby Rose  #319890  Thu, 25 Jan 07 06:05 PM

The Beck's Holiday - 's indicating posession

The Becks - s indicating a plural

  
Top 75 Contributor
Joined on Wed, Dec 20 2006
West of England
Regular Member (850)
Proficient Speaker
Enlightenment is always preceded by confusion.
MrPedantic  #320011  Thu, 25 Jan 07 10:47 PM

I would myself say:

1. The Becks' holiday.

You could also say:

The Becks means "members of the family whose surname is Beck". The possessive version is therefore The Becks'.

All the best,

MrP

  
Top 10 Contributor
Joined on Tue, Oct 12 2004
Veteran Member (12,047)
Proficient SpeakerSystemAdministrator
...opella forensis / adducit febris...
Lil' Ruby Rose  #320232  Fri, 26 Jan 07 11:55 AM

Thanks MrP - I have just spotted the typo in my reply.

The family name is Beck, and as a family they would be the Becks (s to indicate plural).  The possessive of the Becks would be Becks', and that is what I meant to type.

  
MrPedantic  #320453  Fri, 26 Jan 07 10:53 PM
 MrPedantic wrote:

I would myself say:

1. The Becks' holiday.

You could also say:

[...missing example...]

The Becks means "members of the family whose surname is Beck". The possessive version is therefore The Becks'.

All the best,

MrP

And I've just spotted the missing example in my post. I wonder where it went. I suppose I forgot to include it.  Tongue Tied [:S] 

MrP

  
AddThis Feed Button RSS Feed: ESL Basic English Grammar Questions and Help
© 2008 MediaCET Ltd.
Terms and Conditions & Terms of Service