Which one is correct?

Jones's - referring to a single person named Jones
Joneses - referring to a group of people with the surname Jones

Don't think Jones' would be used.
 
I tend to use Jones', as it bugs me when I see butchers with signs saying "Jones's the butchers". Seems wrong.
 
It's been bugging me for a while, but my local coffee shop is named Jones's, I've been going grrrrr! It's Jones'!:D

So either are fine, it's just personal preference?
 
Eames said:
Jones's - referring to a single person named Jones
Joneses - referring to a group of people with the surname Jones

Don't think Jones' would be used.
Click to expand...

This.

You add ‘s to a singular name that ends in s: Jones's

You add an es to make it plural: Joneses.

You then add an apostrophe to make the plural possessive: Joneses'

You wouldn't use Jones' as Jones is a name and although it is creeping into common usage to simply use an apostrophe, it isn't technically correct use of the apostrophe with names.

Hope that clears it up. :)
 
Last edited:
Castiel said:
This.

You add ‘s to a singular name that ends in s: Jones's

You add an es to make it plural: Joneses.

You then add an apostrophe to make the plural possessive: Joneses'

You wouldn't use Jones' as Jones is a name and although it is creeping into common usage to simply use an apostrophe, it isn't technically correct use of the apostrophe with names.

Hope that clears it up. :)
Click to expand...

The person who owns this coffee shop is named Mrs Jones, and has named the shop "Jones's; but there are about three coffee shops in my county that she owns. So one person that owns multiple shops = Joneses? Or Joneses?

Or am I thinking too much?:D
 
davedudes said:
The person who owns this coffee shop is named Mrs Jones, and has named the shop "Jones's; but there are about three coffee shops in my county that she owns. So one person that owns multiple shops = Joneses? Or Joneses?

Or am I thinking too much?:D
Click to expand...

The shop would be Jones's Coffee Shop. I don't think you would use the term Joneses at all...you would say 'Mrs Jones owns multiple coffee shops by the name Jones's Coffee Shop' , or 'Mrs Jones owns several Jones's Coffee Shops'.....because the shop is the plural not the owner. If it was a family affair you might say 'The Joneses own several coffee shops.'

But yeah, you are over thinking it....:D
 
Like people have said both are used but Jones' is sort of an outdated method that you would likely only encounter in old texts, Jones's is the correct use under current modern British English.
 
Castiel said:
The shop would be Jones's Coffee Shop. I don't think you would use the term Joneses at all...you would say 'Mrs Jones owns multiple coffee shops by the name Jones's Coffee Shop' , or 'Mrs Jones owns several Jones's Coffee Shops'.....because the shop is the plural not the owner. If it was a family affair you might say 'The Joneses own several coffee shops.'

But yeah, you are over thinking it....:D
Click to expand...

Cheers. :D
 
I was always taught if your subject end in 's', the possessive form is xxxxs'

Philips' profits for 2012...
Archimedes' mirror.

Archimedes's mirror just sounds plain wrong. And I know my English teacher would frown at me :p
 
Apostrophe S on the end of a singular noun that does not end with S
Apostrophe S on the end of a singular noun that does end with S
Apostrophe S on the end of a plural noun that does not end with S
Apostrophe only on the end of a plural noun that does end in S

So, since there is only one owner of the cafe regardless of how many cafe's they own it would be Jones's
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom