[Grammar] James' or James's?

Question

Would the tale of James be:

James' tale,

or

James's tale?

Basically, if a singular proper noun ends with S (like James), will the possessive only require an apostrophe at the end, or will it add another S after the apostrophe? I've seen it written both ways, but I'm wondering if one is more grammatically correct than the other.

Thanks~

Answer 1

I Think Its James', Thats the only way i have seen it.

Answer 2

James' tale

Answer 3

I think the correct one is James' tale

Hoped it helped

Answer 4

james' would be the correct way. [this is to avoid the double s.]

Answer 5

james'

that's the correct answer,

i asked my aunt who is a valedictorian of their class and that's what she said.

Answer 6

James's.

You generally only use only an apostrophe if it sounds awkward, say if there is already a 'sus' sound, not just a 'ss', if that makes sense.

So it would be James's, but Moses'

Answer 7

i think it's James's because isn't the other one for plural and like family names

i double checked and found tht site.. hope it helps

Answer 8

Both are correct.

Traditionally, 'James's' was the only accepted possessive. Some style manuals of today allow just adding the apostrophe to a singular word ending in 's'. Some waffle on the issue, saying it's OK to use just apostrophe on proper names (Ross') but still use the 's with common nouns (boss's). That leads to odd things like 'Ross' boss's office'.

One major source, the US Government Printing Office Style Manual, has held the line - if the singular noun ends in 's', add apostrophe +s.

The answer is that both are correct. If you're faced with that in something you're writing for a job or school, find out which style is preferred by the boss or teacher and follow that.

While I was entering this, Y!A's spelling checker popped up and told me to correct James's to James'. Since I am one who still uses James's, the spelling checker can take that eraser and stick it.

Answer 9

James'