Possessives of Names Ending in S: Charles’ or Charles’s?
The possessive of a name ending in s can be formed by adding an apostrophe and another s or just an apostrophe. Style manuals differ in their recommendations. The Chicago Manual of Style, APA Publication Manual, and MLA Handbook recommend an additional s after the apostrophe.
- Charles’s boat
- Harris’s campaign
- Chris’s computer
- James’s house
Other style guides, such as the AP Stylebook and AMA Manual of Style recommend adding just an apostrophe and no additional s.
- Charles’ boat
- Harris’ campaign
- Chris’s computer
- James’s house
Either style is acceptable in formal writing, depending on which style guide you follow. In academic and book editing, the apostrophe and additional s are generally used (Charles’s, Harris’s). In news copy, the additional s is often omitted (Charles’, Harris’).
- Correct: We borrowed Charles’s boat, Chris’s house, and Harris’s car for our vacation.
- Also correct: We borrowed Charles’ boat, Chris’ house, and Harris’ car for our vacation.
Additional S only if pronounced
An alternative style is to add another s after the apostrophe only if the additional letter would actually be pronounced while speaking. For example, many people pronounce the possessive of Charles, Chris, Jesus, or Dickens without an extra s sound.
- We found Charles’ crown in the park.
- Chris’ computer isn’t working.
- Jesus’ return to Galilee is written about in the Gospel of John.
- We visited Charles Dickens’ house in London.
- Ares’ numerous offspring are often alluded to in Greek mythology.
But possessives of names like Harris and Dennis generally are pronounced with an additional s sound. An apostrophe and s are then added to the spelling of the possessive.
- Harris’s sister is a political analyst.
- Jonas’s bag is lost.
- I met Dennis’s editor in Amsterdam.
Names ending in a silent S
The possessive of a name ending in a silent, unpronounced s can also be formed either by adding an apostrophe and another s or just an apostrophe. The Chicago Manual of Style recommends adding an s after the apostrophe.
- Dumas’s writings
- Descartes’s ontological argument
Other style manuals, such as the APA Publication Manual and the AP Stylebook, suggest adding only an apostrophe (and no additional s).
- Camus’ novels
- Arkansas’ capital
The s of the possessive is still pronounced in speech.
Biblical and classical names
By convention, possessives of biblical and classical names two syllables or longer and ending in s are formed by simply adding an apostrophe, instead of an apostrophe and another s.
- Jesus’ teachings
- Achilles’ heel
- Moses’ laws
- Socrates’ ideals
Such exceptions, however, are going out of style. The Chicago Manual of Style and MLA Handbook, for instance, now recommend adding an apostrophe and s to form the possessive of all singular nouns, including Jesus: Jesus’s teachings.
Plural family names ending in S
To form the possessive of a plural name (i.e., to refer to a family), first form the plural and then add an apostrophe after the final s. The plural of a family name ending in s is formed by adding es: Williams becomes Williamses, Harris becomes Harrises. The apostrophe that marks the possessive then goes after the final s.
- the Williamses’ cats
- the Harrises’ hats
- the Joneses’ bats
- the Reyeses’ rats
Make sure to form the plural first (Jones → Joneses), and then add the apostrophe at the end to form the possessive.
- Correct: the Joneses’ garage
Incorrect: the Jones’ garage
Incorrect: the Jones’s garage
For more examples, including for family names ending in other sibilants such as x and z, see this article on how to form possessives of plural names.
Country and place names ending in S
To form the possessive of a country or place name that ends in s, follow the same rules as those for people’s names: add either an apostrophe and another s or just an apostrophe, depending on the style you follow.
- Correct: Chicago, APA, MLA style: Texas’s districts
Correct: AP, AMA style: Texas’ districts - Correct: Chicago, APA, MLA style: Kansas’s capital
Correct: AP, AMA style: Kansas’ capital.
If a place or country name is plural (like the United States), simply add an apostrophe at the end (without an additional s).
- the United States’ relationship with China
- the Philippines’ music industry
Never add an additional s to form the possessive of a place name that is plural, regardless of which style guide you follow.
- Incorrect: the United States’s representatives
Correct: the United States’ representatives
Names ending in other sibilants
Possessives of names ending in sibilant sounds like x or z are formed as usual: by adding an apostrophe and s. This is the style recommended by major style guides like the Chicago Manual of Style and AP Stylebook.
- Max’s stories
- Marx’s theories
- Alex’s letters
- Diaz’s hairstyle
- Walz’s views[/egtext Liz’s books
Examples from published content
Here are some examples that show how possessives of names ending in s can be formed by adding an apostrophe and another s.
Prince Charles’s confidential communications will remain just that.
— “What Might Price Charles’s Letters Reveal?” BBC News (Nov. 24, 2014)He tied Jesus’s teachings to his call for higher taxes on the wealthy.
— “At Prayer Breakfast, Obama Issues Call for Humility,” New York Times (Feb. 7, 2013)Chris’s visit to the Hewett country estate follows soon after.
— David Denby, “Game Playing,” New Yorker (Jan. 9, 2006)
And here are some sentences that show how names ending in s can be made possessive simply by adding an apostrophe.
He noted that he had scolded Chris for having their 88-year-old mother, Matilda, visiting Chris’ home two weeks ago.
— “CNN’s Cuomo, with Coronavirus, Completes Show from Basement,” AP News (Mar. 31, 2020)I try to live my life by Jesus’ teachings.
— “A Terrible Use of the Good Book,” Guardian (Dec. 16, 2009)This organization probably was the last event of the Hebrew leader Moses’ life.
— “The origin and development of biblical covenants: Judaism,” Encyclopedia Britannica (Accessed July 6, 2022)
