Possessive forms with people’s names have specific rules based on the name. For the most part, the rules are simple. When someone’s name ends with an “s,” things get a bit trickier. This article will explain how to use “James'” or “James’s” as the possessive form for “James.”
James’s or James’: Which Is the Correct Possessive Form?
“James'” is the correct possessive form when following the AP Stylebook. “James’ book” is correct according to AP rules. “James’s” is the correct possessive form when following any other style guide (like The Chicago Manual of Style). “James’s family” is used with these rules.
These examples will help to clarify it a little more:
- AP Style: James’ father is coming to town in a few days.
- Chicago Style: James’s father is going to be late.
The possessive form highlights ownership of a specified noun. The possessive noun comes first (in most cases), and the owned noun comes second. “James” is the possessive form, and “father” is the owned noun in both examples.
James’s
“James’s” is the most common possessive form because it applies to most stylebooks. You should use “James’s” when following The Chicago Manual of Style, APA Style, and The Microsoft Manual of Style.
The “s” after the apostrophe makes the possessive form clearer. All stylebooks using “James’s” agree that the clear possessive form is useful when writing proper nouns.
While the repeated “s” letter might seem jarring at first glance, it helps the reader see the ownership. This clarity is exactly why stylebooks like to use “James’s,” as it makes the possession as clear as possible to avoid confusion.
Here are a couple of examples to show you how the majority of style guides use “James’s” in a sentence:
- James’s birthday should be coming up later this week. I haven’t got him anything yet.
- What was James’s address again? Did you write it down, or are we going to have to find it?
UK English tends to stick to “James’s” in most written cases. The repeated “s” is much clearer, and UK Style rules tend to value clarity over simplicity. This means that writers from Australia and Canada also stick with AP Style, as they are more likely to follow British English rules.
James’
“James'” is the correct possessive form in specific circumstances. The AP Stylebook is the only common English stylebook that allows you to drop the “s” after the apostrophe here.
The “s” should be dropped in favour of simplicity. Reading “s’s” at the end of a possessive noun can appear quite jarring to readers (native and non-native, alike).
US English tends to stick to simpler forms like “James'” in writing. Extra “s” letters are often considered redundant in American English, which is why “James'” tends to see more usage.
These examples will demonstrate how AP Style uses “James’:”
- James’ birthday should have already been listed. I have it written somewhere, but I can’t find it.
- What is James’ brother called? I can’t remember his name, and I feel so bad about that!
What to Remember
Grammatically speaking, “James'” and “James’s” are both correct.
You can drop the “s” after the apostrophe according to the AP Stylebook. The “s” is dropped because it is simpler to read “James'” with only one “s.”
You should keep the “s” after the apostrophe in other styles (like The Chicago Manual of Style). The “s” is kept in “James’s” to make the possessive form clear and easy to read.
Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here.
