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Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Boys names?

Hello, while I was reading a news article, I found this sentence, What are some traditional boys names? However, as far as I know, "boys names" should be "boys' names" or is it acceptable without " 's " or it is just a typo. Please help me out.
Thank you as usual and have a good day.
  

Top answer

"boys names" means "names given to boys" rather than "names belonging to boys". Thus, the apostrophe seems redundant or even incorrect. If, however, you're referring to specific boys' names then yes The boys' names are Mark and Peter, respectively.

— Ivanhr

  • "boys names" means "names given to boys" rather than "names belonging to boys".
  • Thus, the apostrophe seems redundant or even incorrect.
  • If, however, you're referring to specific boys' names then yes The boys' names are Mark and Peter, respectively.
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8 Answers
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"boys names" means "names given to boys" rather than "names belonging to boys". Thus, the apostrophe seems redundant or even incorrect.

If, however, you're referring to specific boys' names then yes

The boys' names are Mark and Peter, respectively.
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An apostrophe is needed. Where it goes is a matter of opinion. You'll probably see "boys' names" (names that boys have) more often than "boy's names" (names characteristic of a boy).

English doesn't handle possessives well. It's like "Mother's Day" or "Mothers Day" or "Mothers' Day". Each has its adherents. "Name" is different from "day", though. Things possess a name, and they don't have
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Hi,

I would always use the apostrophe. [ boys' names ]


Clive
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Thank you all as always and what you meant is although we could see something like boys names, you would like to use "boys' names". Did I understand you right? Thank you.
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"Each has its adherents." A wise and true statement.
I'm not clear on what you mean when you say "Things possess a name, and they don't have to possess a holiday." What am I missing?
Persons, places, animals and things (the oldest definition of a noun I know of) all have names and can possess something.

Edit: This is from the New York Times Style and Usage Manual (4th editi
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Hi John,

DESCRIPTIVE PHRASES: Do not add an apostrophe to a word ending in s when it is used primarily in a descriptive sense: citizens band radio, a Cincinnati Reds infielder, a teachers college, a Teamsters request, a writers guide.

I certainly wouldn't change the proper nouns here, but for the others (if I couldn
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That NYT excerpt is also in the AP Stylebook verbatim. It goes on to provide a "Memory Aid" to the effect that if "for" or "by" would be used in the longer form rather than "of", you don't need the apostrophe. I think "for" in "a radio band for citizens" is different from the one in "names for boys". The first means "for the use of", the second, "intended to be given to". Once given, they are the
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Great discussion, guys.
I believe that this sort of conversation is a valuable tool for all of our members.
Thanks very much.
Yikes! I think I may have mixed up AP with the NYT - sorry about that.
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