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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Is this correct use of apostrophy?

This is the text for a party invitation that is being hosted by four couples:

Hosts:

The Charlots, Smaligo's, Harts & Snodgrass's

I have no idea what is proper here! Help!
  

Top answer

Why would you use a simple S for two couples and a 's for the other two? The Charlots, Smaligos, Harts, and Snodgrasses Or The Charlot, Smaligo, Hart, and Snodgrass families. (This is not an academic point for me.

— BarbaraPA

  • Why would you use a simple S for two couples and a 's for the other two?
  • The Charlots, Smaligos, Harts, and Snodgrasses Or The Charlot, Smaligo, Hart, and Snodgrass families.
  • (This is not an academic point for me.
  • My own last name ends in S.
  • )
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3 Answers
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Why would you use a simple S for two couples and a 's for the other two?

The Charlots, Smaligos, Harts, and Snodgrasses

Or

The Charlot, Smaligo, Hart, and Snodgrass families.

(This is not an academic point for me. My own last name ends in S. When I need to refer to people in my family in the plural, I add an ES.)
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My (married) last name is Hoffman. Every time I write "The Hoffmans," I think maybe it should be "The Hoffmen" instead.
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And of these, I'd prefer the second because of the, well, frankly ugly "Snodgrasses". Plus it just sounds weird.
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