Last name clarification

Question

0This question has always plagued me:  when writing, if I want to tell someone that a married couple will be attending somewhere, do I write it as:  "The Esposito's are coming too" or is it "The Espositos are coming too."  It looks weird to me without the apostrophe, but is that correct grammar?  Another reason I ask is because spellcheck always picks up on the non-apostrophe word.  02br02br00I do know that if I say "we are going to the Esposito's" to add an apostrophe because I am assuming that I mean the Esposito's house.  Am I correct in assuming this?02br02br00Thanks for helping me clear this up!02br02br00Gigity0-

NewPhilologist · Accepted Answer

0 Hi Gigity,02br
02br
00Say "The Espositos are coming too." 05002br
02br
00Best wishes,02br
00NP010id1

Khoff · Answer

1font00I do know that if I say "we are going to the Esposito's" to add an apostrophe because I am assuming that I mean the Esposito's house. Am I correct in assuming this?02font02br
02br
00I would put the apostrophe after the s, because the Espositos' house belongs to both of them. But then you get into the problem of whether or not to add another s after the apostrophe, and whether the rule on that is different for plurals than for singulars ending in s. I'00'm actually not sure what "THE RULE" is -- my own habit would be that if you would pronounce an additional syllable after the apostrophe, it needs an additional s, and if not, not. I would say "the Espositos' house" (plural Espositos) ; "the boss's desk" (one boss) ; "the bosses' desks" (many bosses). 00I remember several years ago getting into a big argument with my daughter's teacher, who was insisting on "the boss' desk" as the possessive form for one boss. To me, this would have to be pronounced exactly the same as "the boss desk" and thats not how I would pronounce it.02br
02br
00Help, Grammar Gurus! I'm in over my head in s's and apostrophes!0-

BarbaraPA · Answer

0I'm right there with you Khoff. That teacher should not have been teaching - at least, not English.02br
02br
00One Esposito02br
02br
00Two Espositos02br
02br
00Jim Esposito's new car02br
02br
00Jim and Jane Espositos' house02br
02br
00Although, for pure humor value, I guess you could call the couple the Espisiti... 0-

Last name clarification

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions