Possessive - Jones' / Jones's ?

The second is correct - but you will find some arguments for both.

Thanks... so then what is the difference between my previous example and this one ?

I went to my parents' house.

I went to my parents's house.

I'm sure the latter is not correct in this case.

Is the argument to go both ways in the 'Jones' example only because it's a name that ends in 'S' ?

In your other example, parents is plural, therefore the apostrophe is not followed by another "s".

As you say, it is because it is a name ending in "s" that the argument can go both ways. If there is more than one Jones, then the form becomes "Joneses' dog"

While both are usually accepted, "Jones's" is technically correct. I would know. That's my last name.

Spelling usually bows in these cases to local conventions of pronounciation.

TcurrierWhich is correct ?
Mr. Jones' dog was barking all night.
Mr. Jones's dog was barking all night.
Thanks...

Jones' is correct when referring to one person - despite the movie title, "Bridget Jones's Diary."

According to The Elements of Style, add -'s to form possessive singular nouns except for ancient propoer names that ends in -es and -is where you add only -' (e.g. Moses' Laws); so the first sentence is correct!

Hi Anon:
I'm glad to know that Jones is an ancient name.

I think you'll find that people are split on this one. Both forms indicate possession. I for one would say, "Mr. Jones' dog was barking all night," but I know people who prefer to use the other form. So I guess the answer is whichever one you prefer to use is okay.

It's neither actually. It's Joneses.

AnonymousIt's neither actually. It's Joneses.

I'm sorry, but this is incorrect.

This is Peter Jones. This his dog. This is Peter Jones's dog.

Ths is Peter and Sally Jones. I enjoy having dinner it with the Joneses.

Peter and Saly have a dog. I enjoy playing with the Jonses' dog.

There ARE people who disagree with this. The