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Guest Posted 22 years ago
Grammar

Proper use of apostrophe

Jane and John's Birthday or Jane's and John's Birthday which is correct usage
  

Top answer

This is a question of joint or separate possession. If Jane and John have the same birthday then it is a joint possession "they own it together" and as such only the last owner receives the apostrophe. If they have different birthdays then it is separate possession.

— Mp

  • This is a question of joint or separate possession.
  • If Jane and John have the same birthday then it is a joint possession "they own it together" and as such only the last owner receives the apostrophe.
  • If they have different birthdays then it is separate possession.
  • "they own it separately" as as such each receives an apostrophe.
  • Another example: John and Paul's band, The Beatles, arrived in the United States forty years ago.
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3 Answers
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This is a question of joint or separate possession.

If Jane and John have the same birthday then it is a joint possession "they own it together" and as such only the last owner receives the apostrophe.

If they have different birthdays then it is separate possession. "they own it separately" as as such each receives an apostrophe.

Another example:

John and P
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Oh and I also forgot to add. Notice in a joint possession the thing that is owned is singular.
In a separate possession the thing that is owned is plural.
And that's all I have to say about that.
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I agree with everythng mp said, except that it is also permissible to say:

Jane and John's cars

(with cars plural) if John and Jane both share ownership of more than one car.

Rommie
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