Grammar Question

[Kjesse]

We are trying to solve a grammatical question and we are having different views on the correct answer.

The issue revolves around the use of an apostrophe before or after the "s' in a family name.

Example:



Is this correct? The last name is Davidson, plural, they are the Davidsons, so shouldn't it be, "The Davidsons' Cabin"?

What if "The" is omitted? Does it change?

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Delgar

Is this correct? The last name is Davidson, plural, they are the Davidsons, so shouldn't it be, "The Davidsons' Cabin"?

Is the last name:
Davidson
Davidsons

For example is the father John Davidson or John Davidsons?

[sa226]

Nm, didn't read closely enough.

[undercoverbrother]

Can't it just be:


The Davidson Cabin?


If they feel the need to be possessive of the cabin I believe it would be:

The Davidson's Cabin.

[Kjesse]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Is the last name:
Davidson
Davidsons

For example is the father John Davidson or John Davidsons?

Assume the name is singular, "Davidson".

[red sky]

Davidson's is correct if the last name is Davidson.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Delgar

We are trying to solve a grammatical question and we are having different views on the correct answer.

The issue revolves around the use of an apostrophe before or after the "s' in a family name.

Example:



Is this correct? The last name is Davidson, plural, they are the Davidsons, so shouldn't it be, "The Davidsons' Cabin"?

What if "The" is omitted? Does it change?

If I was getting a sign like this I would avoid the 's' altogether and just go with "Welcome to the Davidson Cabin."

[Kjesse]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Can't it just be:


The Davidson Cabin?


If they feel the need to be possessive of the cabin I believe it would be:

The Davidson's Cabin.

The reason I think this is wrong, is, "The Davidson" is incorrect. It would have to be "The Davidsons" because its referring to a family of two or more people. No?

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Is the last name:
Davidson
Davidsons

For example is the father John Davidson or John Davidsons?

I think the last name is Davidson
I think the question is whether a group would be known as a group of Davidson (+'s) individuals vs a group of Davidsons (+'s)

I'm no expert on grammar, so I lean toward Davidson's because you deal with them one at a time.

ie: Farms say NAME RANCH, not "NAMES RANCH"

[psyang]

I think both would be correct. Davidson's implies the cabin belongs to the single entity "the Davidson family", while Davidsons' implies the cabin belongs to those (plural) who are part of the Davidson family.

[terminator]

MMF, its your time to shine.

[opendoor]

Davidsons' is correct. Or The Davidson Cabin would also be correct as that's more of a title, but once you introduce the "s" it's a plural possessive.

[opendoor]

Originally Posted by psyang

I think both would be correct. Davidson's implies the cabin belongs to the single entity "the Davidson family", while Davidsons' implies the cabin belongs to those (plural) who are part of the Davidson family.

But without the word "family" to singularize it in your first example it makes no sense. You'd never say "The Davidson is coming over for dinner". You'd either say "The Davidson family" or "the Davidsons".

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by opendoor

But without the word "family" to singularize it in your first example it makes no sense. You'd never say "The Davidson is coming over for dinner". You'd either say "The Davidson family" or "the Davidsons".

We can say, "The Davidsons are coming over" but it doesn't necessarily mean it's grammatically correct. I think that's the confusion as at this point as to whether it's grammatically correct.

Where's an English Dr. when you need one?

[opendoor]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

We can say, "The Davidsons are coming over" but it doesn't necessarily mean it's grammatically correct. I think that's the confusion as at this point as to whether it's grammatically correct.

Where's an English Dr. when you need one?

There's nothing incorrect about saying "The Davidsons are coming over". Pluralization of last names is totally acceptable in English.

[calgarygeologist]

If I understand correctly, according to this:

http://www.writingforward.com/gramma...s/apostrophe-s

the appropriate sign would say Davidsons' Cabin because the pluralized Davidsons (more than one individual) has possession of the cabin.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

If they feel the need to be possessive of the cabin I believe it would be:

The Davidson's Cabin.

Originally Posted by red sky

Davidson's is correct if the last name is Davidson.

If the word 'the' changed to 'John' on the sign, it could read Welcome to John Davidson's cabin. It could read Welcome to Davidson's cabin only if Davidson would be referring to one person and this is his cabin (ideally his first name is Davidson, but it could work with just a last name e.g. Welcome to Iginla's cabin). As you are changing it to include the family (by putting the word the in front of Davidson), Davidson needs to be the plural form Davidsons. The sign needs to read Welcome to the Davidsons' cabin. If you were referring to the family you'd say I am going to meet the Davidsons. If you were describing where you were going you would say I'm going to the Davidsons' house. If his name was John Davidsons, it could read Welcome to John Davidsons's cabin.

There are way too many instances of people putting an apostrophe just because the last letter of the word is s. Remember that an apostrophe is not like a penis. You can't just stick wherever you want.

[Kjesse]

Thanks for all your input. I think opendoor and Squiggs and calgarygeologist have it right. Anyone take the opposite view having read their posts?

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by terminator

MMF, its your time to shine.

it's*

[j_j]

You might also what to think about the capitalization style. Could go a couple different ways on "to/To" and "the/The"