From the Mailbag
Wednesday, December 19th, 2007We’re winding down at the end of the year, so I’ve compiled a mixed bag of grammar questions from recent e-mails. I’ve changed the names for privacy reasons. Remember, you may post your questions here or e-mail them to grammar@cherylnorman.com.
1. Tom writes: I don’t want to embarrass myself with my boss. Is “Counties” capitalized in the following sentence? The letter was mailed to the residents of Santa Clara , Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties .
Answer: Yes. To be sure, I looked it up in The Chicago Manual of Style 14th Edition), and if even one of the counties’ proper name is used, you capitalize County.
2. Mrs. Summers writes: I often scratch my head over the use of possessive apostrophes with last names ending in s. My last name is Summers. Which usage is more correct: Mrs. Summers’ classroom, or Mrs. Summers’s classroom? I continue to see Mrs. Summer’s classroom in print,and I need to know how to correctly state my case. Would the same rule apply to Ms. Gress, with a double ss? Thank you, and please correct any other errors you see.
Answer:
Here’s the rule: If it’s plural possessive, add an apostrophe; if it’s singular possessive–even ending in an ’s’–add an apostrophe and an s.
Here’s the rule: If it’s plural possessive, add an apostrophe; if it’s singular possessive–even ending in an ’s’–add an apostrophe and an s.
For example, your name ends in s. It’s Mrs. Summers’s class. You may invite guests to dine at the Winterses’ home (that’s awkward and I doubt you’d use it, but you get my point. It’s the plural possessive). My friend Dolores is an author, so I read all of Dolores’s books. If she reads mine, she reads all of Cheryl’s books. No difference. Her name just happens to end with s. If Howard Hughes wrote an autobiography, it would be Howard Hughes’s ’s story.
I won’t promise you’ll always see it this way, but this is the correct usage according to my research.
3. Don writes:
Is it correct to use “life’s” meaning “life is” ?
As in: “Life’s best outdoors!”
Thanks.
Answer:
It’s not incorrect. But remember grammar is intended to clarify meaning, and your sentence is a bit unclear. At first reading, it appears to be missing a word. (Life’s best is outdoors? Life’s best lived outdoors?) If your meaning is “Life is best outdoors,” say so. The meaning is clear, and the contraction saves you only one letter.
4. Pearl writes: Which is right: ”Just desserts” or “just deserts”?
If you use “Just desserts” you better be writing a cookbook. Deserts, pronounced the same as desserts in this instance, means that which has been earned or deserved.
I wish you safe and happy holidays. Happy new year!
Cheryl
