Public Service Announcement Regarding Apostrophes

Last week we answered questions 1 and 2. This week let’s tackle questions 3 and 4. As a reminder, we’re talking about how to pluralize last names for our Christmas and holiday greeting cards.

Question 3: What if my last name ends with an “x,” or a “z,” or an “sh,” or with “ch”?

Question 4: What if my last name ends with “y”?

The answer to the above questions remains the same: No apostrophe is needed. Ever. Never use apostrophes to pluralize your last name on your greeting cards. Ever.

What if your last name ends with an “x,” or a “z,” or an “sh,” or with “ch”? The same pluralization rule holds true with these examples. If the last name is Birch, the plural is Birches. If the last name is Lomax, the plural is Lomaxes. If the last name is Samesh, the plural is Sameshes. If the last name is Nantz, the plural is Nantzes.

What if your last name ends with “y”? With common nouns that end with “y” such as baby, the grammar rule dictates changing the “y” to “i” and adding “es.” Baby becomes babies when pluralized. However, that rule does not apply to proper names. You will never change the spelling of your last name to make it plural; you simply keep the “y” and add an “s” to the end. If the last name is Kerry, the plural is Kerrys, NOT Kerries. And, what if your last name ends with a “ys” already? You add “es” to the end of the “ys.” An example is Humphreyses.

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Certified Speaking Professional Mandi Stanley works with business leaders who want to boost their professional image by becoming better speakers and writers through interactive high-content keynotes, breakout sessions, workshops, technical writing seminars, and fun proofreading classes.

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