Grammar question: Is it The Smiths, or The Smith's?

[peasprout]

When you're addressing a card to a family, isn't it supposed to be The Smiths (plural) without "'s"? Because that would make it possesive, right? That's what I've always thought but I've been getting so many cards with "'s" that I'm begining to wonder. So what is it?

[Saartje]

You're right. It should be The Smiths.

[Sarah1]

YOU are right! I taught 7th grade English, so I do have some expertise in this area...unfortunately, misuse of apostrophes is absolutely RAMPANT. It drives me crazy!

[StaceyKim]

I addressed our cards....

"The Smiths"

BUT we get a lot of INCORRECT cards.

[C99]

I totally agree. And it absolutely does not matter what kind of education you have. My SIL, who holds both a B.A. (summa cum laude) and an M.A. in linguistics, sent us a card addressed to "The Smith's."

[mharling]

This is a bone of contention with me too! My maiden name ends in 'S'; for argument's sake, let's say it's Jones.

My parents still get cards addressed to The Jones' or sometimes even The Jone's. Is there such a thing as an apostrophe splice? ;)

Mary
Lane - April 2003
Little Miss - Due March 2!!

[jasabo]

My SIL addresses all her envelopes to us with "The Smith's" and it drives me NUTS!! She's such a know-it-all too, that I've been tempted at times to point it out to her...not that she would believe me since, as I said, she knows everything ;)

Lisa - mom to 18 month old twin boys

[Momof3Labs]

That drives me CRAZY!! But I also don't like how our name looks plural (it ends in "ss" so plural is "sses"). So I've taken to addressing things to The Smith Family instead!

[psophia17]

You're right, it's The Smiths.

Possessive can be confusing, but if there isn't already an "s" at the end, then it really shouldn't be that bad. It drives me up the wall to see the possessive misused all the time. The only exception I can think of where it really is confusing is when the word ends in an "s" already, but the only example I can think of is "Jesus's."

[kristenk]

I can think of an example! My husband's name is Dennis and I still have no idea what the correct possessive form is. Is is Dennis's? Dennis'? Anyone care to help me out? :)