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Archiver > NYALBANY > 2010-01 > 1262390517


From: susi c pentico <>
Subject: Re: [NYALBANY] Plurals of surnames
Date: Fri, 1 Jan 2010 16:01:57 -0800
References: <4B3E69E1.3010906@nycap.rr.com>
In-Reply-To: <4B3E69E1.3010906@nycap.rr.com>


I was aware of that but it is sure nice to remind us to remember it
when doing research. Blessed Happy New Year to you and all.

Susi Looking for JONES in Albany, Rensealaer and Saratoga areas.

On Jan 1, 2010, at 10:34 PM, Cliff Lamere wrote:

> A very common punctuation error in genealogy is the use of the
> apostrophe followed by an 's' to create the plural of a surname.
>
> Exampled of that wrong usage follows:
> "There are seven Chadwick's on the census page."
> "Has anyone found obituaries for any Horner's in this county?"
>
> The error is becoming so common that it had me wondering if it was I
> who
> was doing it wrong.
>
> A little research had confirmed that an apostrophe should NOT be
> used to
> make the plural of a surname. Gardner's is incorrect as a plural, but
> correct to show possession (as in "Betty Gardner's pie was great.").
>
> The following plurals are correct. For most surnames, simply add an
> 's'
> to form the plural of it.
>
> Smith --> Smiths
> Bailey --> Baileys
> Gardner --> Gardners
> Van Woert --> Van Woerts
>
> However, if the name ends in an
> s, x, ch, sh, or a z,
> the plural is formed by adding an -es.
>
> Jones --> Joneses
> Maddox --> Maddoxes
> March --> Marches
> Rush --> Rushes
> Martinez --> Martinezes
>
> http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/apostro.asp
>
> See Rule 5.
>
> I wish you all a very happy and healthy 2010.
>
> Cliff Lamere
>
>
>
>
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