GinaPagnato Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 For signing off on a birthday card, is it: Love, The Smiths -or- Love, The Smith's I see both, and I used to think it was The Smiths, because it just indicated plural, as in , there are more than one of us. But I so often see The Smith's. Which is it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belacqua Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 First one (Smiths). A bunch of people named Smith. The other indicates a possessive (belonging to the smith), which you don't want here. So your instincts were good. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilma Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 No apostrophe. It's neither possessive nor a contraction. So, no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilma Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 dp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 I see The Smith's frequently, but the apostrophe is still wrong. The Smiths is correct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThisIsTheDay Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 I always cringe when I see "The Smith's." I think, yikes, this is how you sign your FAMILY's name??! One of my children is very naughty. His comment would be, "The Smith's what?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 There is a light that never goes out... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 I always cringe when I see "The Smith's." I think, yikes, this is how you sign your FAMILY's name??! One of my children is very naughty. His comment would be, "The Smith's what?" And who is this Smith character? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belacqua Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 This is making me laugh because our shared driveway has a sign for our neighbors that reads The Smith's. I'm not using that name as a generic substitute; it literally says The Smith's. I've been so tempted to fill in the apostrophe with wood putty (and if they weren't such nice neighbors I might just yield to that temptation; the sign is technically on our yard, so...). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhschool Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 This is making me laugh because our shared driveway has a sign for our neighbors that reads The Smith's. I'm not using that name as a generic substitute; it literally says The Smith's. I've been so tempted to fill in the apostrophe with wood putty (and if they weren't such nice neighbors I might just yield to that temptation; the sign is technically on our yard, so...). Fill it in anyway. If they are such nice neighbors why would you let them make fools of themselves like that? But do it at night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momof3littles Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 We have a sign up locally right now on a storefront that says: Mattress' For Sale. That's quite a choice. Someone was trying to hedge their bets and just totally failed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hyacinth Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 The Smith's in front of the driveway doesn't bother me as much. My brain would justify it as "The Smith's house. The Smith's driveway." Lol What drives me nuts is why do we put ' in places like "He got all A's." I complained about this when I worked at a newspaper and the editor told me that's how they do it. I will never understand. That one is actually a bit more acceptable. Some style manuals, such as Chicago and AP, recommend inserting an apostrophe to make single letters plural. Otherwise it would look like the word As. (I still don't like it, mind you, but I'm not going to fight it with the same vigor I will defend the serial comma.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belacqua Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 That one is actually a bit more acceptable. Some style manuals, such as Chicago and AP, recommend inserting an apostrophe to make single letters plural. Otherwise it would look like the word As. (I still don't like it, mind you, but I'm not going to fight it with the same vigor I will defend the serial comma.) Ooh, are you an Oxford Comma Warrior, too? We need a secret signal, I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momof3littles Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 That one is actually a bit more acceptable. Some style manuals, such as Chicago and AP, recommend inserting an apostrophe to make single letters plural. Otherwise it would look like the word As. (I still don't like it, mind you, but I'm not going to fight it with the same vigor I will defend the serial comma.) . Is it true of non single letters also? I always default to no apostrophe and then doubt myself. I see things like CD's regularly, for example. Correct or incorrect? This one still baffles me because either way I am certain I am doing it wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 The Smiths is correct. You could also say, "The Smith Family." See my signature line. Click on the link there. Here is the link for those on mobile who can't see my sig line: http://theoatmeal.com/comics/apostrophe Get the poster for your kids. Don't be a party to kittencide. ;) On a similar note? Possessive pronouns: his, hers, its, yours, mine, ours-none of them receive apostrophes. Is it true of non single letters also? I always default to no apostrophe and then doubt myself. I see things like CD's regularly, for example. Correct or incorrect? This one still baffles me because either way I am certain I am doing it wrong. This is a style issue. Some style books suggest apostrophe use while others suggest no apostrophe. The key here is to be consistent (although the trend is toward leaving off the apostrophe, unless it would be confusing without it). Grammar Girl addresses more common apostrophe mistakes in her columns: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/apostrophe-catastrophe-part-one http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/apostrophe-catastrophe-part-two Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 We have a sign up locally right now on a storefront that says: Mattress' For Sale. That's quite a choice. Someone was trying to hedge their bets and just totally failed? I saw its' in an ebook recently. My eye almost twitched right out of my head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 The Smith's in front of the driveway doesn't bother me as much. My brain would justify it as "The Smith's house. The Smith's driveway." Lol What drives me nuts is why do we put ' in places like "He got all A's." I complained about this when I worked at a newspaper and the editor told me that's how they do it. I will never understand. We do it so that there won't be confusion. Without the apostrophe, it would be, "He got all As." See? All English grammar handbooks agree. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momof3littles Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 The Smiths is correct. You could also say, "The Smith Family." See my signature line. Click on the link there. Here is the link for those on mobile who can't see my sig line: http://theoatmeal.com/comics/apostrophe Get the poster for your kids. Don't be a party to kittencide. ;) On a similar note? Possessive pronouns: his, hers, its, yours, mine, ours-none of them receive apostrophes. This is a style issue. Some style books suggest apostrophe use while others suggest no apostrophe. The key here is to be consistent (although the trend is toward leaving off the apostrophe, unless it would be confusing without it). Grammar Girl addresses more common apostrophe mistakes in her columns: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/apostrophe-catastrophe-part-one http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/apostrophe-catastrophe-part-two Thank you!!! I always assume no apostrophe for things like CDs, but I've seen the apostrophe many times in places where I assume it has been properly edited. It has always bothered me, as I was never certain on the rule. The last time I bothered to check, I was having a tough time finding a solid answer, but that was years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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