Is it Lewis’s or Lewis’? This guide will provide a detailed explanation surrounding possessive forms, especially for names ending in “s.” Plus, you’ll learn:
- Rules for forming singular and plural possessives
- The differences between using “Lewis’s” and “Lewis'” based on style guides.
- How to form plural possessives for names like “Lewis’”
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Contents
What Are Possessive Forms?
Possessive forms are words that indicate ownership or relationship. They are formed by adding an apostrophe and an “s” (‘s) to a noun.
This grammatical construction tells us that something belongs to someone or something else. For instance, “John’s book” indicates that the book belongs to John.
While this is the most common method, there are specific rules for singular and plural nouns and nouns ending in “s.”
How Do You Form Singular Possessives?
Singular possessives are used to show ownership or belonging. For instance, when you say “Jessica’s bicycle,” you indicate that the bicycle belongs to Jessica.
However, the basic rule for forming singular possessives is to add an apostrophe followed by the letter “s” to the noun. This rule applies to most singular nouns, including common and proper nouns. Let’s see some Examples:
Common Nouns:
- Cat’s toy
- Teacher’s desk
Proper Nouns:
- Lewis’s book
- Sarah’s dress
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Here are more examples to illustrate how to use singular possessives correctly:
- Child’s playroom
- Boss’s decision
- City’s skyline
Forming singular possessives is generally simple, but common mistakes, like using Apostrophes Incorrectly with Plurals, can lead to confusion. Don’t confuse plural nouns with possessive forms.
For instance, “the cats” refers to more than one cat, while “the cats'” indicates something belonging to multiple cats.
When Should You Use Lewis’s vs. Lewis’?
You’ve probably seen both “Lewis’s” and “Lewis’” used to show possession. So, which one is correct? The traditional rule is to add an apostrophe and an “s” (‘s) to all singular nouns, including those that end in “s.” So, according to this rule, the possessive form of “Lewis” would be “Lewis’s.”
- Lewis’s book
- Ross’s apartment
- Chris’s car
This is the most common and widely accepted method, especially in formal writing. In recent times, there’s been a growing trend to simplify the possessive form for names ending in “s” by adding only an apostrophe:
- Lewis’ book
- Ross’ apartment
- Chris’ car
This method is becoming more popular, particularly in informal writing. With that said, considering which form to use;
If adding “’s” creates an awkward pronunciation, the apostrophe-only form may be a better choice. For example, “Kansas'” is pronounced more smoothly than “Kansas’s.”
Also, In formal writing, we urge you to stick with the traditional method, because the apostrophe-only form is more acceptable.
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Examples Of Lewis’s Sentence
Here are some examples to illustrate when to use “Lewis’s”:
- I enjoyed reading Lewis’s latest book on grammar.
- During the meeting, we discussed Lewis’s proposal for the project.
- Everyone admired Lewis’s artwork displayed in the gallery.
- The team appreciated Lewis’s insights during the brainstorming session.
- We celebrated Lewis’s birthday with a surprise party.
Examples of Lewis’ Sentence
Now, let’s look at examples using “Lewis'”:
- I borrowed Lewis’ notes for the exam.
- The team celebrated Lewis’ achievements at the awards ceremony.
- Did you see Lewis’ presentation on marketing strategies?
- We need to review Lewis’ feedback before finalizing the report.
- The committee approved Lewis’ request for additional funding.
How Do You Form Plural Possessives For Names Like Lewis?
Plural possessives show ownership of more than one person or thing. When you say “the Lewises’ house,” you indicate that the house belongs to multiple people with the last name Lewis
To form a plural possessive for names like “Lewis,” you first need to create the plural form of the name. Since “Lewis” ends in “s,” you add “es” to make it plural, resulting in “Lewises.”
After forming the plural, add an apostrophe after the “s” to indicate possession. Here are some examples to illustrate how to use plural possessives correctly:
- The Lewises’ car is parked outside.
- I visited the Lewises’ home for dinner.
- The Lewises’ children play soccer together.
- We admired the Lewises’ garden during our visit.
- The Lewises’ vacation photos were amazing.