Quick summary
The short answer is that it depends on the meaning. If “Christmas at the Smiths” is referring to a specific Christmas celebration held at the Smith family’s home, then an apostrophe is needed: “Christmas at the Smiths'”. This indicates possession – that the Christmas celebration belongs to the Smith family.
However, if “Christmas at the Smiths” is referring to a Christmas celebration held at the home of a family with the last name Smith (but not necessarily belonging to them), then no apostrophe is used. For example, “Christmas at the Smiths” could refer to a neighborhood Christmas party held at the Smith family’s house. In this case, no possession is implied, so no apostrophe is needed.
The main rules are:
– Use an apostrophe to show possession: “Christmas at the Smiths'”
– Don’t use an apostrophe when no possession is implied: “Christmas at the Smiths”
When to use an apostrophe for possession
In general, you use an apostrophe + s to show that something belongs to or is associated with someone or something. Here are some guidelines for when to use an apostrophe to show possession with names:
– For singular proper nouns, add ‘s: “Christmas at John’s house”
– For singular common nouns, add ‘s: “The dog’s bone”
– For plural nouns ending in s, just add an apostrophe: “The dogs’ bones”
– For plural nouns not ending in s, add ‘s: “The children’s toys”
So in the case of “Christmas at the Smiths”, if the celebration belongs to the Smith family, you would add ‘s to the end since Smith is a singular proper noun: “Christmas at the Smiths'”.
Some examples:
– “John’s house” (the house belongs to John)
– “The company’s policy” (the policy belongs to the company)
– “The Joneses’ backyard” (the backyard belongs to the Jones family)
– “The girls’ dresses” (the dresses belong to the group of girls)
When not to use an apostrophe
Don’t use an apostrophe just to refer to something in relation to a proper noun – only use it to show possession. For example:
– “Christmas at the Smiths” (a Christmas celebration held at the Smith home, but not necessarily belonging to them)
– “Cape Cod beaches” (beaches located on Cape Cod)
– “Lake Tahoe ski resorts” (ski resorts located at Lake Tahoe)
Some other examples of when not to use an apostrophe:
– “My friend Alice” (Alice is my friend, but doesn’t possess anything)
– “The bakery on Main Street” (the bakery is located on Main Street but doesn’t belong to it)
– “The actor in the movie” (the actor is in the movie but doesn’t possess it)
So in summary, only use the apostrophe + s to show true possession. Don’t use it when merely describing a relationship between two nouns.
Conclusion
Use an apostrophe + s (‘s) with “Christmas at the Smiths” if the celebration belongs to the Smith family:
“Christmas at the Smiths'”
But don’t use an apostrophe if “Christmas at the Smiths” merely refers to a Christmas celebration taking place at the Smith home without implying possession:
“Christmas at the Smiths”
Following these guidelines will help you determine when to use an apostrophe to show possession and when it is unnecessary. The main rule is to only use it when one noun truly belongs to or is owned by another noun.
Examples of using and not using an apostrophe with names
Here are some more examples to illustrate when you should and should not use an apostrophe with names:
Apostrophe needed for possession
| Jessica’s bakery | The bakery belongs to Jessica |
| The Johnsons’ house | The house belongs to the Johnson family |
| San Francisco’s parks | The parks belong to the city of San Francisco |
| The company’s new policy | The policy belongs to the company |
Apostrophe not needed – no possession
| Bakery on Main Street | The bakery is located on Main Street, but doesn’t belong to it |
| The actor in the movie | The actor has a role in the movie, but doesn’t possess it |
| My friend Alice | Alice is my friend, but doesn’t possess anything |
| Beaches along Cape Cod | The beaches are located on Cape Cod but don’t belong to it |
As you can see, the apostrophe is only used when one noun possesses or owns the other noun. Simply describing a relationship between two nouns doesn’t require an apostrophe.
Special cases
There are a few special cases when it comes to apostrophe usage:
Plural nouns not ending in s
For plural nouns that don’t end in s, you still add ‘s to show possession:
“The children’s toys”
“The mice’s cheese”
Joint possession
When two nouns jointly possess something, you only add ‘s to the second noun:
“John and Janet’s house”
“Lewis and Clark’s expedition”
Individual possession
When two nouns individually possess something, add ‘s to both:
“John’s and Janet’s books”
“Lewis’s and Clark’s maps”
Businesses and organizations
For names of businesses and organizations, add ‘s even if the name already ends in s:
“McDonald’s new burger”
“Microsoft’s latest software”
Irregular plural nouns
For irregular plural nouns that don’t end in s, add ‘s:
“The children’s game”
“The mice’s toy”
“The women’s rights movement”
Practice examples
Test your knowledge of when to use apostrophes with these practice examples. Add apostrophes where needed:
1. The goldens bone was buried in the backyard.
2. My sister Jane lives in Texa_ .
3. The team_ victory was exciting for the fans.
4. Johns, Elizabeths, and Mikes proposal was approved by the board.
5. The companys new policy was controversial among employees.
Answers
1. The golden’s bone was buried in the backyard.
2. My sister Jane’s house is in Texas.
3. The team’s victory was exciting for the fans.
4. John’s, Elizabeth’s, and Mike’s proposal was approved by the board.
5. The company’s new policy was controversial among employees.
Usage in different styles of writing
The rules for using apostrophes for possession apply to most styles of writing, from formal to informal. However, there are some cases where conventions may vary:
Informal writing
In very informal writing like text messages, apostrophes are sometimes omitted:
“Joes sister” instead of “Joe’s sister”
This should be avoided in formal writing.
Fictional dialogue
In works of fiction, dialogue is sometimes written without apostrophes to reflect a character’s informal speech:
“That books Matts” instead of “That book’s Matt’s”
But apostrophes should be used in the prose and narration.
Headline style
In newspaper headline style, apostrophes are often omitted due to limited space. But they should be included in titles and headlines in formal writing.
Legal writing
In legal documents, possessives are sometimes avoided by rephrasing or using “of the” instead. This is done to maximize clarity:
“The policy of the company” rather than “The company’s policy”
But in other types of writing, it’s fine to use possessives in a normal manner.
Conclusion
Knowing when and when not to use apostrophes to show possession can be tricky, but following these general guidelines will help:
– Use apostrophe + s (‘s) to show true possession, even with plural nouns ending in s
– Don’t use an apostrophe just to show a relationship between two nouns
– Add ‘s to the last noun for joint possession, but to both for individual possession
– Use ‘s even for business names ending in s
– Omitting apostrophes is fine only in very informal contexts
By mastering apostrophe usage for possession, you can write more clearly and avoid confusing your readers. Proper apostrophe use is an important element of clear and polished writing.