The Apostrophe's Place: Wedding Invitation Wording

When it comes to wedding invitations, the correct use of the apostrophe is essential. The apostrophe is used to indicate possession or a contraction, but not plural. For example, when referring to a couple with a shared last name, such as The Smiths, there is no need for an apostrophe. However, when indicating possession, such as The Smiths' car, the apostrophe comes after the 's'. This distinction is crucial to ensure the invitation conveys the intended message and presents a polished image.

Apostrophes indicate possession

Apostrophes can be tricky, but they are essential to mastering the English language. One of their main functions is to indicate possession or ownership. Here are some guidelines on how to use apostrophes to indicate possession:

Singular Possession

To show possession with a singular noun, simply add an apostrophe followed by the letter "s". For example, "a woman's hat", "the boss's wife", or "Mrs. Chang's house". This rule also applies to collective nouns and plural nouns that don't end in "s", such as "the team's uniforms" or "the children's room".

Plural Possession

When dealing with plural nouns that already end in "s", only an apostrophe is needed to indicate possession. For example, "my parents' house", "the Smiths' new baby", or "the kids' art project".

Irregular Plurals

Some plural nouns, like "teeth", don't end with an "s". To show possession with irregular plurals, add an apostrophe followed by "s". For example, "the teeth's cavities" or "the children's erupting teeth".

Compound Possession

When dealing with compound subjects, the placement of the apostrophe depends on the type of ownership. If two people own something together, use an apostrophe after the second noun. For example, "Dave and Alice's car" or "Hillary and Bill Clinton's daughter". If they own things separately, use an apostrophe after each noun. For instance, "Lulu's and Legghorn's new shoes" or "Cedric's and Lola's fingernails".

Possessive Pronouns

It is important to note that possessive pronouns such as "his", "hers", "yours", "ours", and "theirs" do not include an apostrophe.

Nouns as Adjectives

Remember that not all nouns ending with "s" indicate possession. Sometimes, the "s" is simply part of the noun acting as an adjective. For example, "kids' meal" can be written as "kids meal" because "kids" is describing the type of meal.

Names Ending in "s"

When it comes to names ending in "s", there are different approaches. One way is to add an apostrophe followed by "s" for singular possession, as in "Curtis's teacher". Alternatively, you can add just an apostrophe for singular possession, like "Curtis' teacher". For plural possession, add "es" without an apostrophe, as in "the Joneses' car".

Other Tips

• When in doubt, think about whether the word "of" could be used instead. For example, "the dragon's burnt tooth" can also be phrased as "the burnt tooth of the dragon".
• When indicating time, the "of" test can be helpful. For instance, "one week's vacation" can be rephrased as "one week of vacation", indicating the need for an apostrophe.
• If a plural noun is not showing ownership, don't use an apostrophe. For example, "Bagels stick to your teeth" doesn't need an apostrophe because "bagels" isn't showing possession.

Now that you've mastered the art of apostrophe placement, you can confidently apply these rules to your wedding invitations and other written communication!

Apostrophes don't indicate plurals

Wedding invitations can be a tricky business, especially when it comes to the use of apostrophes. It's important to remember that apostrophes do not indicate plurals. Here are some detailed guidelines and examples to help you navigate this grammar rule:

• General Rule for Pluralization: When forming the plural of a word, simply add an "s" without an apostrophe. This applies to most nouns, including names and surnames. For example, "The Smiths" is correct, not "The Smith's."
• Exception for Certain Letter Endings: If the singular form of a word ends in "s," "x," "z," "ch," or "sh," you typically add "es" to form the plural. For example, "The Joneses," not "The Jones's."
• Plural Possession: When indicating possession in a plural noun, add an apostrophe after the "s." For example, "The Smiths' vacation" or "The Joneses' car."
• Avoid Confusion with Names: The only time an apostrophe may be needed in pluralizing names is when not using one would cause confusion. For instance, if you have two people named Luca and Lucas, you could say, "There are three Luca's/Lucas' in my class." However, it's better to rephrase for clarity: "There are three people named 'Luca' in my class."
• Letters, Abbreviations, and Numbers: In rare cases, an apostrophe may be used to pluralize lowercase letters, abbreviations, or numbers to improve clarity. For example, "Mind your p's and q's," "ATM's or ATMs," or "4's or 4s."
• Formal Writing Preference: In formal writing, it's generally preferred to avoid using an apostrophe in plural abbreviations, dates, decades, and centuries. For example, "the 1970s," "the '60s," or "the 1800s."
• Style Guide Consistency: When in doubt, refer to a comprehensive style guide, such as The Chicago Manual of Style or The Associated Press Stylebook, for specific guidelines on apostrophe usage in plurals.

Remember, when it comes to wedding invitations and grammar, consistency and clarity are key. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your invitations are both grammatically correct and easy for your guests to understand.

When to use an apostrophe in your name

When it comes to wedding invitations, it's important to know when to use an apostrophe, especially when including names. Here are some guidelines to help you use apostrophes correctly when addressing your wedding invitations:

Pluralisation

Firstly, it's important to note that apostrophes are not used to form the plural of a name. For example, if you're inviting multiple people with the same last name, you would write "The Smiths" or "The Smith Family", not "The Smith's". This rule applies even if the name ends with an "s", "x", "z", "ch", or "sh". In such cases, you simply add "es" to form the plural, as in "The Joneses" or "The Churches".

Possession

Apostrophes are used to indicate possession. If you want to indicate that something belongs to a person or people with a specific name, that's when you use an apostrophe. For example, "The Smith's car" indicates that the car belongs to one person named Smith, while "The Smiths' car" shows that the car is jointly owned by multiple people named Smith.

Contractions

Apostrophes are also used in contractions, where they take the place of missing letters. For example, "don't" is a contraction of "do not", and "she's" is a contraction of "she is".

Compound Nouns

With singular compound nouns, you indicate possession by adding 's at the end of the word. For example, "my mother-in-law's hat". If the compound noun is plural, form the plural first and then use the apostrophe, as in "my two brothers-in-law's hats".

Joint and Separate Possession

If two people own the same item, use an apostrophe and "s" after the second name. For example, "Cesar and Maribel's home is constructed of redwood". If they have separate ownership of items, use an apostrophe after each name, such as "Cesar's and Maribel's job contracts".

Capital Letters and Numbers

When dealing with capital letters and numbers used as nouns, you generally don't use an apostrophe to form the plural. For example, "She consulted with three M.D.s". However, if you need to show plural possession, then an apostrophe is needed, as in "She went to three M.D.s' offices".

How to make your last name plural

When it comes to wedding invitations, it's important to get the grammar right—especially when it comes to apostrophe usage. Apostrophes mark possession or a contraction, but not a plural. So, if you're wondering how to make your last name plural on a wedding invitation, here's a guide to help you:

Step 1: Write Out the Entire Name

Start by writing out the entire last name. This is important because you're working with the full name, not an abbreviated version.

Step 2: Add an 's' at the End

In most cases, pluralising a last name is as simple as adding an 's' to the end. So, if your last name is Smith, the plural form would be Smiths.

Step 3: Know the Exceptions

However, there are some exceptions to the rule. If your last name ends in 's', 'x', 'z', 'ch', or 'sh', you add 'es' to form the plural. So, for a last name like Davis, the plural would be Daveses. The same rule applies to last names ending in 'x' unless the 'x' is silent. For example, the plural of Felix is Felixes, but the plural of Bordeaux is Bordeauxs because the 'x' is silent.

Step 4: Avoid the Apostrophe Temptation

Remember, when making your last name plural, resist the temptation to add an apostrophe. Apostrophes are not used to make last names plural.

Step 5: Consider the Pronunciation

There is one more exception to the rule. If your last name ends in 'ch' but is pronounced with a hard /k/ sound (like the word 'monarch'), you only add an 's' to pluralise it, not 'es'.

Step 6: Use 'Family' if You Prefer

If you're not happy with how the plural form of your last name looks, you can always use the singular form and add the word 'family'. For example, if you're the Joneses and you don't like the look of 'The Joneses', you can opt for 'The Jones Family'.

So, when it comes to your wedding invitations, remember to pluralise your last name correctly and avoid those apostrophe pitfalls!

When to use an apostrophe for a contraction

When it comes to wedding invitations, it's important to get the grammar and punctuation right—especially when it comes to apostrophe usage. Apostrophes can be used to indicate possession or to form a contraction, but not pluralisation. For example, if we're referring to something that belongs to Mr and Mrs Smith, it would be "The Smiths' car". Here, the apostrophe indicates that the car is possessed by the Smiths.

Now, let's focus on when to use an apostrophe for a contraction. A contraction is a shortened form of a word or group of words, where one or more letters have been omitted. In English, this typically occurs with conventional items, mostly involving verbs. For instance, "can't" is a contraction of "cannot", where the apostrophe takes the place of the omitted "no". Similarly, "aren't" is a contraction of "are not", with the apostrophe standing in for the missing "a". Note that the apostrophe always appears in the exact position of the omitted letters.

Another important point to remember is that the contraction for "will not" is "won't", not "will'nt". This is because the apostrophe goes in the place of the omitted letters, and in this case, the "no" is contracted to "n't". This pattern is consistent across all contractions involving "not", such as "shouldn't", "wouldn't", and "isn't".

Contractions can be used in formal writing, but they should be used sparingly to maintain a sense of formality. While contractions like "can't", "aren't", and "won't" are generally acceptable, more colloquial contractions like "she'd've" are too informal for careful writing.

In addition to indicating possession and forming contractions, apostrophes are also used in certain surnames of non-English origin, such as "O'Leary" and "d'Abbadie". These apostrophes are not indicating possession or contraction; they are simply part of the standard spelling of these names.

Frequently asked questions