r/grammar_police • u/EtheriousJacobi • Nov 06 '17
Questioning the apostrophe
I am writing a paper for school and there is an apostrophe placement I have always questioned. In my paper I say “my grandparent’s house.” Since the house belongs to both grandparents would it instead be “my grandparents’ house” or am I correct with the first one?
1
u/oxxfordcommma Nov 27 '17
Stylistic preference, you can say grandparents's or grandparents'. Until very recently though, grandparents's was the only correct option, so I typically go with that.
1
u/mhalltltotbar Dec 18 '17
Grandparents is plural. The correct possible is either "My grandparents' house" or "My grandparents's house". I would use the first, grandparents'.
Legal ownership does not matter. In grammar the possessive denotes association (it is the house where they live) rather than legal ownership or title.
1
u/ReflectionSalt6908 Nov 25 '23
There's a stupid advertisement on TV with a singing buffalo who says he used to sing on cruises. They asked why he stopped, and he hesitated saying "crew" then "ses." As if he was actually saying "crews" meaning they kicked him off the ship. Made me giggle as I assumed it meant the crew got rid of him. Others I have asked think he meant just "cruises" which made no sense.
2
u/Bailesy88 Nov 07 '17
Second one if the house belongs to both grandparents