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When you write someone’s name with an apostrophe, it doesn’t always feel right. In my classroom, students ask me almost every week whether it’s “Chris’s car” or “Chris’ car.” Both look awkward—one has two s’s that feel crammed together, and the other looks incomplete. The truth is, both are grammatically correct, but modern style guides prefer one over the other.
I’ll walk you through the exact rule, explain why style guides differ, and give you a simple test you can use whenever you’re stuck. By the end, you’ll be confident enough to choose the right form for any name ending in “s”.
Key Takeaways
- Modern style guides prefer “Chris’s” — add apostrophe + s even if the name ends in s.
- “Chris'” is also correct — it’s the traditional form, still used in AP style, but less common in academic writing.
- The rule applies to all singular names ending in s — James, Thomas, Jones, Frances.
- Consistency matters more than which form — pick one and use it throughout your document.
- Plural possessives follow a different rule — “the Joneses’ car” uses apostrophe only, not apostrophe + s.
Understanding Possessive Forms
Possessive forms show that something belongs to someone. In English, we use an apostrophe to create the possessive. For most nouns, the rule is simple: add an apostrophe and an “s”.
Example: “Maria’s book” (the book belongs to Maria).
But when a name already ends in “s”, writers face a choice. Do you add just an apostrophe, or do you add an apostrophe and another “s”?
Example: “Chris’s car” or “Chris’ car”?
The Two Acceptable Forms
Form 1: Chris’s (Modern Standard)
The Chicago Manual of Style, the Microsoft Manual of Style, and most academic publishers recommend adding an apostrophe and an “s” to singular nouns that end in “s”. This means Chris’s is the preferred form.
Example 1: Chris’s house is on the corner of Fifth Avenue.
Example 2: I borrowed James’s laptop for the presentation.
Example 3: Thomas’s ideas shaped the entire project.
The reasoning is clear: the “s” sound you hear when you say the possessive aloud (“Chris-iz”) matches the written form (“Chris’s”). Consistency between pronunciation and spelling feels natural.
Form 2: Chris’ (Traditional Standard)
The Associated Press Stylebook and some journalists prefer using only an apostrophe after names ending in “s”. This gives you “Chris'” instead of “Chris’s”.
Example 1: According to the AP style guide, Chris’ apartment is two blocks from the office.
Example 2: The reporter noted that James’ testimony contradicted the earlier report.
This form appeals to writers who think “Chris’s” looks cluttered or who follow AP style for news writing. However, it’s become less common in modern academic and book publishing.
Style Guide Comparison
| Style Guide | Recommended Form | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Manual of Style | Chris’s | Academic, book publishing, scholarly writing |
| Associated Press Stylebook | Chris’ | Journalism, news media |
| Microsoft Manual of Style | Chris’s | Technical writing, software documentation |
| MLA Handbook | Chris’s | Student essays, research papers |
Names vs. Other Nouns Ending in “s”
The possessive rule for singular nouns ending in “s” applies equally to proper names (Chris, James) and common nouns (boss, glass, dress). However, when a word is already a plural noun ending in “s”, you add only an apostrophe, not an apostrophe + s.
Plural nouns ending in s — apostrophe only:
Example: “The Joneses’ house” (possessive of the plural “Joneses”).
Example: “The bosses’ meeting” (possessive of the plural “bosses”).
Singular nouns ending in s — apostrophe + s:
Example: “The boss’s decision” (possessive of the singular “boss”).
The Quick Test: Say the possessive form aloud. If you hear “Chris-iz” (with an “s” sound at the end), then write “Chris’s”. If the name’s plural is “Chrises” (more than one person named Chris), the singular possessive should also have an “s” sound: “Chris’s”.
Singular vs. Plural Possessives
The confusion often deepens when people mix up singular and plural possessives. Here’s a clear breakdown:
| Form | Type | Example | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chris’s | Singular possessive | Chris’s book belongs to one person named Chris | Add apostrophe + s to singular name |
| Chrises’ | Plural possessive | The Chrises’ cars belong to multiple people named Chris | Add apostrophe only (plural already has s) |
| Boss’s | Singular possessive | The boss’s office is on the third floor | Add apostrophe + s |
| Bosses’ | Plural possessive | The bosses’ meeting is at noon | Add apostrophe only |
Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
✗ Incorrect: Chris’ car is in the parking lot. (inconsistent if using modern standard)
✓ Correct: Chris’s car is in the parking lot.
Why: Modern style guides recommend adding an “s” after the apostrophe for singular nouns and names ending in “s”.
✗ Incorrect: The Joneses’s house was painted last month.
✓ Correct: The Joneses’ house was painted last month.
Why: “Joneses” is already a plural noun (more than one Jones family). Plural possessives use only an apostrophe, not apostrophe + s.
✗ Incorrect: James’ and Sarah apartment is spacious.
✓ Correct: James’s and Sarah’s apartment is spacious.
Why: When two people possess something together, both names get the possessive form.
Sample Dialogue
Student: Is it “Chris’s” or “Chris'” for the possessive?
Teacher: Good question. Modern style guides say “Chris’s”—apostrophe plus s.
Student: But doesn’t that look weird with two s’s?
Teacher: It might look unusual at first, but say it aloud: “Chris-iz”. That extra “s” matches the sound. Associated Press uses “Chris'” for news writing, but if you’re writing an essay, go with “Chris’s”.
Student: So what about plural? If there are two Chrises?
Teacher: Excellent. Then it’s “the Chrises’ car”—apostrophe only, because the noun is already plural.
Quick Quiz
Choose the correct possessive form:
- _________ house is near the beach. (Chris’s / Chris’)
- The _________ office is on the top floor. (boss’s / boss’)
- I attended _________ wedding last summer. (Thomas’s / Thomas’)
- The _________ cars were parked outside. (Joneses’ / Joneses’s)
- She borrowed _________ pen for the exam. (James’s / James’)
Answers: 1. Chris’s (modern preferred) or Chris’ (AP acceptable) · 2. boss’s · 3. Thomas’s · 4. Joneses’ · 5. James’s
Historical Context of Apostrophe Rules
The apostrophe rule for names ending in “s” has shifted over time. In older English, it was common to use just an apostrophe after names ending in “s”. However, modern English moved toward consistency: singular possessives always add apostrophe + s, making the written form sound the way we say it aloud.
The split between modern style guides (Chicago, MLA) and news media (AP) reflects this evolution. Journalists still often use the older form for brevity, while academic publishers lean toward the newer standard for clarity and pronunciation alignment.
American vs. British English
Both American and British English follow the same core rule: singular nouns ending in “s” typically take apostrophe + s. However, British English sometimes applies the apostrophe-only rule to classical names (e.g., “Socrates’ philosophy” instead of “Socrates’s philosophy”).
For modern proper names like Chris or James, both American and British English prefer the apostrophe + s form. Check your publisher’s style guide if you’re writing for a specific audience.
Related Articles
- ↑ Master Pillar: English Grammar
- Essential Punctuation Marks
- ↑ Back to pillar: English Confused Words (Pillar)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “Chris’s” or “Chris'” correct?
Both are grammatically correct. Modern style guides (Chicago, MLA, Microsoft) prefer “Chris’s”, while the Associated Press prefers “Chris'”. For academic writing and essays, use “Chris’s”; for journalism, “Chris'” is acceptable.
What about other names ending in “s” like James or Thomas?
The same rule applies. Modern style guides recommend “James’s” and “Thomas’s”. The key is to be consistent throughout your document.
Do I add apostrophe + s to all singular nouns ending in “s”?
Yes, for singular nouns. “The boss’s decision”, “the glass’s rim”, “the actress’s role”. However, for plural nouns already ending in “s”, you use only an apostrophe: “the bosses’ meeting”, “the actresses’ awards”.
What if I’m following AP style?
AP style allows you to use “Chris'” (apostrophe only) for names and nouns ending in “s”. Check your publisher’s or publication’s style guide to confirm which form to use.
How do I pluralize a name like Chris?
To pluralize the name Chris, write “Chrises”. To make it possessive for multiple people named Chris, write “the Chrises’ car” (apostrophe only, because the noun is already plural).
Quick Test: Check Your Understanding
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