I struggled with that apostrophe...so I left it as "armpit smell = generalized Gene Simmons smell". I considered 'For the man who wants to smell like Gene Simmons' armpit'. Is that better?
Okay, Simmonses' would be the possessive plural. You would need the deodorant to smell like the armpits of more than one Simmons. Names that end in s still get an apostrophe + s when they're possessive, i.e., "Gene Simmons's armpit." Jesus and Moses are the only exceptions, although I'm sure G.S. would love to be included in that exclusive group.
I don't know who decided that. I only learned this stuff when I had my copy editing job and had to check this stuff. Names that end with "s" are very awkward, and that is one reason I will never, ever change my last name to Rogers.
Yes, it's wrong. Nobody likes to put an apostrophe-s after an s. At least, it's wrong according to the Chicago Manual of Style, the book editor's bible. I believe AP style is different, and I don't know which one tv adheres to.
Shouldn't it be Gene Simmonses'?
ReplyDeleteNo, you really don't want to think about how he smells!
I struggled with that apostrophe...so I left it as "armpit smell = generalized Gene Simmons smell". I considered 'For the man who wants to smell like Gene Simmons' armpit'. Is that better?
ReplyDeleteOkay, Simmonses' would be the possessive plural. You would need the deodorant to smell like the armpits of more than one Simmons. Names that end in s still get an apostrophe + s when they're possessive, i.e., "Gene Simmons's armpit." Jesus and Moses are the only exceptions, although I'm sure G.S. would love to be included in that exclusive group.
ReplyDeleteThat's very edifying! But why does Moses have toeses instead of toes?
ReplyDeleteStephanie, your explanation makes my head hurt a little bit. Now I know who to go to with my grammar questions.
ReplyDeleteWho decided that you couldn't say Jesus's and Moses's? Was it the Pope?? Is it because it sounds silly? "Jesus's" sounds like a sneeze.
I mean "to whom to go." :P Actually, that sentence is just poor.
ReplyDeleteI don't know who decided that. I only learned this stuff when I had my copy editing job and had to check this stuff. Names that end with "s" are very awkward, and that is one reason I will never, ever change my last name to Rogers.
ReplyDeleteSo then 'Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood' is wrong? That's how it's spelled on the opening titles.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's wrong. Nobody likes to put an apostrophe-s after an s. At least, it's wrong according to the Chicago Manual of Style, the book editor's bible. I believe AP style is different, and I don't know which one tv adheres to.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe your post about KISS deodorant generated 10 comments! :P
ReplyDeleteYou know, "whom" is really on its way out, even in "standard" usage.
ReplyDeleteI was going to make a joke about Richard Simmons deodorant; can someone else make it for me? I'm tired.