Apostrophe query - may I consult the experts . . .

[MsPontipine]

Mrs Cross has a book. Is it Mrs Cross' book or Mrs Cross's book?? Cheers loves

[policywonk]

It's Mrs Cross's.

[Pidge]

I have a daughter whose name ends with 's' and I wondered the same thing. I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that you can do either.

e.g. Douglas's book OR Douglas' book.

The first reflects speech more closely, so I prefer it.

[HenriettaHippo]

Is it? Oh dear, I thought Mrs Cross' book...

[Hopeysgirlwasntbig]

Mrs Cross' or Mrs Cross's

[Hopeysgirlwasntbig]

you can definitely do either

[MsPontipine]

In that case I have got it right!! Thanks for your help

[policywonk]

I think it is becoming more common to not use the extra 's' at the end, but it definitely is correct to use it. 'Mrs Cross' is a singular noun; to form the singular posessive, you add 's. There are some exceptions, but 'Mrs Cross' doesn't come into any of the exceptional categories.

Leaving off the 's' is an error, I'd say

[Pidge]

policywonk - I like the pedantry stance - it's no good shilly-shallying about with these things!

[policywonk]

Indeed, pidge. Far too important.

Hopeys is going to come back now with some impeccable source and make me eat my aggressive pedantry for breakfast, isn't she?

[tearinghairout]

Both are correct. Adding the second 's' can make some words sound a bit cumbersome, eg Moses's.

I used to live in a St James' Road. At one end the sign said St James' and at the other St James's! I always thought the first way is less fussy, and we know what it means, which is the important bit.

[Hopeysgirlwasntbig]

My son is called James, so I checked!!

[policywonk]

Ahaaa!

[Hopeysgirlwasntbig]

an insanely dull hobby

[OliviaMumsnet]

St James's Park

[policywonk]

bugger

[Hopeysgirlwasntbig]

does this count then?

[Hopeysgirlwasntbig]

[IorekByrnison]

Jura, surely "us" is correct as "pedants" is the object, not the subject of the verb.

(In any case, Policywonk is never wrong on these matters.)

[OneHandedTypist]

In American English I was taught only Cross' would be correct.

[Botbot]

There's a block of flats near where I live called 'St Jame's Court'. I feel physically sick every time I see it.

[IorekByrnison]

Botbot that's awful! Unless there is a much overlooked saint called Jame who has been adopted by your local council for some reason.

Is it actually printed on a sign like that?

[UnquietDad]

I never understand how misplaced apostrophes get as far as properly painted signs. There's a designer clothes shop for children near us which proudly proclaims the "proprietor's" to be Mr & Mrs X.

[Spockster]

Oooh, it's really quite scary how bad some senior bods' grammar can be...I sign off promotional items for a company and some of the large banners and posters I rescue from toe-curlingly bad spelling and punctuation, in the most prominent of places, is quite horrifying. I'm certainly no expert, but I can place an apostrophe with a degree of accuracy! It is the final checks and attention to detail that seem to get mossed, once the creative types have groomed "the concept" they get bored and move on.

[onebatmother]

Where is Policywonk? Crikey, she hasn't...run away, has she?