Kamala Harris recently chose Minnesota governor Tim Walz as her running mate, sparking a debate among grammar enthusiasts about the correct use of apostrophes in possessive proper nouns. While the Associated Press advises using only an apostrophe for singular proper names ending in S, others like Benjamin Dreyer and Ron Woloshun suggest adding an extra ‘s’ after the apostrophe for clarity.
The confusion began when questions arose about whether it should be Harris’ or Harris’s, and escalated with Walz’s similar-sounding surname. Despite differing opinions, experts like Timothy Pulju and the Merriam-Webster dictionary agree that both forms are acceptable, as long as the communication remains clear.
Despite the ongoing discussion, the AP stands by its longstanding policy on possessives. The Guardian’s style guide suggests using an apostrophe followed by a second S for names ending in S, reflecting pronunciation and using the plural apostrophe when it improves readability.
The debate is unlikely to be resolved soon, as language evolves continuously. However, as long as successful communication is achieved, different choices in grammar are acceptable. If Harris wins in November, she would become the fourth US president with a last name ending in S, following Rutherford B. Hayes, who dealt with no social media frenzy over apostrophes during his presidency.
While the Harris campaign has not taken a clear stance on the matter, continued discussions about apostrophe usage in possessive proper nouns are expected until the issue is resolved.
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