Why the possessive having a moment is a good thing
Now that the debate over datum/data has been resolved (what?!?), the internet has turned to the next burning issue of English grammar, namely, how to write the possessive with proper names ending in S.
Goaded by the nomination of Tim Walz as Kamala Harris’s running mate, the writers of the world began confronting a fairly common question: “So what was the rule about possessives?” This would seem a straightforward question with a straightforward answer, but the fact is people make different choices in grammar and claims of absolute right or wrong are unhelpful.
Here are two versions of the same fictitious sentence to mull over:
Tim Walz’s sons’ girlfriends are Kamala Harris’s daughters’ best friends.
Tim Walz’s sons’ girlfriends are Kamala Harris’ daughters’ best friends.
While factually untrue, is anything unclear? Do any of the choices in apostrophes usage make your blood pressure rise?
From a NYT article on the subject:
“Anyone who tells you there are universal rules to how to add an apostrophe ending in S is either wrong or lying,” Jeffrey Barg, a grammar columnist, said. “You can’t be wrong as long as you’re consistent.”
NYT, The Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal and most academic journals recommend using the apostrophe s. The Associated Press does not. The Guardian takes the middle ground.
From a Guardian article on the subject:
“While AP style has evolved on many fronts over the years, there are no immediate plans to change the guidance on possessives, said Amanda Barrett, AP’s vice-president for news standards and inclusion. ‘This is a longstanding policy for the AP. It has served us well, and we’ve not seen any real need to change,” she said. “We do know that the conversation is out there and people make different choices when it comes to grammar, and that’s all fine. Everyone makes a choice that works best for them.'”
So, whatever your choice, that’s fine for you. And if your client wants something else, there is no reason to argue the point.
But even more important is the lesson we learn from this and what we can share with others, including clients: Many grammar choices are just that, choices that serve a purpose in a specific moment and it is okay for there to be variation in usage between writers and variations are not a sign of incorrect usage. And while consistency is important, it is not the end all and be all of communication. We somehow understand each other without problem even with the occasional inconsistent usage in human language.