How to Make Names With Apostrophes Possessive
Have you ever wondered how to make a possessive name such as McDonald’s, Carl’s, or St. Anthony’s possessive?
by Mignon Fogarty
Have you ever wondered how to make a possessive name such as McDonald’s, Carl’s, or St. Anthony’s possessive?
The short answer is don’t! Rewrite the sentence to avoid such a construction because technically, you’re supposed to add another apostrophe or apostrophe and s on the end—which looks ridiculous.
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McDonald’s’s earnings were super-sized last quarter. (technically correct)
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McDonald’s’ earnings were super-sized last quarter. (technically correct)
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McDonald’s reported super-sized earnings last quarter. (better)
Learn why there are two answers that are technically correct.
About the Author
Mignon Fogarty is the founder of Quick and Dirty Tips and the author of seven books on language, including the New York Times bestseller “Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing.” She is an inductee in the Podcasting Hall of Fame, and the show is a five-time winner of Best Education Podcast in the Podcast Awards. She has appeared as a guest expert on the Oprah Winfrey Show and the Today Show. Her popular LinkedIn Learning courses help people write better to communicate better.
