s apostrophe.

[Vertigo]

I wouldn't worry too much, the publishers will almost certainly have their own rules. I recently got hold of a the original submission document an author sent to the publisher (their first book actually) and also the printed book itself. And, for example, in the document he always wrote Alex' and in the printed book it has been changed to Alex's.

 

[Tywin]

Ah, this wonderful issue has been the subject of some of the most uncomfortable moments with my superiors. Nothing like being a young lieutenant and arguing with your battalion commander after he puts a red slash through the final "s" on Sergeant Davis's award and tells you to resubmit.

 

[prizzley]

I stopped leaving it off with Empress, cos it was just so messy looking Empress's, and having done that to keep continuity I leave it off all the time.

I'm with Springs on this own. My bugbear is sorceress's. Read it out loud and you'll sound like Hissing Sid. So I've stuck wih sorceress' and done the same for all other word words ending in s.

 

[HareBrain]

Read it out loud and you'll sound like Hissing Sid. So I've stuck wih sorceress'

So when you read that aloud, you'd pronounce it "sorceress"? You'd say "the sorceress hat"?

And what if there's more than one? They always travel in threes, you know.

 

[Tywin]

So when you read that aloud, you'd pronounce it "sorceress"? You'd say "the sorceress hat"?

And what if there's more than one? They always travel in threes, you know.

The three should still become sorceresses, which should also be the way that you pronounce sorceress's. Not sorceressssssssss.......

 

[HareBrain]

This is why the word "witch" was invented.

 

[Tywin]

"The sorceress's dress plunged frightfully lower than the witches' tattered smock."

See, not the same.

Although for some reason when I picture a "Coven" of witches I come away with a similar image in my head. For some reason the bent old crone becomes something... different for me when I picture a coven of them dancing naked in the moonlight.

 

[Glisterspeck]

"The sorceress's dress plunged frightfully lower than the witches' tattered smock."

See, not the same.

Although for some reason when I picture a "Coven" of witches I come away with a similar image in my head. For some reason the bent old crone becomes something... different for me when I picture a coven of them dancing naked in the moonlight.

Huh? Are the witches sharing a smock?

 

[Tywin]

Huh? Are the witches sharing a smock?

Dang it, I confused myself.

Admittedly I'm easily confused.

 

[Tywin]

Especially when thinking about scantily clad sorceresses.

 

[Ursa major]

I'm sure my copy of The King's English mentions something about the number of times the letter s appears consecutively being one thing that might lead one to not place another s after the apostrophe. Unfortunately, the copy has gone walkabout, so I can't check the details.

Huh? Are the witches sharing a smock?

Is this an example of smock horror.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

I'm sure my copy of The King's English mentions something about the number of times the letter s appears consecutively being one thing that might lead one to not place another s after the apostrophe. Unfortunately, the copy has gone walkabout, so I can't check the details.

I don't know what the King (or the Queen) thinks of it, but the AP Style Manual indicates that if the word following the word in question starts with an s, one should not use the 's.

sorceress's hat

or

sorceress' shoes

And it would definitely be

sorceresses' hats or shoes or anything else.

Witches, dancing naked in the moonlight, should probably keep an eye on their hats and shoes, as well.

There are a great many things in the Style Manual (two full pages) on possessives and s and 's and s', but I didn't notice anything about ss at the end of a word. I'll have to look on Monday, as it lives at work.

 

[Glisterspeck]

Is this an example of smock horror.

No, erm... it's a harsh elf pox sickroom?

(I'm awful at puns. Better at anagrams. )

 

[prizzley]

So when you read that aloud, you'd pronounce it "sorceress"? You'd say "the sorceress hat"?

Probably. I have an aversion to hissing. But mine doesn't wear a hat. She does have an awful smile, though.