
The correct possessive spelling for a lady? Is it lady's, ladys' ladies'?
Answer
412.2k+ views
Hint: An apostrophe (' ) is a tiny punctuation mark used after a noun to indicate that it owns something. At the conclusion of the noun owner, the apostrophe will always be put either before or after an s. The object it owns will always come after the word owner (typically right away).
Complete answer:
Whether the singular noun ends in s or not, the possessive of a singular noun is created by adding an apostrophe and s, according to the general rule of the possessive apostrophe.
A lawyer's fee, for example, or a child's toy.
When a plural noun ends in s, the possessive is created by adding simply an apostrophe, and when it ends in a letter other than s, it is made by adding both an apostrophe and an s.
Example:
excessive lawyers’ fees or children’s toys.
The right possessive spelling of a lady is determined by the number of ladies who own the item. When written, the possessive single differs from the possessive plural, but it is pronounced the same way.
As she entered the long queue to the ladies' room, he saw the lady's frown.
As he entered the shorter queue to the men's room, she saw the man's smile.
Thus, If you're referring to one woman, the proper possessive spelling is lady's; if you're referring to many women who own the same thing, the correct possessive word is ladies'.
Note:
i) Only use an apostrophe for singular nouns ending in an ‘s’ that are in the plural form—or have a final word in the plural form—as an exception to the usual rule. Take, for example, the Beatles' first album.
ii) Another exception is: When a noun with an ‘s’ sound is followed by sake, it simply needs an apostrophe. For example, for goodness’ sake.
Complete answer:
Whether the singular noun ends in s or not, the possessive of a singular noun is created by adding an apostrophe and s, according to the general rule of the possessive apostrophe.
A lawyer's fee, for example, or a child's toy.
When a plural noun ends in s, the possessive is created by adding simply an apostrophe, and when it ends in a letter other than s, it is made by adding both an apostrophe and an s.
Example:
excessive lawyers’ fees or children’s toys.
The right possessive spelling of a lady is determined by the number of ladies who own the item. When written, the possessive single differs from the possessive plural, but it is pronounced the same way.
As she entered the long queue to the ladies' room, he saw the lady's frown.
As he entered the shorter queue to the men's room, she saw the man's smile.
Thus, If you're referring to one woman, the proper possessive spelling is lady's; if you're referring to many women who own the same thing, the correct possessive word is ladies'.
Note:
i) Only use an apostrophe for singular nouns ending in an ‘s’ that are in the plural form—or have a final word in the plural form—as an exception to the usual rule. Take, for example, the Beatles' first album.
ii) Another exception is: When a noun with an ‘s’ sound is followed by sake, it simply needs an apostrophe. For example, for goodness’ sake.
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