Is it Massachusetts's or Massachusetts' when describing something that belongs to Massachusetts?

Question

I'm trying to figures out how you write the possessive for Massachusetts... I guess I don't remember the "rule" for using just an apostrophe or an apostrophe "s" after words that end in "s".

I appreciate all the replies, and they agree with my intial thought... but I began to doubt when I search (with quotes) "massachusetts's" in Yahoo! and saw it used quite a bit, not just by knucklehead personal sites.

Also, why didn't I think of checking spell check! But what's weird is it let's me do it both ways, and these two sites also say it's okay both ways:
http://www.sparknotes.com/writing/style/topic_21.html
http://www.wheaton.edu/learnres/writectr/Resources/apostrophe.htm

I think I'll probably go with the no extra S method, but thought I'd pass along those resources I just dug up.

Answer 1

To be absolutely correct, use the first....'s. However, you will find yourself in a minority of English grammar purists! As a retired English teacher, I have found the singular/possessive and plural/possessive to be widely misunderstood and widely misused, even by teachers, attorneys, and journalists who should know better.

The often quoted rule is to add an apostrophe if the word ends in "s". That is INCOMPLETE, hence the confusion. It should read, "Add an apostrophe to denote possession if the word ends in "s" AND IS PLURAL. Just because a word ends in "s" does not mean that it is plural. Example: Chris (singular), Chrises (more than one Chris), Chris's (singular possessive...belonging to one Chris), and Chrises' (plural possessive...belonging to several people named Chris).

Therefore, the correct possessive form for "belonging to the state of Massachusetts" is "Massachusetts's", but expect many people to disagree because correct English grammar is today almost extinct.

Answer 2

Massachusetts'

Answer 3

Massachusetts'

Answer 4

Massachusetts'

Answer 5

Massachusetts' is correct, but NOT for the two reasons others have given.

1) Since the word is not a plural, it cannot follow any rules for plural forms!

2) Though some folks think that ANY word ending in "s" should not take apostrophe-s, it is very common in English to do that. Thus "James's book" is absolutely acceptable.

I myself follow this pattern -- add and apostrophe-s to form the possessive of a singular noun whenever reasonably POSSIBLE.

Thus there are necessary exceptions where you don't add the "s". When? Basically, when you already have more than one "s" sound at or near the end of the word, so that another "s" would make the word much too awkward or difficult to speak.

Examples: ancient names take possessive forms like: Moses', Jesus' Isis'

"Massachusetts" would certainly qualify under this exception.

Answer 6

Is the "United States ?" an extreme police state when an investigative body without substantive evidence,continue to harass,persecute,blackmail,and invade the sanctity of an individuals home when he is a model to both the Muslim and Interfaith communities.Would not happen in Australia,and I would not be comfortable with it and I hope all my countrymen would be up in arms about it.

Answer 7

it is Massachusetts'
I done Check spelling and that is how it showed it

Answer 8

Massachusetts'.
Because when the noun is plural the apostrophe comes after the s.

Answer 9

When I was going to school, the rule was if the word ends in "s", just add apostrophe for possessive. However, I have noticed, as of late, with the breakdown of english language rules, e.g. the disappearance of the irregular past, there is a tendency to unilaterally add "apostrophe s" for possessive, regardless of whether the word already ends in "s" or not.

Answer 10

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