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Chapter
8.5.
Joint possession is indicated by placing an apostrophe on the last element of a series, while individual or alternative possession requires the use of an apostrophe on each element of a series.
- soldiers and sailors' home
- editor's or proofreader's opinion
- Brown & Nelson's store
- Clinton's or Bush's administration
- men's, women's, and children's clothing
- Mrs. Smith's and Mrs. Allen's children
- the Army's and the Navy's work
- St. Michael's Men's Club
- master's and doctor's degrees
8.6.
In the use of an apostrophe in firm names, the names of organizations and institutions, the titles of books, and geographic names, the authentic form is to be followed. (Note use of "St.")
- Masters, Mates & Pilots' Association
- Johns Hopkins University
- Dentists' Supply Co. of New York
- Hinds' Precedents
- International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union
- Harpers Ferry
- Hells Canyon
- Court of St. James's Reader's Digest
- St. Peter's Church
- Actor's Equity Association
- St. Elizabeths Hospital
but Martha's Vineyard
8.7.
Generally, the apostrophe should not be used after names of countries and other organized bodies ending in s, or after words more descriptive than possessive (not indicating personal possession), except when plural does not end in s.
- United States control
- teachers college
- United Nations meeting
- merchants exchange
- Southern States industries
- children's hospital
- Massachusetts laws
- Young Men's Christian Association
- Bureau of Ships report
- House of Representatives session
- Teamsters Union
- editors handbook
- syrup producers manual
- technicians guide
- but
- Veterans' Administration (now Department of Veterans Affairs)
- Congress' attitude
8.8.
Possessive pronouns do not take an apostrophe.
- its
- yours
- ours
- hers
- theirs
- whose
