Understanding “Princess’ or Princess’s?”

The English language can be tricky, especially when it comes to possessive forms and punctuation. One of the common dilemmas arises when trying to determine whether to use “princess’s” or “princess’”. Should we write “the princess’s dress” or “the princess’ dress”? Both are correct, but there are subtle differences, and understanding them will help you write more accurately and confidently.

What is a Possessive Form?

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of princess’s and princess’, it’s essential to understand what a possessive form is. Possession is a grammatical concept that shows something belongs to someone or something else. In English, we typically indicate possession using apostrophes.

For example:

• Mark’s book means the book belongs to Mark.
• The cat’s tail means the tail belongs to the cat.

The possessive form shows ownership, and this is what we’re trying to express when we say something like the princess’s crown or the princess’ crown.

Singular Possessives: Princess’s or Princess’?

Let’s focus first on the possessive form for singular nouns that end with “s,” such as princess. This is where things can get a little tricky.

In English, when a singular noun ends in “s”, there are two common ways to form the possessive:

1. Add apostrophe + s: princess’s
2. Add only an apostrophe: princess’

Both of these forms are grammatically correct, but the choice between them depends on the style guide you follow, the context, and personal preference. This is a subject of debate among grammar experts. Let’s look at each option in detail.

Princess’s: The Standard Approach

The most widely accepted form in American English is princess’s. According to the Chicago Manual of Style and similar resources, when showing possession for singular nouns that end in “s,” you should add apostrophe + s. This rule is meant to create consistency and clarity in writing.

Examples:

• The princess’s crown – The crown belongs to the princess.
• The princess’s horse – The horse belongs to the princess.
• The princess’s castle – The castle belongs to the princess.

In these examples, we use princess’s to indicate that the crown, horse, and castle belong to the princess. It’s straightforward and easy to understand, especially in formal writing.

Princess’: The Alternative

The alternative form, princess’, omits the additional “s” after the apostrophe. This form is often used in more informal settings, or you might encounter it in British English.

While it’s perfectly acceptable in some contexts, it is less commonly used in American English unless following specific style guides like AP Style, which tends to prefer the omission of the extra “s” in singular possessive forms.

Example:

• The princess’ crown – The crown belongs to the princess.
• The princess’ horse – The horse belongs to the princess.
• The princess’ castle – The castle belongs to the princess.

When to Use Which Form?

In formal writing, especially in American English, you are generally encouraged to use princess’s. The additional “s” is considered more consistent and grammatically precise. In casual, less formal contexts or in British English, princess’ can be used. Ultimately, the choice between these two forms often depends on personal preference or style guides.

In general:

• Princess’s is the most common in American English for singular possessive forms.
• Princess’ is common in informal contexts and British English.

The Plural of Princess: Princesses

Now that we’ve established the singular possessive, let’s consider the plural form. The plural of princess is princesses.

But what about the possessive form of princesses?

Just like with singular nouns, when the plural noun ends in “s”, we typically add only an apostrophe at the end, not an apostrophe plus “s.”

Example:

• The princesses’ gowns – The gowns belong to the princesses.
• The princesses’ jewels – The jewels belong to the princesses.
• The princesses’ castle – The castle belongs to the princesses.

Why Add Only an Apostrophe?

In English grammar, when we create the possessive form of a plural noun that already ends in “s”, we simply add an apostrophe. This eliminates the need for an additional “s” after the apostrophe, which would sound awkward and look redundant. Thus, princesses’ is used in most cases to indicate possession by multiple princesses.

Princesses’s? Or Princesses’?

Sometimes people ask if you can say princesses’s. While it’s technically possible to add an additional “s”, the common and widely accepted form is princesses’.

Thus, in all but the most formal contexts, princesses’ is preferred for the possessive form of the plural noun.

The Pronunciation of Princess’s vs. Princess’

The way we pronounce possessive forms can vary slightly. Both forms, princess’s and princess’, sound different, although the difference is subtle.

Princess’s Pronunciation

When you add apostrophe + s, the pronunciation includes an additional “iz” sound at the end of the word. It sounds like “prin-sess-iz”.

Example:

• The princess’s crown would be pronounced as “the princess-iz crown”.

Princess’ Pronunciation

On the other hand, when you use just an apostrophe, you skip the “iz” sound. It’s pronounced simply as “prin-sess”.

Example:

• The princess’ crown would be pronounced as “the princess crown”.

While both pronunciations are correct, princess’s includes the extra “iz” sound, which makes it slightly more formal.

Plural Possessive Forms: How Do We Use Them?

As mentioned earlier, when referring to multiple princesses, the plural possessive form is princesses’.

This form follows the standard rule for plural nouns ending in “s”. To show possession, we simply add an apostrophe at the end.

Examples:

• The princesses’ dresses – The dresses belong to the princesses.
• The princesses’ jewels – The jewels belong to the princesses.
• The princesses’ carriages – The carriages belong to the princesses.

Princesses Meaning

The term princesses refers to more than one princess. A princess is typically a female member of a royal family, often the daughter of a king or queen. In this context, when we say princesses or princesses’, we are referring to the belongings or actions of multiple princesses.

Example:

• The princesses’ adventure – The adventure taken by the princesses.

Examples of Plural Possession

Let’s take a look at more examples where the plural possessive form is used.

1. The princesses’ outfits – The outfits belong to the princesses.
2. The princesses’ stories – The stories belong to the princesses.
3. The princesses’ horses – The horses belong to the princesses.
4. The princesses’ jewelry – The jewelry belongs to the princesses.

Each of these examples illustrates that when more than one princess possesses something, we use princesses’ to show possession.

Additional Notes on Possessives

While princess’s and princess’ are commonly debated, they are far from the only tricky possessive forms in English. Consider how plural possessives work with other nouns. For example:

• The plural of dynamo is dynamos. To show possession, you would use dynamos’ for multiple dynamo-related items.
• Similarly, the plural form of castle is castles. To show possession, you would write castles’.

These examples follow the same basic rules and offer a good comparison to the princess’s or princess’ possessive dilemma.

The Possessive Form of Other Plurals

Let’s take a look at some more possessive plural examples.

1. The princesses’ dresses – The dresses belong to the princesses.
2. The princes’ crowns – The crowns belong to the princes.
3. The students’ books – The books belong to the students.
4. The dogs’ collars – The collars belong to the dogs.

Key Takeaways

1. Princess’s: Used to show possession for a singular princess in American English.
2. Princess’: Another valid option for showing possession, especially in British English or more informal contexts.
3. Princesses’: The plural possessive form for multiple princesses.
4. Princesses: The plural form of princess.

summarized in 20 bullet points:

1. Understanding Possessive Forms: Possessive forms in English show ownership or association.
2. Possessive Forms of Singular Nouns: Add apostrophe + s to singular nouns to show possession. Example: princess’s crown.
3. Princess’s vs. Princess’: Both forms are used for possession; princess’s is more common in American English, while princess’ is accepted in British English or informal settings.
4. American English Preference: The Chicago Manual of Style recommends princess’s for singular possessive forms.
5. Possessive Pronunciation: Princess’s adds an “iz” sound, while princess’ omits it.
6. Plural of Princess: The plural of princess is princesses.
7. Plural Possessive: To show possession for plural nouns ending in s, only add an apostrophe. Example: princesses’ dresses.
8. Pronunciation of Plural Possessives: Princesses’ sounds like “prin-ess-iz” with a subtle “iz” at the end.
9. Princess’s or Princess’ in Sentences: Both forms are grammatically correct, depending on context.
10. When to Use Princess’s: Use princess’s for formal, American English writing and for clarity.
11. When to Use Princess’: Princess’ can be used in British English or informal contexts.
12. Examples of Princess’s Possession: The princess’s crown, The princess’s gown, The princess’s jewels.
13. Examples of Princesses’ Possession: The princesses’ dresses, The princesses’ crowns, The princesses’ adventures.
14. Common Rules for Possessives: For singular nouns ending in s, use apostrophe + s for formal usage.
15. Plural Possessive Consistency: For plural nouns ending in s, add only an apostrophe. Example: princesses’ jewels.
16. Princesses Meaning: Refers to multiple female members of royalty or noble families.
17. Comparison to Other Nouns: Similar possessive rules apply to other plural nouns, like dynamos’ and castles’.
18. Princess’s Pronunciation: Adds an “iz” sound, e.g., princess’s gown is pronounced prin-sess-iz gown.
19. Princess’ Pronunciation: Skips the “iz” sound, e.g., princess’ gown is pronounced prin-sess gown.
20. Possessive Forms in Everyday Writing: Use princess’s in formal writing, but princess’ in less formal, British English, or when style guides allow.

These 20 points give a comprehensive overview of the use of princess’s and princess’, providing clarity on the rules, examples, and contexts for each form.

Final Thoughts

Navigating possessive forms in English, especially with nouns that end in “s,” can be tricky. The case of princess’s or princess’ presents a common challenge, but with the right understanding of the rules and context, you can use these forms correctly. Remember that princess’s is preferred in formal American English, while princess’ is a valid alternative, especially in informal writing or British English. When it comes to the plural form, simply add an apostrophe to princesses to create princesses’, and you’ll be good to go.

By practicing these rules and applying them in your writing, you’ll master possessive forms in no time. Whether you’re writing formal documents, stories, or simply texting a friend, you’ll be able to express possession clearly and confidently—just like a true language expert!