Proper Nouns Use Same Spelling Rules as Regular Nouns

During the holiday season, it never ceases to amaze me how many people don't know how to get the spelling of their names correct on the cards they send out.

Not The Jones's (possessive)

But The Joneses
Or The Jones Family

Of course, it doesn't help that Word and other grammar-check programs don't get this either.

Use the rules for making regular nouns plural when printing or signing your holiday cards and emails:

• Add an s to most words that don't end in an s.
• Remember the exceptions--we add es to most words that end in ch, o, s, sh, x, y (change to i), and z.
• There are exceptions to these basic rules, of course, but I'm not going into them here.
  

So, for those of you with names ending with ch, s, sh, x, and z, be aware that everyone will think you're spelling your name wrong when you're actually spelling it right. Easy way out:

The Branch Family--Branch is an adjective in this construction and doesn't need to be made plural.

Happy Holidays!

The Importance of Punctuation

Two versions of a "Dear John" letter:

Dear John:
I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are generous, kind, thoughtful. People who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me for other men. I yearn for you. I have no feelings whatsoever when we're apart. I can be forever happy--will you let me be yours?
Jane




Dear John:
I want a man who knows what love is. All about you are generous, kind, thoughtful people who are not like you. Admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me. For other men, I yearn. For you, I have no feelings whatsoever. When we're apart, I can be forever happy--will you let me be?
Yours,
Jane