How do you spell it?

St James'
@Ronrybs (17849)
London, England
March 4, 2016 2:44pm CST
Not being the best of spellers, I find it reassuring when the establishment struggles as well. On my travels I have found several examples of spelling variations, but this one, on the platform at St James' Tube station, is my favourite. Having worked in the building on top the station, I saw it most days of the week. Good to know we are all humin... human.
8 people like this
9 responses
paigea
@paigea (35680)
• Canada
17 Aug 16
I am always needing a reminder on this rule. Now to read both are acceptable just confuses me more!
1 person likes this
paigea
@paigea (35680)
• Canada
17 Aug 16
@Ronrybs I have to know when I substitute teach in high school!
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (17849)
• London, England
17 Aug 16
I would say go which way you feel at the moment. I like s', but I refuse to lose any sleep over it!
Arthur Chappell
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
5 Mar 16
there are many appaling uses of apostrophes like that
1 person likes this
Arthur Chappell
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
5 Mar 16
@Ronrybs lazy sign writing - surprised no one noticed before the sign went up
1 person likes this
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (17849)
• London, England
5 Mar 16
I just put it down to the evolution of the language. The missing S seems to be a product of recent times.
1 person likes this
Koalemos
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
4 Mar 16
The one on the left is clearly wrong. It is hard to believe that they have not corrected this because I am sure that many people must have mentioned it in the past.
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (17849)
• London, England
4 Mar 16
I not at all sure which one is 'wrong', if any. The one on the right is only one on the platform, all the others are like the left one. Don't you just love English!
1 person likes this
Koalemos
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
4 Mar 16
@Ronrybs I can recognise it as being wrong immediately. The apostrophe comes last in any situation where the final letter is an S, which would include the cows' feet or Santa Claus' sack.
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (17849)
• London, England
4 Mar 16
@Asylum That got me thinking, so I pulled out my Fowler's, Gabay's Copywriters' compendium and Grammer for Grown Ups. Basically either is acceptable, but I got lost in the various rules of it all!
1 person likes this
Oshy
@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
4 Mar 16
OH my goodness I am in utter shock that the British are misspelling things. I say. Although it is not spelling to me, it is that dang apostrophe haha. I would say St James Park without any apostrophe.
1 person likes this
Oshy
@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
5 Mar 16
@Ronrybs Yeah haha
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (17849)
• London, England
5 Mar 16
I have heard people say St James Park and others St James' Park. From all I've read both spellings are acceptable. Helps to things confused!
1 person likes this
pgn
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
5 Mar 16
That humble apostrophe is responsible for so many arguments...
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (17849)
• London, England
5 Mar 16
A humble task, but someone has to do the job!
1 person likes this
Reine25
@Lucky15 (37346)
• Philippines
4 Mar 16
Left..not.right I mean the one on the left is wrong.
1 person likes this
Scott Ganschow
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
4 Mar 16
Proper spelling seems to have gone by the wayside.
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (17849)
• London, England
5 Mar 16
I do like the spell checker function, but the gammer rules aren't that great!
1 person likes this
Oishi Dasgupta
@Oishi24 (47)
• Kolkata, India
5 Mar 16
The left one is definitely wrong. Apostrophe never comes before "S".
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (17849)
• London, England
5 Mar 16
According to various books, either is okay. The one on the right is the more modern way of using an apostrophe... probabbly!
Hanni Harel
@Hannihar (129458)
• Israel
13 May 18
@Ronrybs We have people here from many English speaking countries that live here in Israel so we have different spellings of words here. Some spell it one way and others spell something another way.