Some users said the more important discussion should be whether Kamala Harris can defeat Trump.
When US President Joe Biden announced his intention to run for a second term, questions were raised about his health and calls for him to reconsider his decision. This came after numerous videos of Biden’s gaffes circulated on social media. Eventually, he relented and let Kamala Harris run as the Democratic candidate in the US presidential election. But before Americans campaign for their next president in a few months, a new debate has taken over social media, and it’s all about the apostrophe: is it Harris’ or Harris’s?
Her decision to select Tim Walz as her running mate further fueled the debate. Since his last name sounds like an S, grammar freaks are excited.
“Apart from the motivation for this article, what do my fellow writers think about this? Personally, I’m the type who doesn’t use an s after an apostrophe. And you?” asked poet Mark Anthony Owen on X.
“My take on the most pressing question of the season: How are the possessive (singular) forms of Harris and Walz punctuated? As others have said, both Harris’s and Harris’ are accepted spellings. I prefer the spelling we use in conversation – Harris’s Policies,” wrote author Melissa Wiley.
My take on the most pressing question of the season: How are the possessive (singular) forms of Harris and Walz punctuated? As others have said, both Harris’s and Harris’ are accepted spellings. I prefer the spelling we use in conversation – Harris’s Policies.
1/2– Melissa Wiley (@melissawiley) 15 August 2024
She also said that the rules change over the years as the English language continues to evolve.
“Another rule of thumb (“rule” is a vague term when it comes to an ever-evolving language) is the old-fashioned notion that the singular possessive with only an apostrophe was reserved for great historical or mythical figures: Zeus, Isis, Jesus, Moses. By that logic, the apostrophe-only use works in any case: Kamala Harris’ presidency will surely be a major historical event! So whatever you decide, you’re fine.”
The Merriam-Webster dictionary has a page that explains the difference between words that end in “S.”
“To indicate ownership by an apostrophe, add an ‘s for single names (“Smith’s car”) and add only the apostrophe after the s for plurals (“the Smiths’ car,” “the Martinezes’ dog”). By convention, names from classical mythology and the Bible that end in s indicate ownership by the apostrophe only (“Jesus’ teachings”).”
However, some users pointed out that the more important discussion should be whether Kamala Harris can defeat Donald Trump and become the first female president of the United States.
