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How to Pluralize a Surname With an S at the End

Proper nouns that end in the hard "z" sound or the letter "s" have earned a reputation for being difficult to pluralize. Many make the mistake of adding an apostrophe before or after the "s" at the end of a last name that ends in "s" to try to pluralize it. That will only create a possessive form. The plural is formed on many names that end in "s" by adding -es or doing nothing.

Instructions

    • 1

      Determine if the ending s in the family last name holds the "s" sound or the "z" sound.

    • 2

      Add an -es to pluralize surnames that end in s with the "s" sound. "The Brasses are coming over (not the Brass's). "The Joneses are at the game (not the Jones').

    • 3

      Add no ending to surnames ending in the "z" sound. These names need no "s" at the end or apostrophes. "The Lodges are coming over" (not the Lodgeses). "The Stevens are at the game" (not the Stevenses).

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