Another dumb butt question :

[Judy Judy Judy]

I want to buy a personalized rug with the last name on it....should it read The Boswells or The Boswell's ????????? Thanks

 

[BCV513]

Actually, I think technically either one is correct. No apostrophe because there are more than one of you living there, so it's plural. Use an apostrophe because it's your house. How's that for a non-answer??

 

[SC Minnie]

Actually, I think technically either one is correct. No apostrophe because there are more than one of you living there, so it's plural. Use an apostrophe because it's your house. How's that for a non-answer??

Yes, are you telling people that more than one of you live there are telling them that the rug belongs to you?

 

[Judy Judy Judy]

So if I have "The Boswells" put onto it, that will be fine then.....it's a front door mat for a couple that is getting married????

 

[BCV513]

So if I have "The Boswells" put onto it, that will be fine then.....

Sure. It just means you're saying that more than one of you live there

 

[wvjules]

I thought this was a question about butts?

Another dumb butt question

ETA: And I would just have it say "Boswell".

 

[Judy Judy Judy]

I thought this was a question about butts?



ETA: And I would just have it say "Boswell".

Hehe.....I can't just put Boswell on it....it has to say "The blah blah blah".

 

[tar heel]

There's no technicality here. Leave that apostrophe out, please! It's totally and completely incorrect unless there is ONE Boswell and it is possessing something.

 

[KristaTX]

And I would just have it say "Boswell".

I agree. It just sounds better and gets rid of any apostrophe confusion. Too bad it's not an option.

 

[Judy Judy Judy]

Ok I'm ordering it as " The Boswells "...thanks for the help!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[daisax]

Grammar Rule #1: The apostrophe does not mean "look out, here comes an S!"



It's one of my biggest peeves and I don't see why companies that MAKE those signs/objects even give people the option of getting it wrong, because it's a bad reflection on them, too.

 

[legalsea]

We had the same issue at my house. Should it have been The Legalseas, the Legalseas, or just 'Legalseas'. We opted for the latter.

See, if you were the only "Boswells" on earth, then you would be entitled to say "The Boswells", with the emphasis on "THE".

However, there are other Boswells. Hence you cannot say "The Boswells" without offending the other Boswells. Just like I could not, in good conscious, put out a mat saying "THE Legalseas". It would sound snooty and would not be completely true. There are other Legalseas (most owe me money, or would like to).

Now, you could put down 'the Boswells' with the small 't' in 'the'. It would mean to your readers (like the postman and pizza guy) that "Yes, we are Boswells, and proud of it, but we are not the only Boswells on earth and we rejoice in that knowledge".

You may want to consider "A Boswell Family". Short, to the point and truthful. Indeed, I strongly urged "A Legalsea Family" to my wife, but she objected to the capital 'A', and we could never see eye to eye on the issue, hence it was dropped altogether.

Simply having the word "Boswells" (or, in my case "Legalseas") on a doormat says something elegant yet candid, thoughtfull yet precious, truthful yet poetic. To all comers to the door you are saying "Boswells live here! Look out for the Boswells! Look behind you!" People will take notice.

I hope this helped.

 

[Judy Judy Judy]

Well it's a done deal now, however it was suppose to be it was sent in as " The Boswells " so I hope they like it, if not they can always put it at their back door...ha...it's so hard buying gifts these days it seems like every new couple already has everything.

Thanks for all the help!

 

[ckay87]

Well, was it the Beatles or the Beatle's? The Beach Boys or the Beach Boy's .

 

[legalsea]

Well, was it the Beatles or the Beatle's? The Beach Boys or the Beach Boy's .

Hmm. good question. I never heard Paul or Ringo say "We were in a musical group entitled "Beatles". They always prefaced it with "the" or "The".

My favorite horror movie was "Them". Short and to the point. Watch out for THEM!

 

[Judy Judy Judy]

Well, was it the Beatles or the Beatle's? The Beach Boys or the Beach Boy's .

MY GOD what was I thinking....I knew there was something to be learned from the Beatles and the beach boys but couldn't put my finger on it....hehe

 

[Cool-Beans]

I have always wondered about that. If you want to say that you live there, it is "The Boswells." If you want to say that the home belongs to you, it is "The Boswells'." I prefer the former and have something like that hanging in the house, but am honestly not sure which is correct. I think you'd really have to add "home" to the end of it if you want that apostrophe.

I don't know exactly what those doormats are saying, lol.

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Why don't you just get one that says "The RUG"

If people are in your house, they should know who you are!

 

[legalsea]

I have always wondered about that. If you want to say that you live there, it is "The Boswells." If you want to say that the home belongs to you, it is "The Boswells'." I prefer the former and have something like that hanging in the house, but am honestly not sure which is correct. I think you'd really have to add "home" to the end of it if you want that apostrophe.

I don't know exactly what those doormats are saying, lol.

It is not so much what a doormat says, but what it DOESN'T say.

Think about it...........

 

[Judy Judy Judy]

Why don't you just get one that says "The RUG"

If people are in your house, they should know who you are!

This is for a very young couple getting married and right now they love to see their last name on everything...haha...give them 1 year and I promise you they won't care.

Hey, buying gifts for someone else is hard, I hope they like it.