Need English/grammar help

[ckret01]

I am ordering labels for my boss's home address. He wants it to say:

The Smith's
123 Main Street
New York, New York, 12345

My question is do I include the ('s) or just an (s) at the end of his last name.

Any help?

 

[Kermit]

No, you don't need the apostrophe. It's used to show possession. However, it is so common for people to use it after last names that it won't be *as* wrong as if you used an apostrophe incorrectly somewhere else.

I would eliminate the issue by putting The Smith Family on the first line.

 

[Viking]

i.e. The Smiths :No apostrophe, because it's plural.
i.e. The Smiths' Mansion: Plural, Genitive - so you would need an apostrophe, but a trailing one

 

[ckret01]

Thank you very very much. I will use the idea The Smith Family to eliminate me messing this up! Thanks so much

 

[tar heel]

You don't want him to look stupid, and he would with the apostrophe.

 

[clh2]

I always get around this issue with using: The Smith Family

 

[JuliaEeyore]

I agree with the others, as someone who has a last name that suffers this issue.

It would be "The Smiths"... but I like "The Smith Family" better anyway!

(FWIW - I get into disagreements with my boss who is semi-gramatically clueless all the time, and I was hired to be his Marketing Manager. It's tough... )

Julia