From: Grlygrl201@aol.com
Date: Wed Jan 26 2000 - 03:34:55 PST
Wayne, precious, in the original context, no possessives are used.
First Example: "The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation said yesterday that
William H.
Gates, the founder of the Microsoft Corporation, and his wife,
Melinda, have donated an additional $5 billion to their philanthropic
foundation, making it the world's wealthiest, with assets of $21.8
billion."
"The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation" is a title, like "The Exxon
Corporation." It's not "The Exxon's Corporation." No apostrophe needed.
Second Example: "It's only in the past year that people have taken their
philanthropy
very seriously," Stacy Palmer, editor of the publication, said of the
Gateses."
This is a simple plural, no possesive intent. There are two people with the
last name of Gates implied, so "Gateses" is correct and no apostrophe is
needed.
Reminds me of a joke: How many Jesuses does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
Geegeus
In a message dated 1/25/00 11:15:22 PM Eastern Standard Time,
wbaisley@aol.com writes:
<< > What's wrong with "Gates'"?
According to The Gregg Reference Manual, 7th Edition, apostrophe-s is
added to singular nouns, especially if a new syllable is produced, but
not if the result would be hard to pronounce, in which case a simple
apostrophe will suffice (as with Jesus' case). Just apostrophes are
added to plural nouns. So the correct forms would be (their example
used Gaines, which is close enough):
Bill Gates's foundation
Mr. and Mrs. Gates's foundation
The Gateses' foundation
Cheerses,
Wayneseses'
http://www-oss.fnal.gov/~baisley
>>
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