""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3489 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
I do believe my friend David Wright is right!
-------------------- Maker of fine signs and other creative stuff. Located at 109 N. Cumberland ave. Harlan, Ky. 40831 606-837-0242 Posts: 4172 | From: Ages-Brookside, Ky. Up the Holler... | Registered: Jul 1999
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posted
The first two show possession. The third states who they are but should have "es" added to show plurality because, we can assume, that are more than one Jones.
-------------------- Bruce Bowers
DrCAS Custom Lettering and Design Saint Cloud, Minnesota
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out." - Art Linkletter Posts: 6454 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
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My mind wanders. And that's not a good thing, 'cause it's too small to be out there alone. Posts: 3129 | From: Tooele, UT | Registered: Mar 2005
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posted
you could always go with "the Jones family"
-------------------- Ken McTague, Concept Signs 57 Bridge St. (route 107) Salem MA 01970 1-978-745-5800 conceptsign@yahoo.com http://www.pinheadlounge.com/CaptainKen
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"A wise man once said that, or was it a wise guy?" Posts: 2425 | From: Salem, MA | Registered: Apr 1999
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posted
Wasn't this thread repeated a couple of years ago?
If you're going to put "The" in front of the name, it needs to sound like "Joneses", but needs to be spelled " Jones' ", IMHO.
Where's Dave Fisher, he usually has the right answer for this...!
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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Choice number two is Captain Ken's suggestion, and it is less clumsy than choice number one, imo.
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Only if this sign is for a single person (which I rather doubt), then you should use "Jones" (but NOT "The Jones").
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You should NOT use the possessive form on this sign. Below are some reasons why not as well as some miscellaneous info on the possessive form.
You should NOT use the possessive form because possessive words describe other words, but -- in the case of your sign -- nothing is being described. Saying The Jones' is like saying "the red" or "the happy." Descriptive words need to have the words they describe SOMEWHERE in the sentence or phrase.
e.g.: That pencil is Jones'. That is Jones' pencil. (but this is rather clumsy; so, I would generally prefer to say, "This pencil belongs to Jones.)
This is a red book. This book is red.
She is a happy child. The child is happy.
More Possessive Trivia: Jones' and Jones's are both the possesive form of the SINGULAR. Joneses' is the possessive form of the plural (just when you thought it couldn't get worse).
e.g.: That is the Joneses' car.
{edited to fix the link and add the reason why possessive should not be used}
Cheers, --William
[ May 31, 2006, 04:56 AM: Message edited by: William Bass ]
-------------------- William Bass wjb71@bellsouth.net Northwest Florida Posts: 636 | From: Pensacola, FL | Registered: Aug 2004
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posted
Oh yeah...if it's too late and you've chosen an incorrect form and the artwork was approved and you've already gotten to a point where a lot of materials will be wasted in order to "fix" it...
Well, then, I'm not too sure how to advise about that...I was just enjoying giving a dissertation on grammar.
--William
[ May 31, 2006, 05:39 AM: Message edited by: William Bass ]
-------------------- William Bass wjb71@bellsouth.net Northwest Florida Posts: 636 | From: Pensacola, FL | Registered: Aug 2004
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posted
Thanks for the correction, William- I'm convinced you're right!
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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(you've gotten all screwed up by adding that pesky "the"). Try out a different name, and you'll see what I mean. You aren't really identifying that the house BELONGS to the Jones. You are trying to say who LIVES there. As in:
<Scooter> or <Smith>
If i say: <Scooter's> or <Smith's> then it begs the question, "Scooter's What?"
<The Scooters> or <The Smiths> sounds like it should be on a theatre marquee
And finally <The Scooter's> and <The Smith's> makes no sense at all.
Just <Jones>
-------------------- :: Scooter Marriner :: :: Coyote Signs :: :: Oakland, CA :: :: still a beginner :: :: Posts: 1356 | From: Oakland (and San Francisco) | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
Well, I don't know if it is correct or not but they signed off the proof with "The Joneses" on it. Client wanted "The" on the sign. He likes it so I guess it's good to go.
Thanks for all the help!
[ June 01, 2006, 09:11 AM: Message edited by: Amy Brown ]
-------------------- Amy Brown Life Skills 101 Private Address Posts: 3502 | From: Lake Helen, FL, USA | Registered: Feb 2001
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