Grammar police - need help: Jess' or Jess's
 

As the title suggests - what is the correct way to spell the possesive of Jess?

Example:

I rode Jess' bike

OR

I rode Jess's bike.

Thanks,
-Z.

Either way is correct.

I use Jess'

I thought if it ends in an S, you just use the apostrophe....

If it ends with an s and is singular, I think you still add the 's, but otherwise you just leave it with the apostrophe. I get all messed up when you get around "quotes" and ending sentences, especially when using sources.

Yeah, but what if it ends with TWO s's?
-Z.

D'oh! Double post.

Go Jets! Er, I mean - is anyone watching the game?!?

It looks silly, but I'm pretty sure Jess's is correct as log as it's just one Jess.

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_apost.html

Looks like you can find advice going both ways...

http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/apostro.asp

http://www.meredith.edu/grammar/plural.htm

http://www.bcc.ctc.edu/writinglab/Apostrophe.html

The nuns taught me that a proper name ending with "s" uses "s's", with the following exceptions.

Words ending with a double "s" (righteousness) and words that sound like they with a double "s" (concience) take the apostrophe only. For example, use "righteousness' sake" and "concience' sake". The nus taught me to use this usage for biblical and historical words, like Jesus (Jesus' sake) too.



The name Jesse always fits the first exception and might fit the second. If I were writing about Jesse James (using the exception for the name of a historical figure), I would write "Jess' six shooter". If I were writing about a 911 owned by my friend Jesse, I would write Jess' 911 (using the rule for a name ending with a double "s").

I wouldn't use "Jess's" for the posessive. Sr. Bernadette Michael was a tough cookie, and I fear her fatwah.

That's right! I remember something about that.

If it's singular possessive: one Jess. Jess' dress.

Plural possessive: two jess's......the two jess's dresses.

I vote for Jess'.

What CC said is what I was taught.