The term Smiths’s is the more common way to form the plural possessive of Smiths. For example, “The Smiths’s house is at the end of the street.” However, the word Smiths’ without an additional “s” at the end is also correct, and it is a matter of preference which you use. For instance, “The Smiths’ garden is beautiful.”
The following table shows the plural forms of the name Smiths.
| Plural | Smiths |
| Plural possessive | Smiths’ / Smiths’s |
As you can see, you can form the plural possessive in two ways because the word Smiths ends with an “s.”
According to Google Ngram, the more common possessive form is Smiths’s. This is also the form you should follow for APA Style and Chicago Manual of Style.
Alternatively, you can use the less popular version, which is Smiths’. You should use this version with no additional “s” if you follow AP Style.
Considering the above rules, both of the following sentences are correct:
- The Smiths’s car is parked outside.
- The Smiths’ children are playing in the yard.
However, if you start using one version in a text, you should continue with that version until the end.
Perhaps you still have doubts about the different forms of the name Smiths. If so, please continue reading the rest of the page to avoid making mistakes in the future.
Smiths’s
The term Smiths’s is the more popular plural possessive version of the name Smiths. Therefore, you use it to indicate that something belongs to the Smiths as a family.
Furthermore, style guides like the Chicago Manual of Style and APA Style suggest that you should use this plural possessive form with the additional “s.”
- The Smiths’s vacation home is in the mountains.
Sometimes people avoid adding the “s” at the end when the word after it begins with “s.” However, this is just a preference, and the other version is still acceptable.
- Correct: The Smiths’ son is graduating this year.
- Correct: The Smiths’s son is graduating this year.
Although, whichever version you choose to use, you must be consistent and use the same version throughout the text.
Smiths’
The term Smiths’ with an apostrophe and no additional “s” is a plural possessive form of the name Smiths.
However, it has never been as popular as Smiths’s with an “s,” although Smiths’ is the correct version if you use AP Style.
- The Smiths’ home is always welcoming to guests.
However, although Smiths’s is more common, Smiths’ is clearer because if the following word starts with an “s,” then you avoid having three instances of the letter “s” in a row.
- The Smiths’ schedule is very busy this week.
Also, if you choose to use the version without the second “s,” you should use that version throughout the document, regardless of whether the following word starts with “s.”
