Originally posted by Serial_Apologist
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"Use 's for the possessive case in English names and surnames whenever possible; ie in all monosyllables and disyllables and in longer words accented on the penult, as:
Charles's, Cousins's, Gustavus's, Hicks's, St James's Square, Jones's, Thomas's, Zacharias's
In longer names not accented on the penult, 's is also preferable, though ' is here admissible; eg Theophilus'.
But poets in all these cases sometimes use s' only; and Jesus' is an accepted liturgical archaism.
In ancient classical names use s' (not s's): Mars', Venus', Herodotus'. This is the prevailing custom in classical works.
Likewise ancient names in -es are usually written -es' in the possessive:
Ceres' rites; Xerxes' fleet.
This form should certainly be used in words longer than two syllables:
Arbaces', Cervantes', Miltiades', Themistocles'.
etc... "
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