The term Dickens’ is a singular possessive form of Dickens that you should use for AP Style. E.g., “Dickens’ novels continue to captivate readers.” Furthermore, Dickens’s is also the singular possessive form of Dickens recommended by the Chicago Manual of Style. E.g., “Dickens’s characters are known for their depth.”
Here is a chart that shows the different possessive and plural forms of the name Dickens.
| Form | Example |
| Singular | Dickens |
| Plural | Dickenses |
| Singular possessive | Dickens’ / Dickens’s |
| Plural possessive | Dickenses’ |
There are two versions of the singular possessive. The first you form by adding an apostrophe at the end of Dickens. However, you must also add an “s” after the apostrophe for the other version.
There is no difference in meaning between these singular possessive versions.
However, the AP Stylebook recommends using Dickens’ because Dickens is a proper noun. In contrast, the Chicago Manual of Style recommends using Dickens’s.
Here are some sentences that show the different forms in context:
Singular: Dickens wrote many timeless classics.
Plural: I have read several Dickenses over the years.
Singular possessive: Dickens’s influence on literature is profound.
Singular possessive: We visited Dickens’s birthplace in Portsmouth.
Plural possessive: The two Dickenses’ writing styles differed significantly.
To avoid making mistakes with the different forms of the name Dickens, you should read the rest of this guide, where we explain more about the various forms.
Dickens’s
Dickens’s is the singular possessive form of the name Dickens. Therefore, you can use it to talk about things that belong to Dickens.
These things can be both physical and non-physical.
As shown in these examples:
- We visited Dickens’s birthplace during our literary tour.
- Dickens’s storytelling ability remains unparalleled.
- Someone borrowed Dickens’s pen without asking.
- Dickens’s desk is on display at the museum.
- Dickens’s manuscripts are preserved in the archives.
Furthermore, if you are required to follow the Chicago Manual of Style, you should use Dickens’s.
In terms of frequency, Dickens’s is more common in both American and British English than Dickens’. However, you can choose which version you use as long as you are consistent.
In addition, many people omit the “s” from Dickens’s when the next word begins with “s.” Just make sure that if there are multiple instances in the same text, you do it for all of them.
Here are some great examples of this:
- Dickens’ stories are timeless classics.
- Everyone should read Dickens’ selected works.
- Dickens’ style is unique and captivating.
- Dickens’ social commentary remains relevant today.
- I enjoyed Dickens’ suspenseful storytelling.
Dickens’
The term Dickens’ is a singular possessive form of the name Dickens. That means you can use it to indicate that something belongs to a person called Dickens.
Furthermore, if your writing is in AP Style, then you should use Dickens’ as the singular possessive.
- Dickens’ hometown is the setting for many of his novels.
- I discovered Dickens’ handwritten notes in the library archives.
- Dickens’ characters have become iconic in the literary world.
- I overheard Dickens’ laughter echoing through the old bookstore.
Dickenses’
The plural form of Dickens is Dickenses. While you can use this term to mention more than one person with the last name Dickens, it is more common for the plural possessive to refer to several members of a Dickens family.
- The Dickenses’ literary contributions are celebrated annually.
- The Dickenses’ ancestral home is a tourist attraction.
- At the convention, the Dickenses’ insights into Dickensian themes were well-received.
- The Dickenses’ library is a treasure trove of rare editions.
- I was fascinated by the Dickenses’ collection of Dickens memorabilia.
Example Sentences
Do you want to see some more example sentences? Well, here you go:
- Dickens’ manuscripts are on display at the museum.
- I admire Dickens’ ability to capture the human experience.
- Dickens’s characters are known for their complexity.
- Dickens’s storytelling continues to resonate with readers.
- The Dickenses’ literary legacy is celebrated worldwide.
- I borrowed a rare edition from the Dickenses’ private library.
- The Dickenses’ insights into Dickens’ works are enlightening.
- We often enjoy the Dickenses’ annual Dickens-themed event.
Remember that both Dickens’ and Dickens’s are correct as the singular possessive form of Dickens. Which one you choose is a matter of style and preference.
That’s all you need to know! We hope that you now feel more comfortable using Dickens’, Dickens’s, and Dickenses’.