Marcus’ is a singular possessive form for the name Marcus, following the guidance of the AP Stylebook. For instance, Marcus’ car is parked in the driveway. Marcus’s is also a singular possessive form endorsed by the Chicago Manual of Style.
With that said, you can choose to use the other two above possessive forms, just make sure that there is consistency in the document you are editing.
Let’s take a look at the following table that gives us a helpful overview of the difference forms of the name Marcus
| Form | Example |
| singular | Marcus |
| Plural | Marcuses |
| Singular possessive | Marcus’ or Marcus’s |
| Plural possessive | Marcuses’ |
Lest look at some quick examples of how each of the above forms can be used in a sentence;
singular:Marcus is a talented musician.
Plural: The competition featured many talented musicians, including several Marcuses
Singular possessive :Marcus’s guitar playing is exceptional.
Singular possessive: Marcus’s dedication to his craft has earned him widespread recognition in the music industry.
Plural possessive:The Marcuses’ performances captivated the audience
As you can see, there are two singular possessive forms for Marcus, one form ending with an apostrophe and the other form ending with an apostrophe and an ‘S’ at the end.
The singular possessive form ending with the apostrophe is recommended by the Associated press (AP) style book while one ending with an apostrophe and an ‘S’ is recommended by the chicago manual of styles. Just make sure to maintain consistency with whichever you choose to use
I must also point out that although Marcus has a plural, Marcuses and a plural possessive Marcuses‘. These two forms are rarely used even though they are grammatically correct. Let’s look at how we can apply these two forms in everyday examples:;
Using Marcuses (more than one Marcus):
“One Marcus is a musician. Two musicians together are two Marcuses.”
“The Marcuses played great music at the concert. Marcuses means more than one Marcus making music.”
Using Marcuses’ (belonging to more than one Marcus):
“The Marcuses’ instruments are cool. This means the instruments belong to the group of Marcuses.”
“I like the Marcuses’ songs. The songs belong to all the Marcuses, not just one.”
Marcus’s
When you want to show that something belongs to Marcus will you add an apostrophe and an ‘s.’ The is the most commonly used singular possessive form for Marcus. For example, if Marcus has a book, you can say it’s Marcus’s book by adding ‘s after his name.
Consistency is key. If you decide to follow a particular set of rules, like the ones in the Microsoft Manual of Style or The Chicago Manual of Style, make sure to stick to that style throughout your writing. This helps keep your writing clear and correct.
So, Marcus’s car means the car belongs to Marcus, and this is how you indicate possession when a name ends in ‘s’.
Let’s look at more examples below;
“Marcus’s dedication to his studies has earned him top grades in school.”
“This is Marcus’s car; he just got it last week.”
“We’re excited about attending Marcus’s art exhibition at the gallery tomorrow.”
Marcus’
If you’re following the styling guidelines of the Associated Press Stylebook, you will add an apostrophe after the ‘s’ to show possession for names ending in ‘s.’ For example, if Marcus has a guitar, you can say it’s Marcus’ guitar.
Once you choose a styling standard, like the one mentioned in the manuals, make sure to use it consistently throughout your document.
So, Marcus’ artwork means the artwork belongs to Marcus, and this is how you show possession when a name ends in ‘s’. Remember to apply the same style consistently in your writing.
“I really enjoy Marcus’ cooking; his lasagna is my favorite.”
“We’re going to Marcus’ party on Saturday to celebrate his birthday.”
“Do you know where Marcus’ keys are? He can’t find them anywhere.