The Great Apostrophe Debate: Harris' or Harris's?

Vice President Kamala Harris’s choice of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate has reignited debates among grammarians about proper possessive forms of names ending in 's'. Experts and major news outlets are divided on whether to add an extra 's' after the apostrophe. The discussion has historical roots and continues to evolve.

Vice President Kamala Harris's selection of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate has sparked a renewed debate among language enthusiasts regarding possessive forms of proper names ending in 's'.

Ron Woloshun, creative director and digital marketer, quickly chimed in on social media, referencing the Associated Press Stylebook's guidance, which uses only an apostrophe for such names. This view is not unanimously supported.

Benjamin Dreyer, a retired copy chief at Random House, and Timothy Pulju, a linguistics lecturer at Dartmouth, remain divided. While Dreyer opts for 's, Pulju believes that both forms are valid. This debate highlights the dynamic nature of language and the evolving rules of grammar.

(With inputs from agencies.)