FAMILY NAMES For those who've banged against brick-walls Until brain cells were bruised Here's another little problem That might have you confused. When you speak of family names, As genealogists often do, Please omit the apostrophe When you mean more than two. (Actually more than one, but it doesn't rhyme that way) So, to be correct, the Smiths or Wrights, Not Smith's or Wright's, is what you'd say. Don't use the apostrophe in names Except to show possession, As in: The Hindenberger's dog Shows tendencies towards aggression. Abe Miller begat Millers, Not Miller's, for years And the long line of Brighams, Not Brigham's, were early pioneers. Don't call your family book "The Johnson's" or "The Clark's" Unless you add what it is they own- Their cabin, their bed, their knives or forks. "The Johnson's Cabin" makes good sense; The Johnsons would be proud For they scraped together what they had In a struggle from earth to the shroud. Now, for the exception to the rule (I see you all have frowned) Add "es" to the names Ending in "s" or in an "s" sound. The Joneses and the Davises Look quite odd, I'm sure you will agree, But the standard rules of English Were not made up by me. When thinking of the Smiths, Don't double-pluralize. John Smith's children were not Smithses, And neither were his wives. As for those hated brick-walls, (Should we be by fortune seized) How would we spend our extra time If those were solved with ease? Shirley Malone Please feel free to send to other lists.