Apostrophe S

[crystalswolf]

We have learned that some of the grammar rules drilled into our heads years ago may no longer apply. Here's another rule that was drilled into my head but apparently is wrong now.

I was always taught that you show possession with ('s) unless the word ends with an "s" then you just add the apostrophe, even if it's a name or singular form. Guess not.

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/621/01/

[Misplaced]

What's ironic is that, though I was taught the same thing in school growing up as crystalswolf, these rules are in "The Elements of Style" which was written (even the later edition with additions by E.B. White) long before I was born. I wonder where it got lost in translation for English teachers?

It took me a while to embrace the idea that singular nouns that end in "s" still get 's in the possessive form. It was difficult to type "Hayes's" in my most recent chapter of "Dark Echoes."

[entkayjay]

It does, however, say that just using the apostrophe is still acceptable. Still. Goodie, I'm not obsolete. Yet.

[Glory1863]

What made me crazy was when we stopped using the possessive form with eponyms in medical transcription. Now it's Alzheimer dementia, Down syndrome, Hodgkin lymphoma and Parkinson disease. Depending on the sentence, it can still sound bizarre.

[Kathy Rose]

Gosh, those just don't sound right without the possessive, do they, Glory?

I too was taught just an apostrophe at the end for possessives which end in s, but in recent years I've had some betas who insisted it be with both apostrophe and the added s, and some who didn't. Now, hearing that just the apostrophe is acceptable, I think I'll stick with that.

I'm so confused.

I have always wondered who gets to make these changes anyway? Is there some punctuation/grammar board we don't know about? Or is it just that so many people are doing it that way that is has become acceptable?