A few days ago
nonphysical

what is the possesive of the word business? is it business’ or business’s??

what is the possesive of the word business? is it business’ or business’s??

Top 5 Answers
A few days ago
Grandview Heights Public Library

Favorite Answer

Hello Nina!

It is suggested by the Style Manual “Grammar and Specific Lafayette Usage Guide” (Layfayette College) that you avoid “making an inanimate object possessive”

http://www.lafayette.edu/community/styleguide/a4.html

Under the heading “A4. Possessives”:

a4.5. Avoid constructions that involve making an inanimate object possessive, especially when the object of possession is abstract. “The business’s failure” is better expressed as “The failure of the business”; likewise “chemistry’s rules” should be “the rules of chemistry.”

Your local public library reference/information desk professionals can help you answer similar questions.

I hope this information helps you Nina!

Here there be dragons

MLS, Reference Department Manager

Grandview Heights Public Library

Columbus OH 43212

KnowItNow service Ohio

1

A few days ago
Kraig P
Business
0

A few days ago
Anonymous
It is business’; if it were more than one business, then it would be businesses’. Posessives are formed with an apostrophe; if the word ends in an s, whether the word is singular or plural, only the apostophe is added. If the word does not end in an s, then an apostrophe AND an s are added.
0

A few days ago
kelby_lake
business’s, i think u could hav. i’ve never had to use it meself
0

A few days ago
Shortstuff13
It should be written as such: business’s
2