Possessive forms of words ending in -s

[A18]

Option 2, of course.

Option 1 is incredibly awkward; but alas, it seems to have friends in high places.

[Sensei]

I always use option 1

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Prefer the second

[DownWithTheLeft]

I have no idea which one is right, but personally if it arises I just try to not use possessives

For example instead of congress's bill, I'll put the bill from congress

[bullmoose88]

This is probably goofy, but in a situation like that I will say the word (possessive form) and if it, to me, sounds like there's an extra s sound on top of the ending of the base word, then I'll tack on a 's, otherwise not.  (Option 2 is my default).

[platypeanArchcow]

This is probably goofy, but in a situation like that I will say the word (possessive form) and if it, to me, sounds like there's an extra s sound on top of the ending of the base word, then I'll tack on a 's, otherwise not.  (Option 2 is my default).

So you're saying that you'd say "Congress's", because the s is not an ending, but "Stevens'", because that s is already a possessive?  That makes sense to me.  I may do that sort of thing unconsciously.

[bullmoose88]

This is probably goofy, but in a situation like that I will say the word (possessive form) and if it, to me, sounds like there's an extra s sound on top of the ending of the base word, then I'll tack on a 's, otherwise not.  (Option 2 is my default).

So you're saying that you'd say "Congress's", because the s is not an ending, but "Stevens'", because that s is already a possessive?  That makes sense to me.  I may do that sort of thing unconsciously.

Not already a possessive but sounding it out (of course this presupposes that I pronounce words 100% correctly every time, which I think I do, but you can question that)

[paul718]

I always use Option 1 (the way I was taught; ex: Congress').  But I prefer Option 2, as it makes more sense (ex: Congress's).

[ilikeverin]

Congress' implies that the object named is possessed by more than one Congres.  Chris' implies that the object named is possessed by more than one Chri.

[Meeker]

Option 1. Option 2 is weird and awkward looking.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     Option 2 since it's correct (unless the possessor in question is biblical).

[Verily]

Option 2. Option 1 is simply wrong.

[Lunar]

Option 2. Option 1 is simply wrong.

not true, your face is wrong.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Option 2, with a few exceptions.

[Mr. Morden]

This is probably goofy, but in a situation like that I will say the word (possessive form) and if it, to me, sounds like there's an extra s sound on top of the ending of the base word, then I'll tack on a 's, otherwise not.  (Option 2 is my default).

So you're saying that you'd say "Congress's", because the s is not an ending, but "Stevens'", because that s is already a possessive?  That makes sense to me.  I may do that sort of thing unconsciously.

That's largely how I do it, where, if it ends with an s that actually makes an "s" sound, then I'd use 's.  But if it ends with an s that makes a "z" sound, then I'd use s'.

So "Congress's", because "Congress" ends with "s" sound.
"Stevens'", because "Stevens" ends with a "z" sound.

[Platypus]

Always the first; it comes from asking my dad, a James, what he prefferred. He said James', so yeah. One of those random memories from childhood.

[Lief 🗽]

Option 1. My name ends in an S, and I prefer it and I think two (or sometimes three!!!) of them in a row looks awkward.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Option 1. My name ends in an S, and I prefer it and I think two (or sometimes three!!!) of them in a row looks awkward.

Lief doesn't end in an "s". 

[Ronnie]

Option 2 feels awkward to me.