With or without graphix?

The apostrophe denotes an abbreviation.

The confusion often comes in the genititve case (old english added an extra e, which we no longer pronounce, and have therefore abbreviated - hence the apostrophe). So what in olden times used to be 'Jameses' became James's (or for ease, James').

So just think - is there a letter / letters missing? If so use an apostrophe. If not don't.

[/lesson]

justMouse you are way out of line here. Way out of line. Where's the possessive dude? That's where most of the trouble starts.