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Comment by LeAnne Law on October 9, 2012 at 12:56

You're right, Christi.  If we do some word substitution, it wouldn't be "within 100 miles of the Walmart's office."  Good catch. 

Comment by LeAnne Law on October 9, 2012 at 12:54

Christi, I think you're right.  If we do some word substitution, it wouldn't be within 100 miles of the Walmart's office. 

Comment by Cindy Clark on October 9, 2012 at 12:44

Thanks Christi.  That really helps - especially the substitution trick. 

Comment by Christi Massey on October 9, 2012 at 12:36

Janiece, I don't think I ever got your e-mail.  I'll dash you off a line here in a bit.  :)

Comment by Christi Massey on October 9, 2012 at 12:36

You're right in your example of the Joneses.  That's a proper person owning something.  In this case, the Seals office, Seals is acting as a proper noun adjective.  It's describing the office.  Seals, as a company entity, is transferred into an adjective with the use of the word "the."  Without the "the" there, it's Seals' office, they're owning it.  Does that help a bit?

Comment by Cindy Clark on October 9, 2012 at 12:29

Interesting.  I had never heard that before.  But what about this:

I'm going to the Jones' house.  I wouldn't ever say I'm going to the Jones house.  It's not THE Jones house, it's the house that belongs to the Jones'.   At least, that's how I say it.

You could go the The White house, but if the house belonged to the White's, wouldn't you be going to the Whites' house?

 

Comment by Janiece Young on October 9, 2012 at 12:29

Christi, I had sent you an email a while back but never heard back from you.  I'd like to get your rates for editing.

Comment by Christi Massey on October 9, 2012 at 12:29

Yes, that one is possessive.  An easy trick (usually) to help is to replace the word with a non-plural company name, such as Taco Bell.  In this case, it'd say, "What is the distance from Taco Bell office..."  So you'd know you need that apostrophe -s on there.  :):)

Comment by Janiece Young on October 9, 2012 at 12:28

So far so good.  I've only been at it two months.

Comment by Janiece Young on October 9, 2012 at 12:27

So this example would be possessive; right?

Q. What is the distance from Seals' office that is mentioned in paragraph No. 1?

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