Holiday card senders: You are the Smiths, not the Smith’s

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. My last name ends with an s so we use "The ____s Family" to avoid adding an "es." My SIL just sent out her card and totally botched it. Same last name that ends in s and her card said "The ____s" no "es" and no "family"

We have "The Humphreys" in our family. Humphreyses seems wrong, don't you think? I agree that "Family" avoices the issue, but some names ending in -s seem to work in the plural without any changes.

[Anonymous]

This is so annoying to me too. I have even seen a few people who have a welcome mat or sign hanging up at their house w their surname that says “welcome to the Smith’s.” I really wish someone would tell them (but I’m not going to be the one to do that/too much of a people pleaser)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is so annoying to me too. I have even seen a few people who have a welcome mat or sign hanging up at their house w their surname that says “welcome to the Smith’s.” I really wish someone would tell them (but I’m not going to be the one to do that/too much of a people pleaser)

I mean, I'm just as annoyed by people who use apostrophes incorrectly as anyone else, but this is an example in which it kind of works. It's an abbreviated sentence/phrase with the word "home" or "house" being cut off. Welcome to the "plural name" doesn't make any sense. You wouldn't say "welcome to Katie" if you were using the first name.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is so annoying to me too. I have even seen a few people who have a welcome mat or sign hanging up at their house w their surname that says “welcome to the Smith’s.” I really wish someone would tell them (but I’m not going to be the one to do that/too much of a people pleaser)

I mean, I'm just as annoyed by people who use apostrophes incorrectly as anyone else, but this is an example in which it kind of works. It's an abbreviated sentence/phrase with the word "home" or "house" being cut off. Welcome to the "plural name" doesn't make any sense. You wouldn't say "welcome to Katie" if you were using the first name.

Agree with this PP. Welcomes to the Smiths doesn't make sense unless you are welcoming a bunch of Smiths into your house.

[Anonymous]

It's the Williams family, not the Williams Family.

[Anonymous]

Blame autocorrect. Typing “The Smiths” often corrects to “Smith’s” and no one has learned/remembered enough grammar in school to correct it.

[Anonymous]

And why do all the teachers I know get this wrong on their cards?!

[Anonymous]

We’re a blended family so our cards say “From 2 Joneses, 1 Smith, a Smith-Miller, and Little Smith-Jones”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:+a million, makes me bonkers!

Or does it make you bonker’s?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’re a blended family so our cards say “From 2 Joneses, 1 Smith, a Smith-Miller, and Little Smith-Jones”.

That sounds very try-hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is so annoying to me too. I have even seen a few people who have a welcome mat or sign hanging up at their house w their surname that says “welcome to the Smith’s.” I really wish someone would tell them (but I’m not going to be the one to do that/too much of a people pleaser)

I mean, I'm just as annoyed by people who use apostrophes incorrectly as anyone else, but this is an example in which it kind of works. It's an abbreviated sentence/phrase with the word "home" or "house" being cut off. Welcome to the "plural name" doesn't make any sense. You wouldn't say "welcome to Katie" if you were using the first name.

I agree that the mat usage is appropriate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We’re a blended family so our cards say “From 2 Joneses, 1 Smith, a Smith-Miller, and Little Smith-Jones”.

That sounds very try-hard.

True but I know blended family where they send out the card as from “the Moores” even though the kids mom brought to the family have a completely different last name! Also weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's the Williams family, not the Williams Family.

I like the capitalization in the address. Seems more formal.

The Griffin Family
31 Spooner St
Quahog, RI 00093

(The Griffins would also work here)

[Anonymous]

A few years ago I did a holiday card, I can’t remember which company I used. I was rushed doing it and didn’t realize that the software automatically added an S to our last name so the cards came out saying “the Smithss” I had to go through each card and black out the second S. Only a few people noticed. I highly recommend having a second set of eyes on any card before you hit the select button!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's the Williams family, not the Williams Family.

I like the capitalization in the address. Seems more formal.

The Griffin Family
31 Spooner St
Quahog, RI 00093

(The Griffins would also work here)

The USPS prefers all caps. No commas or periods either.