Why do people pluralize family names by using an apostrophe?

[Anonymous]

This is such a huge pet peeve of mine. Shocked how many people don't know how to pluralize their family name. So many people also do this on Facebook.

Hanging out with the Smith's
Love, the Lancasters'
The Murphy's wish you a merry Christmas.

[Anonymous]

Because they're stupid. Happy now?

[Anonymous]

Same reason they use non-existent words or me vs. I or I vs. me or sit vs. set or lay vs. lie. We all have weaknesses.

[Anonymous]

Because it's a somewhat confusing grammar rule?

Who cares?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is such a huge pet peeve of mine. Shocked how many people don't know how to pluralize their family name. So many people also do this on Facebook.

Hanging out with the Smith's
Love, the Lancasters'
The Murphy's wish you a merry Christmas.

And they make signs for outside their door, personalized doormats, letters on the mailbox... they are broadcasting their stupidity to everyone who passes.

[Anonymous]

Because they don't know better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because it's a somewhat confusing grammar rule?

Who cares?

Just sign the Thomas Family then. My last name ends in a vowel and we just add Family. I know we can add an s but I just sign, " Love, the X Family".

[Anonymous]

Because iPads autocorrect it that way. What iPad says is boss!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because iPads autocorrect it that way. What iPad says is boss!

I don't think anyone is using autocorrect for their holiday xmas card.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because they don't know better.

+1
This really isn't worth more than a passing thought.

[Anonymous]

It's crazy to me. People even do it to their own names. There was a thread last week on this, however, people largely thought it was rude to think that one should know how to pluralize their own last name. I wonder if they think one shouldn't be expected to know how to spell their last name either.

[Anonymous]

I'm a PP, and these have to be the same people who reference their "parent's house" and then go on to discuss both parents. Completely ignorant and really sad that people don't know this.

[Anonymous]

This drives me bananas!
I grind my teeth when I see this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because they're stupid. Happy now?

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because it's a somewhat confusing grammar rule?

Who cares?

Just sign the Thomas Family then. My last name ends in a vowel and we just add Family. I know we can add an s but I just sign, " Love, the X Family".

I don't make the mistake, I'm kind of a stickler for these kinds of things. I especially love writing something out like "The Joneses'"

But anyway, I don't care if others mess it up because it's truly not all that important. People have different knowledge sets, why waste time feeling superior over something so inconsequential?