Why do people put an apostrophe with any word ending in S?
Because they automatically assume every single ‘S’ they see needs an apostrophe, and yes perhaps it’s ‘just in case’. It’s unbelievable, I saw an ad on tv the other night for a very well known and trusted department store, and it was something like a sale for ‘kid’s clothes’ when anyone with half a brain would know there is more than one ‘kid’ so the apostrophe goes after the ‘S’. But you see it everywhere, and nobody seems to say anything because not many people realise the correct way to use the apostrophe!
Indiscriminate use of the apostrophe shows that the user did not get a thorough understanding of this point of grammar. Plural nouns (meaning more than one) end in just plain S (NO apostrophe). The apostrophe is used to show ownership – the bed of Bill is Bill’s bed, the leash of the dog is the dog’s leash, etc. If we are expressing ownership of a plural noun, the apostrophe goes after the S that indicates plurality. For example, the misery of widows is the widows’ misery, the plumage of the birds would be the birds’ plumage. The phrasing of your question makes me think you knew this already, and you are just expressing your exasperation. If so, I do sympathize!
It is because it is proper grammar. When you have a word that ends in s such as James, you put an apostrophe after the s to show possession. This is beacause saying James’s is difficult. Although one can technically do so, generally people just put apostrophes after words that end in s instead of apostrophe s because the first one is easier to say.
