Show titles are italicized. But if we have a possessive ending that ends in “s,” which option would you go with below? One, two or three? (1) The Sopranos’s director, David Chase, said ... (2) The Sopranos’ director, David Chase, said ... (3) The Sopranos director, David Chase, said ... And if the definite article “The” were omitted, which would you go with below? (1) Sopranos’s director, David Chase, said ... (2) Sopranos’ director, David Chase, said ... (3) Sopranos director, David Chase, said ... Thank you.
I believe it is #2 and 2 respectively. 'Sopranos' is a possessive noun in both examples. With possessive nouns that end in an 's' you add the apostrophe and don't add an additional 's' Examples of possessive nouns
I've seen it as both 2 and 3. It really depends where you want the emphasis in the sentence as to whether the director is possessed or not. Writing "The Sopranos' director"puts the emphasis on The Sopranos rather than the director or implies a cause and effect relationship between the two. A non-possessive "The Sopranos director" puts the emphasis on David Chase and "The Sopranos director" is a more general descriptor. It's like the subtle difference between "The bus' passengers were relatively unhurt," and "the bus passengers were relatively unhurt." Same if you axe the "The."
Those are different examples. "The" has nothing to do with it. With "the bus passengers," bus is an adjective. And in "the bus' passengers," bus is a possessive noun. In neither case in the OP is Sopranos an adjective. I understand the temptation to look at it as an adjective. But a 'Sopranos director' not the same as a 'bus passenger', not unless you were saying something like a Sopranos-like director or a Sopranos-style director.
Trade The Sopranos for Doctor Who. If you would say Doctor Who director, go with #3; and if you would say Doctor Whose director, then go with #2.
When would you ever say Dr Whose director? Especially with a capital W? It actually illustrates the problem. Think about the "Who's on first" comedy routine. 'Who is' vs some guy named Who is played up for all it was worth. Dr Who is a name. Think instead, the doctor whose name is Dr Who. Maybe you can see what you are getting wrong.
What??!?! NO! Shock! I thought the protagonist dudes real name was ∂³∑x². Now, quick, tell me was it Who's on first, Whose on first, of Hu's on first? For some reason I never learned this in all my years of University.
Not sure I understand your hostility, we all have grammar questions from time to time, nothing to be self conscious about, I'm certainly no exception to that, but whatever. 'Whose' is a possessive pronoun. 'Who's' is a contraction for who is. Whose on first is incorrect or at least I can't think of how it would be correct. Think about its, the possessive pronoun and it's, the contraction for it is.
No hostility, I just picked up a pile of sarcasm on discount and I'm trying to use it all before it turns. Doctor Who's, the possessive form of Doctor Who, also sounds ridiculously similar to Doctor Whose so I wrote it as such because I like bad word play. Aaaand I thought it would clarify what actual pronunciation I was aiming for. Apparently I failed.
Hey no worries. My philosophy: if you are wrong it is a win because you learn something new. I had to think about this one myself and actually you helped me see the issue a little bit more clearly.
