As a linguistic expert with a deep understanding of the English language, I am equipped to provide clarity on the nuances of its usage, including the subtleties of possessive forms. The question at hand pertains to the correct use of the possessive form in the context of the name "James."

In English, the possessive form of a noun is used to indicate ownership or a relationship between two entities. For singular nouns that do not end in 's', the possessive form is typically formed by adding an apostrophe followed by an 's'. However, there is an exception to this rule when it comes to certain proper nouns, especially names ending in 's'. The possessive form of these names can be made by either adding just an apostrophe or an apostrophe followed by an 's'.

The name "James" is a proper noun and does not end in 's', so traditionally, one might expect the possessive form to be "James's" to indicate something that belongs to James. This is in line with the general rule for singular nouns. However, the English language is not without its exceptions, and the possessive of "James" is one of them. Both "James's" and "James'" are considered grammatically correct by many style guides and usage authorities.

The choice between "James's" and "James'" often comes down to personal preference or the style guide one is following. Some people prefer "James's" because it follows the traditional rule of adding 's' after the apostrophe for singular nouns. Others might choose "James'" to avoid the extra 's' sound that "James's" might create when spoken aloud, especially in quick conversation.

It is also worth noting that in the case of plural nouns that already end in 's', the possessive is usually formed by adding just an apostrophe at the end, without an additional 's'. For example, "The children's books" or "The people's choice."

In conclusion, when deciding whether to use "James's" or "James'", one should consider the context, the flow of the sentence, and the style guide they are adhering to. Both forms are acceptable, and the choice is often a matter of stylistic preference.

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Explanation: Plural words which do not end in the letter 's' have the apostrophe before the 's' when showing possession. Example: She is the children's writer; she is the people's princess. Commentary: both James' birthday and James's birthday are grammatically correct.read more >>