Congress’ or Congress’s! What’s the Difference?

Author:

Waqas Ashraf

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Congress’ or Congress’s: When it comes to forming possessives in English, the usage of apostrophes can sometimes lead to confusion.

One common dilemma that arises is whether to write “Congress’” or “Congress’s.” The correct form depends on the style guide you follow and the pronunciation of the word.

\In American English, both “Congress’” and “Congress’s” are considered acceptable for singular nouns ending in ‘s.’

Table of Contents

Congress’ or Congress’s:

Both “Congress’” and “Congress’s” are technically correct ways to show possession for Congress.

However, there’s a slight difference in usage:

Congress’ (with only an apostrophe) is the more common way to show possession for singular nouns ending in “s”.

Congress’s (with an apostrophe and an extra “s”) is a less common but grammatically acceptable option.

How Do You Pluralize Congress?

Congress can be a bit tricky when it comes to plurals.

Here’s the breakdown:

Generally singular: In most cases, you’ll refer to the United States Congress as a singular unit, even though it has two chambers (House of Representatives and Senate). So you’d say “Congress is in session” or “The decision rests with Congress.”
Plural for specific contexts: If you’re talking about multiple legislative bodies, like those of different countries, then “congresses” is the plural form. You might use it in a sentence like “The upcoming international conference will bring together delegates from various congresses.”

Congress Plural Possessive:

The plural possessive of Congress can be written in two ways, and there’s no major error with either:

Congress’s: This is the most common way and follows the standard rule for forming possessives of plural nouns ending in “s” by adding an apostrophe and another “s.”
Congress’: This is also acceptable, especially in some style guides, because “Congress” is already pronounced with an additional “s” sound at the end.

Is Congress Singular or Plural?

Congress can be considered both singular and plural, depending on the context.

Here’s the breakdown:

Singular: When referring to the United States Congress as a whole, acting as a unified body, it takes a singular verb. This is because it’s treated as a collective noun. Examples: “Congress is in session today.” or “The decision on the bill rests with Congress.”
Plural: If you’re talking about multiple legislative bodies from different countries, then “congresses” is the plural form. You might use it in a sentence like “The upcoming international conference will bring together delegates from various congresses.”

Is Congress a Countable or Uncountable Noun?

Congress is actually countable noun, but with a bit of an interesting twist.

Here’s why:

Countable: In the most common context, referring to the singular body of the United States Congress, it functions as a countable noun. You can use a singular determiner (like “the”) and a singular verb with it. For instance, “The Congress is voting on the bill today.”

How Can I Use the Word Congress in A Sentence?

Here are some examples of how you can use the word “Congress” in a sentence, depending on the context you want:

Current status: “Congress is currently debating the new healthcare bill.”
Lawmaking: “The power to declare war lies with Congress.”

Decision making: “The future of the project depends on approval from Congress.”
International context: “The conference brought together delegates from various congresses around the world.”
Historical context: “The rise of democracy led to the establishment of national congresses in many countries.”

Formal meeting: “The annual congress of the scientific society will be held next month.” (This usage is more common with organizations other than the U.S. legislative body)

Do We Capitalize Congress?

Yes, we capitalize “Congress” when referring to the legislative branch of the United States government.

Here’s why:

Proper noun: “Congress” is a proper noun because it refers to a specific entity, the United States Congress, which consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Proper nouns are always capitalized.
Similar to other government bodies: This capitalization follows the same principle as other governmental bodies like the Supreme Court or the President’s Office.

There are some exceptions to capitalization for “congress”:

Lowercase “congressional”: The adjective form, “congressional” (e.g., congressional hearing, congressional staff), is lowercase.
Non-U.S. legislative bodies: If you’re referring to a legislative body in another country, you might lowercase “congress” unless it’s part of the official name (e.g., the Indian Parliament).

What Is the Proper Name for Congress?

The proper name for the legislative branch of the United States government is simply Congress. It doesn’t have another formal or official title.

Here’s why:

Singular entity: The United States Congress is a singular body, even though it’s composed of two chambers (House of Representatives and Senate). This is why it has a singular proper name.
Historical context: The term “Congress” was chosen during the founding of the United States to emphasize the equal footing of the states within the legislative branch.

Uniqueness: Within the US government structure, “Congress” is a unique and well-understood term referring to the specific legislative body.

What Is Congress as A Proper Adjective?

“Congress” itself isn’t typically used as a proper adjective.

Here’s why:

Proper nouns vs. adjectives: Proper nouns identify specific entities, while adjectives describe those entities. “Congress” is a proper noun for the legislative body, but it wouldn’t typically be used to describe something else.

Common Mistakes with Apostrophes:

When it comes to showing possession, the debate between “Congress’” and “Congress’s” often arises.
The correct form is actually “Congress’s.” This applies when a singular noun ending in ‘s’ shows ownership or possession.

For plural nouns that end in ‘s’, such as “Senators,” you only need to add an apostrophe after the ‘s,’ like this: Senators’.
Avoid using an apostrophe for simple plurals. For example, instead of writing banana’s, write bananas.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts!

The debate between “Congress’” and “Congress’s” ultimately boils down to personal preference.

Both forms are widely used in written English, with “Congress’” being more traditional and preferred in American English while “Congress’s” is gaining popularity in modern usage.

The difference lies mainly in style rather than strict grammatical rules, so writers can choose whichever form they feel most comfortable with depending on their audience or context.

Ultimately, consistency throughout a piece of writing is key to ensuring clarity and professionalism in your work.