Talk:Nautilus/@comment-217.228.110.170-20121112101121/@comment-201.22.209.118-20121112235501

"Nautilus" is a singular name, just like "Maria". It's not a plural form, like "Marias". The plural of "Nautilus" would be "Nautili", because the word "Nautilus" has an irregular plural, like the word "Woman/Women".

"Nautiluses" is also correct, but this is an exception in irregular plurals ("Womans" is wrong).

Having said that, an apostrophe followed by "s" indicate possesion, like in "Maria's toy", "Nautilus's shield".


 * "Maria" = a person called Maria
 * "Marias" = many people called Maria
 * "Maria's toy" = a toy owned by a person called Maria
 * "Marias' toy" = a toy owned by many people called Maria; It's unclear whether it's a single toy owned by all Marias or a type of toy owned by Marias in general

"Marias' s toy" is incorrect; When the subject that possess something is in regular plural (ends in "s"), you just append an apostrophe to the end, without "s". Irregular plural still uses the extra "s", e.g. "Women's rights" or "Nautili's shield".


 * "Nautilus" = a creature called Nautilus
 * "Nautili" or "Nautiluses" = many creatures called Nautilus
 * "Nautilus's shield" = a shield owned by a creature called Nautilus
 * "Nautili's shield" or "Nautiluses's shield" = a shield owned by many creatures called Nautilus; It's unclear whether it's a single shield owned by all Nautili or a type of shield owned by Nautili in general