Is It ‘Friend of Bruce’ or ‘Friend of Bruce’s’?
Let’s say your friend Bruce has a friend of his own. When talking about his other friend, you may be torn between saying “a friend of Bruce” or “a friend of Bruce’s.” The latter is an example of a double possessive — a grammatical construct that uses both “of” and
“’s” to convey a sense of personal possession. Some double possessives are unnecessary, while others help draw a clear line between association and ownership. In the case of Bruce and his friend, you could just say “Bruce’s friend” and be done with it. There are many instances where a singular...
