A possessive shows ownership, generally marked by an apostrophe followed by the suffix 's’ (for example, `woman's’, `Anne's’). The main exception is that in plural nouns ending in `-(e)s’ the possessive is marked by the apostrophe alone. With proper nouns ending in `-s’, there is variation between the regular possessive form and one marked by the apostrophe alone: compare `James's’ and `James’. The regular form is always acceptable but a variant form without the second `s’ is sometimes found (for example, `James’s house’ or `James’ house). The irregular form is often found with names of religious, classical or literary persons (for example, `Moses' life’, `Sophocles' ideas’, `Dickens' novel).