Correct Phrasing for 'This is Book of John'

When it comes to the phrasing 'This is book of John' or 'This is book of Johns', both can be correct, but their usage depends on the context and intent.

Contextual Differences

Both phrases 'This is book of John' and 'This is book of Johns' are grammatically correct, but the first is more appropriate for storytelling and clarity. While 'There was a certain man called John' is concise, 'There was a certain man by the name of John' provides more detail, albeit at the cost of being slightly more cumbersome.

Depending on whether you're referring to one book or multiple books, the phrasing should be adjusted accordingly. For 'one book', use either 'This is a book of John’s' or 'This is John’s book'. For 'multiple books', use 'This is a book of Johns'. If you're referring to the Biblical 'Book of John', it's common to use 'This is the Book of John'.

Proper Usage and Article Usage

The correct formulation is influenced by the context and the number of books being discussed. When referring to just one book, it's advisable to use articles, such as:

Single Book

This is a book of John’s.

This is John’s book.

If you are discussing the Biblical book, it's more appropriate to use:

This is the Book of John.

Multiple Books

When referring to multiple books, the plural form is used:

This is a book of Johns.

Common Mistakes and Better Alternatives

It's important to note that phrases like 'I John am going to' are not conventional English. Instead, follow these corrections:

I am John going to...

Here, ‘is’ functions as a contraction for 'am', and it's more natural to say:

This is a book of John's

Much better than 'This is book of John', as this phrasing is not recognized as native English. The use of articles in English is crucial:

A native speaker would only say 'this is book... ' in the context of a four-book series, for example:

This is book three of a four-book series

Notice, even here, an article ('book') is present.