S-form
The s-form[1] is the English language phenomenon of suffixing -'s or -s to business names where there is not one present in writing, predominantly in colloquial speech.[2] This is particularly common with the names of supermarkets. For example Tesco could be converted to Tesco's in speech, Safeway to Safeways, Wal-Mart to Wal-Mart's, etc.
Foreigners come across this form especially as concerns manufacturers; mere retailers like the above examples remain customers' and employees' conversation.[clarification needed] For example, the firm Short Brothers (of Belfast) built the aircraft called the Short Sunderland, but the firm is colloquially given as Shorts.
Causes
Possible causes for use of the s-form include a third-person verb ending, contraction of is, and pluralisation—but it is most likely that the s-form is an overgeneralisation of the possessive suffix common in business names.[3]
References
- Woodward, Lorraine (February 2004). "The supermarket storm: an investigation into an aspect of variation". Lancaster University. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
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