S-form

For the geological erosional feature, see P-form (geology)

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

It is most likely that the s-form is an overgeneralisation of the possessive suffix common in business names.[3]

References

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  1. ^ Woodward, 2004, Ch. 1
  2. ^ Woodward, 2004, Ch. 5.1
  3. ^ Woodward, 2004, Ch. 2.1.1
  • Woodward, Lorraine (February 2004). The supermarket storm: an investigation into an aspect of variation (Thesis). Lancaster University. Retrieved 6 April 2008.{{cite thesis}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)


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