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.

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

Foreigners come across this form especially as concerns manufacturers; mere retailers like the above examples remain customers' and employees' conversation. 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]

gollark: I have laptops for various reasons and somehow never ended up getting a mouse.
gollark: Other things I apparently can do with either, but it feels vaguely weird to do so.
gollark: I can operate my phone and keyboard and trackpad with either hand, but only write fairly slowly and inaccurately left-handed.
gollark: For writing and stuff, yes, but apparently not generally working input devices.
gollark: Simply put the mouse elsewhere and use your other hand.

References
  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". Lancaster University. Retrieved 2008-04-06. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)


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