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

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}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)