S-form

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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.

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

Look up -s in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

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