Is there a reason for this?

[LuluLovesDisney]

Is there a reason so many people add an "s" to restaurants' names?

Like:
Boma
Jiko
Mara
'Ohana
Kona
Le Cellier
Teppanyaki

I'm sorry to be analytical here, but I think it's because I am an English teacher without any papers to grade over the summer!

Just wondering if there's some kind of reason for the tendency to do this. At first I thought it was just places that end in "a" but now I've noticed others that don't end in "a". I think I need to get back to school.

Thanks!

 

[Lewisc]

Many people post using "conversational" English rules. Some people don't see the need to proof their posts and some of us can't even catch the errors on the screen and I'm not going to pre-print my posts so I can properly proof them.

I guess I could see your point if Disney had two different restaurants one name Boma and the other named Bomas but most of us don't have any problem determining the meaning of the post.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

I opened a "pet peeves" post a few weeks ago. This would have fit perfectly there.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

Hi!

I'm definitely going to look for the pet peeves thread. I somehow missed it.

Of course people don't need to use formal English rules and type in five paragraph essays on a message board- I'm not that "Mrs. Crabtree" (yet) lol.

The linguistic analyst in me is wondering *why* so many people have a tendency to make that particular error. I am wondering if there is something in the human brain or if there is a pattern in the English language that humans are recalling when they make that error. It's not just another grammatical or typographical error. Seeing the same errors over and over makes me wonder if there is a reason for it.

Thanks for the responses, guys!

 

[Uncleromulus]

Perhaps it's an inherent liking for the letter "s"??
Would note that with the exception of Le Cellier, they all end in vowels. Making it darn easy to add that "s".
Now is it Palio-or Palio's

 

[BluOrchid2]

It's habit, for me. So many restaurants DO have the s at the end of their names, like

Applebee's
Chili's
Cici's

Using the apostrophe s signifies possession. Applebee's restaurant, Chili's restaurant, etc. It feels natural to do the same thing for O'Hana and the others you mentioned. Not correct, but feels/sounds right.

 

[Kaycee]

It's habit, for me. So many restaurants DO have the s at the end of their names, like

Applebee's
Chili's
Cici's

Using the apostrophe s signifies possession. Applebee's restaurant, Chili's restaurant, etc. It feels natural to do the same thing for O'Hana and the others you mentioned. Not correct, but feels/sounds right.

I've noticed when people do this too. But I'm a bit of a grammar geek. It never really bothered me; I just noted it in the copy editor portion of my brain.

As BluOrchid2 pointed out, there are many common restaurant names that end with a possessive "s." I think it goes back to the time when restaurants were named for the owner. Because it was such a common occurrence, it has become a habit in our language to add the possessive "s" even when it's not correct.

 

[glass-slipper]

It's habit, for me. So many restaurants DO have the s at the end of their names, like

Applebee's
Chili's
Cici's

Using the apostrophe s signifies possession. Applebee's restaurant, Chili's restaurant, etc. It feels natural to do the same thing for O'Hana and the others you mentioned. Not correct, but feels/sounds right.

I do this all the time! For some reason I add the s to local stores as well. Best buy, blockbuster, barnes & noble- just habit

 

[heatherfeather24]

I don't add an "s", but I do add "the" to all my local stores --

I'm going to. . .

the Jewel (a midwest grocery chain)
the Blockbuster
the Applebee's

 

[tlbwriter]

For the same reason they say they're going to "Wal-Marts!"

And Lewisc, I think the question is, why is this a conversational rule in the first place? To say people post that way because they talk that way doesn't really answer the question of why that "s" is there at all.

 

[ceecee]

McDonalds
Wendys
I've noticed people do it with Boma and O'Hana a lot. That is interesting. I've never heard Kmarts or Walmarts. When I say Targets I usually go to 2 or 3!!

 

[PrincessAlina]

McDonalds
Wendys

Those places actually have an s in their name, though

 

[ceecee]

Those places actually have an s in their name, though

I know that. I was agreeing with the above poster who said a lot of places do end with "s" like Chilis, Applebees, etc.

 

[PrincessAlina]

ah, sorry.

 

[puffkin]

I agree that it is a subconscious use of the possessive "S".

I do it all the time. You think Boma [restaurant] so you subconsciously add the possessive S. I think it mainly happens with one word names.

I try to use proper grammar as much as possible, but this doesn't bother me at all!

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

I agree that it is a subconscious use of the possessive "S".

That was exactly what I was going to post.

I have relatively well-developed grammar and editing skills; I can't remember all of the rules in a linear way but somehow I know how to apply them and errors do stick out like a sore thumb to me.

In this case, I think most people do it with establishments that end in a vowel - 'Ohana is a great example. For some people it's just more natural when speaking to add the possesive S.

The only error that drives me batty is when people say you have a "mute" point. I understand the logic behind the mistake, but it's MOOT for cryin' out loud, LOL.

I adopt a more conversational tone when posting on the Internet. I use "..." a lot and will connect things with dashes when I tire of parenthesis and semi-colons.

N.E.D.

PS - Funny little tidbit this thread just reminded me of - when I was in college one or my professors was going over a paper with me. She saw a semi-colon (like I used above) and immediately marked it red as a typo. I told her it was intentional; she was a bit embarassed but realized that I did indeed use it correctly. I guess the semi-colon is a lost art.

 

[JESW]

The only thing that may slightly bug me is the name O'Hana's instead of 'Ohana's. It is NOT an Irish pub!!!!!

 

[jarestel]

I only got a 'C' in internet posting, so that's my excuse.

 

[threeboysmom]

I guess I'm dumb here. I've always assumed the name of the restaurants were....

Boma's
Jiko's
Ohana's

There really is no "s" at the end of these? Guess I've been assuming wrong all this time!

 

[BuzzAndWoodyBoy]

When you go to a friends house for dinner you usually say I'm going to Fred's for dinner. I think most people just use the same rule when the go to a restaurant. I usually add an "s" because I subconciously place the restaurant name in the same category as my friend's name but only if the restaurant name could be a name. So no to California Grill's but yes to Boma's.

My pet peeve is "I could care less", drives me insane...