Date: Fri, 13 May 1994 12:47:21 -0400

From: Tom McClive tommcc[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]GIBBS.OIT.UNC.EDU

Subject: Re: genitive in names of businesses



It would seem the genitive is merely a product of a proper name, or

anything that could be treated as a proper name.



For instance, this could happen:

Lance Hardware - Lance's

Eagle Hardware - Eagle's



But not this:

Ace Hardware - Ace's (?)

Best Hardware - Best's (?)





Even though 'Eagle' may not be a proper name, it could be used as one.

'Ace' sounds more like a description, and 'Best' is certainly a

description. If the store sounds like a name, we would go with the

percieved last name:



JC Penney - Penney's (not JC's)

Ace Dunley - Dunley's (not Ace's)









Tom McClive

tommcc[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]gibbs.oit.unc.edu