greengrocer's apostropheとは 意味・読み方・使い方

語源

From the misuse of apostrophes on signs in greengrocers' shops.

名詞

greengrocer's apostrophe (複数形 greengrocer's apostrophes)

1. An incorrectly used apostrophe, especially one mistakenly used to form the plural of a noun, for example to write the plural of banana as banana's instead of bananas.
   • 1993, British Film Institute, Sight and Sound Film Review:

     [A] flashing neon sign advertising the Pari's Hotel is less an early case of greengrocer's apostrophe than a sardonic Pascalian allusion (pari in French meaning 'bet').

   • 1998, Richard M. Hogg et al., The Cambridge History of the English Language, page 121:

     It is hardly surprising that these conventions seem to be in rapid collapse, with what has been called "the greengrocer's apostrophe" (apple's 60p, Antique's, linguistic's, かつ perhaps even mean't, all personally attested) […]

   • 2004, Joy Burrough-Boenisch, Righting English That's Gone Dutch:

     When applied in English it produces greengrocer's apostrophes.

参考

• apothecary's Latin