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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2008 11:02:39 GMT
Hi everyone, I'm new to these boards and I think I'm addicted already!
Even though I like to think I'm pretty good when it comes to apostrophe use, this one has been bothering me for a long time.
Should the restaurant "T.G.I. Friday's" have an apostrophe?
I know if we're using it in a possessive sense there will be an apostrophe, but I just can't get my head around why the apostrophe is in all of their advertising.
If a restaurant is called "Dave's" or "America's Best..." or whatever I can see it then.
Help me please!
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Post by Vadim on Aug 14, 2008 11:17:07 GMT
Hi everyone, I'm new to these boards and I think I'm addicted already! Even though I like to think I'm pretty good when it comes to apostrophe use, this one has been bothering me for a long time. Should the restaurant "T.G.I. Friday's" have an apostrophe? I know if we're using it in a possessive sense there will be an apostrophe, but I just can't get my head around why the apostrophe is in all of their advertising. If a restaurant is called "Dave's" or "America's Best..." or whatever I can see it then. Help me please! Not in my opinion, bones, but Paul will tell you (when he gets back from his hol's) that businesses may call themselves whatever they wish. I'd say they got it wrong, but that's without looking up all the history - as in, is it "T.G.I Friday's steak?". |
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Post by Geoff on Aug 14, 2008 13:44:07 GMT
I've only been to T. G. I. Friday's once, for my son's birthday last year, and I asked the same question about the apostrophe. I copped the rounds of the kitchen for worrying about such trivial matters on an occasion such as that which we were celebrating ... and no, I didn't get an explanation then, and I still can't tell you why the apostrophe is there. It does seem to be wrong to me. Not so unusual, it appears. My son works for a private company in which there is a totally unnecessary (incorrect) apostrophe.
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Post by Dave on Aug 14, 2008 14:31:34 GMT
Starting with their website ( www.tgifridays.com/home/welcome.aspx), I didn't find anything (including in their history section) about the apostrophe or even a hint of why it would've been there. They do call themselves T.G.I. Friday's (with the periods) or just Friday's, but always with the apostrophe. A Wikipedia article didn't offer any insight either. |
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Post by Alan Palmer on Aug 14, 2008 14:59:15 GMT
It's not really a question about the apostrophe, but whether there should be an apostrophe s at all. "TGI Friday", of course, stands for "Thank God/Goodness it's Friday", so I would have thought they could do quite well without the apostrophe and the s.
As already mentioned, though, businesses can call themselves pretty well whatever they wish, including sprinkling their name with weird punctuation.
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Post by Tone on Aug 14, 2008 20:23:19 GMT
Is it not just the same possessive description of their premises or products as in "Sainsbury's"?
Tone
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Post by Pete on Aug 15, 2008 7:38:28 GMT
I had always assumed that the business was founded by Thomas George Iain Friday.  |
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Post by Pete on Aug 15, 2008 7:41:01 GMT
Slightly less facetiously, there are a few businesses around that are named after people, perhaps unexpectedly. The hi-fi chain, Richer Sounds, for example, was founded by Jonathan Richer. So, although TGI Friday is a recognised phrase, if the chain had been founded by a Mr Firiday (forename Man, perhaps?  ), the possessive form might be appropriate. |
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Post by Twoddle on Aug 15, 2008 8:39:46 GMT
Perhaps it's a quote from Robinson Crusoe when his lackey brought him his first cup of coffee of the day: "Thank God, it's Friday".
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Post by Dave on Aug 28, 2008 6:45:50 GMT
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Post by Alan Palmer on Aug 28, 2008 9:01:33 GMT
I think I must have put on several pounds just reading that article.  |
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), the possessive form might be appropriate. 
