Apr 3, 2003 22:03
21 yrs ago
1 viewer *
English term
"supply" as a noun modifier
English
Marketing
Business/Commerce (general)
commerce
A distribution center for computer supplies (disks, ink cartridges, etc.). Which sounds better:
supply center
supplies center
A virtual store for the same items. which sounds better:
virtual supply store
virtual supplies store.
Thanks.
supply center
supplies center
A virtual store for the same items. which sounds better:
virtual supply store
virtual supplies store.
Thanks.
Responses
+6
9 mins
Selected
supplies
I think you HAVE to go with 'supplies', since 'supply centre' has a subtly different meaning --- a place that supplies things, but not specifically those things which grouped together we refer to as 'supplies' --- in the sense of 'consumables' etc.
100 years ago, I doubt one would have made the distinction, but I believe today it is valid
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Note added at 2003-04-03 22:52:36 (GMT)
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Further to Mag. RaWa\'s comment:
I quite agree that my suggestion certainly suffers from euphony-shortfall, but I stand by my basic premise that the MEANING is different -- albeit subtly!
Just try turning the phrase round to see it:
a centre / store for supplies --- YES!
a centre / store for supplying things --- NO!
Keeping the \'store\' in the singular as per given text certainly helps not to make the ugly alliteration worse...
Maybe, to get round the \'virtual\' problem, you might be able to work in \'Your virtual store for computer supplies\' --- or ideally, something less cumbersome!
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Note added at 2003-04-04 07:28:18 (GMT)
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Thanks, Mag.RaWa, for your further enlightening comments, especially the grammatical reference about noun-modifiers --- extremely useful!
And of course, as a native speaker, I entirely agree that such noun modifiers should be singular --- as in book shop, car showroom, flower shop..., bus station
BUT...
in this special case, \'supplies\' is a special non-countable \'plural\' noun --- a computer supply shop [unrealistic term] would be a shop that supplies computers (cf. an electricity supply company) WHEREAS a computer supplies shop is a shop that sells computer supplies.
Special care is needed in this case, particularly since the word \'supply\' might also be regarded as a verb!
Happy deciding, Fuad!
100 years ago, I doubt one would have made the distinction, but I believe today it is valid
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Note added at 2003-04-03 22:52:36 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Further to Mag. RaWa\'s comment:
I quite agree that my suggestion certainly suffers from euphony-shortfall, but I stand by my basic premise that the MEANING is different -- albeit subtly!
Just try turning the phrase round to see it:
a centre / store for supplies --- YES!
a centre / store for supplying things --- NO!
Keeping the \'store\' in the singular as per given text certainly helps not to make the ugly alliteration worse...
Maybe, to get round the \'virtual\' problem, you might be able to work in \'Your virtual store for computer supplies\' --- or ideally, something less cumbersome!
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-04-04 07:28:18 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Thanks, Mag.RaWa, for your further enlightening comments, especially the grammatical reference about noun-modifiers --- extremely useful!
And of course, as a native speaker, I entirely agree that such noun modifiers should be singular --- as in book shop, car showroom, flower shop..., bus station
BUT...
in this special case, \'supplies\' is a special non-countable \'plural\' noun --- a computer supply shop [unrealistic term] would be a shop that supplies computers (cf. an electricity supply company) WHEREAS a computer supplies shop is a shop that sells computer supplies.
Special care is needed in this case, particularly since the word \'supply\' might also be regarded as a verb!
Happy deciding, Fuad!
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
swisstell
0 min
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Thanks, e-rich!
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| agree |
Ino66 (X)
8 mins
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Thanks, Ino!
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| agree |
jccantrell
: I would try to work 'computer' in, too, as in "computer supplies center" but be careful about "virtual supplies center": It sounds as if the supplies are virtual, i.e., NOT there!
27 mins
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Thanks, JCC --- and I quite agree with that last point!
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| agree |
ntouzet (X)
8 hrs
|
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Thanks, Nadine!
|
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| agree |
jerrie
: supplies not supply...
9 hrs
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Thanks, Jerrie!
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| agree |
Attila Piróth
10 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "You have definitely convinced me. Thanks to everybody for an excellent debate."
4 mins
Computer Accessories Centre
Virtual (On-line) Computer Accessories Centre
Center
Is how I would say it.
Do you have to use supply/supplies
Center
Is how I would say it.
Do you have to use supply/supplies
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Will Matter
: excellent, sidesteps any problems. 1st of each pair US version, 2nd sounds UK to me.
43 mins
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| disagree |
#41698 (LSF)
: I associate 'accesories' with the 'extras', and less with replenishment items.
11 hrs
|
-2
10 mins
supply center/store
Just try to say it out loud -- "supplies stores"? -- no, I don't think so! :-)
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Note added at 2003-04-03 23:17:07 (GMT)
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I, also, thought of office supply store -- this is at least what I hear and read. Talked to a friend (PhD in comparative literature) -- he said that both are possible, but he would prefer supply.
You take your pick! :-)
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Note added at 2003-04-03 23:22:36 (GMT)
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Suggestion for virtual:
online computer supply store
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Note added at 2003-04-04 01:14:24 (GMT)
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Fhuad,
You may want to do some search on nouns as adjectives (noun-adjectives, attributive nouns, etc.)
Using nouns as adjectives.
Sometimes nouns can be used as adjectives. For example, flower is normally a noun, but in the sentence, Mary has a flower garden, flower is functioning as an adjective to describe Mary\'s garden. What kind of garden does Mary have? Mary has a flower garden. When a noun is used as an adjective, the noun is singular NOT plural.
http://www.johnsesl.com/templates/grammar/adjectives.php
http://www.english-zone.com/grammar/adjective3.html
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Note added at 2003-04-03 23:17:07 (GMT)
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I, also, thought of office supply store -- this is at least what I hear and read. Talked to a friend (PhD in comparative literature) -- he said that both are possible, but he would prefer supply.
You take your pick! :-)
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Note added at 2003-04-03 23:22:36 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Suggestion for virtual:
online computer supply store
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Note added at 2003-04-04 01:14:24 (GMT)
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Fhuad,
You may want to do some search on nouns as adjectives (noun-adjectives, attributive nouns, etc.)
Using nouns as adjectives.
Sometimes nouns can be used as adjectives. For example, flower is normally a noun, but in the sentence, Mary has a flower garden, flower is functioning as an adjective to describe Mary\'s garden. What kind of garden does Mary have? Mary has a flower garden. When a noun is used as an adjective, the noun is singular NOT plural.
http://www.johnsesl.com/templates/grammar/adjectives.php
http://www.english-zone.com/grammar/adjective3.html
Peer comment(s):
| disagree |
Tony M
: --- ever so nicely! Please see comment added to my suggestion above ^
32 mins
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| disagree |
Will Matter
: didn't say THAT!
35 mins
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| neutral |
Kardi Kho
: a clothes shop?
11 hrs
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a bit silly - right?
|
11 hrs
#41698 (LSF)
Malaysia
Malaysia
Native in English
&
English
Malaysia
Excellent technical English
Native in: English 
Works in: Japanese to English, Chinese to English, Malay to English
supply hub & virtual supply hub / supplies store
It is obviously a distribution center.
If I use 'supplies center' without background context, I would doubt whether the center caters to retail customers also.
As for the internet version, I would opt for 'supplies' to denote 'accessories' but 'supply' to denote distribution. And combine with 'hub' if it is for distribution, but with 'store' if it is for both wholesale and retail.
If I use 'supplies center' without background context, I would doubt whether the center caters to retail customers also.
As for the internet version, I would opt for 'supplies' to denote 'accessories' but 'supply' to denote distribution. And combine with 'hub' if it is for distribution, but with 'store' if it is for both wholesale and retail.
Discussion