When people talk why do they use the letter z instead of s in a plural word?

Answer 1

I think the reverse question is more appropriate: Why do people spell all plurals with the letter s when most are pronounced as a z? Answer: s is used to represent z all over the place in English.

As in the words "as", "used", "represent" or "does", s can sound like a z. It folllows that it doesn't matter if you consistently use "s" to pluralize words. Some plurals are not pronounced as a "z" (are not "voiced"):

e.g.

pots and pans = "potS" and "panZ"

lots of ands = "lotS" of "andZ"

Some people simply don't like z at all (especially since Shakespear's "Thou unnecessary letter" quote) and refuse to use it even in -ize words, but then insist on its use in words like "haze", "daze", "doze", "zone", "zenith", "zinc" etc.

Zoinks.

Answer 2

Using "z" instead of "s" in a plural word is a form of intentional misspelling or slang. It is often used to emphasize a casual or informal tone, or to mimic a specific accent or dialect. This stylistic choice can be seen as a way to convey a sense of playfulness or to signal membership in a particular group.