Abuse at CBS Studios

Erik sent in the following:

This was taken at the CBS Studios in L.A. You know, the network that brought you 60 Minute's and As the World Turn's.

Abuse and a giant bonus on a drywall flier

Sarah writes:

This flier came to my parents' house in Southern California while I was there for Thanksgiving. I'm technically sending it because of "area's" in the small print, but the best thing about it is of course the huge proclamation that no job is "to small."

The employee is only in the stock room

Tim writes:

I'm sending you a picture from a bread store where a sign proclaims "Employee's ONLY in Stock Room". It was fairly easy to snap this picture unnoticed - and for that matter, I guess it's fairly easy to steal from this store - because the employee is restricted to the stock room.

Caf'e in Maine

Cathy sent in this sign she spotted while vacationing Stonington Maine:



It looks like that accent over the E was so heavy it just slipped and found a nesting place after the F.

Bed, Bath & Abuse

Karen writes:

This little note was taped to all of the checkout counters at Bed, Bath & Beyond in Huntington Beach, California.

I don't think the senior citizen ringing up my purchases noticed me taking the picture, but I'm pretty sure the lady behind me did.

This stuff just makes me cringe !
It took everything I had to not repair that oh-so-common error.

Dogs can't read anyway

Spotted in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle:


(Thanks, Damon!)

Milwaukee's Student's Are Sweet

Heather writes:

In one of the downtown parks here, local schools each get to decorate a tree. Obviously, apostrophe usage isn't a big part of the Milwaukee Public Schools curriculum.

Alway is there for us

Randy sends in this headstone from a cemetery in Jackson, MO:

Cast in stone. Mom would be proud. She is alway's there.

Perhaps the headstone is referencing the community of Alway in Newport, Wales, which was always there for dear old Mom.

Neglect at Sears

Ellen in San Jose, CA speculates about the logic behind this sign:

None of those other words ending in S have an apostrophe; guess
"competitors" shouldn't, either.

Go's better with Pepsi

Mindi in Millersville, MD writes:

The sign reads:
Thrasher's go's better with Pepsi!

(I wonder if it really do's.)

They obviously didn't think they'd have enough room for the 'e' and validly used the apostrophe to show omission. ;)

Apostrophe neglect on a toddler

Taylor spotted this shirt...

on the back of a toddler's T-shirt advertising a community art program.

Torta's at Blue Water Taco

Seen at a Blue Water Taco Grill in downtown Seattle:

Gobble Gobble! Turkey's and Pierogi's!

(Thanks, Annie!)

Abuse at a bowling alley

Tuesday writes:

I took this picture at my hometown bowling alley in Elgin, IL. Right next to it there was a sign that said "No food or drink in bowlers area". Obviously there should have been an apostrophe on "Bowler's Area". My friend Eric said that maybe the apostrophe didn't like the smoke so it jumped to the other, futher away sign.

Maybe there's only one bee?

Evan writes:

I saw this one when visiting the Chicago Botanic Garden last September. Someone before me obviously felt more strongly about apostrophe abuse than me and had to react.

Zip's followup

As you'll recall from this post, we've already featured the misuse of the apostrophe in the Zip's slogan Since 53'. Sierra points out that they use the correct form on their takeout bags:

My husband and I just moved back to the Tri-Cities WA, where he grew up. He couldn't wait to take me to Zip's, apparently a local fast food institution. The first thing I noticed after getting our food was the Since 53' on the drink cup. Then I looked at the bag of food and realized they put Since '53 on that. I guess if you're not sure, you try a couple different ways and hope one is right??

365 day's of abuse in Chicago

Jonathon writes:

The attached photo documents apostrophe abuse in downtown Chicago. It's the classic "apostrophe as pluralizer" error. The sign is at least 30 feet tall, and I've seen at least two of them around the city. This particular one is near N Wells St. and W Ontario St.

Popeyes Chicken... or is it?

Matt writes in with:

"Popeyes Fried Chicken" should be "Popeye's Fried Chicken."

According to the "Popeyes story" at http://www.popeyes.com/story.php, the restaraunt was named after the "Popeye Doyle" character in "The French Connection." Since there's only one "Popeye Doyle" character, the 's' in the company name *must* be the possessive s, which means that the chain's name, registered trademark, and every logo on thousands of signs and boxes and menus and letterheads for "Popeyes" is a case of incorrect, missing apostrophe.

Staggering.

That would indeed be a staggering case of abuse -- if it were true. You see, Matt, the "Popeye Doyle" back story is just a ruse! You're really eating at a restaurant called "Pope Yes". ;)

Abuse from McDonald's

Matt sent in this screenshot of an online employment ad:

DQ want's to hire you, needs an editor

Courtney submitted this sign she spotted outside a local Dairy Queen:

Christmas abuse starts early this year...

Christina in CO writes:

Saw this at Home Depot and couldn't resist sending along the pic.
Apostrophe misuse should be reason enough to land on the naughty list.

I really like this lawn decor otherwise, but alas, they were all wrong and I'll be damned if I put this violation of the English language in my yard.

Apostrophe sparks Veterans Day conundrum

Columbia Missourian:

Do you know which federal legal holiday is observed on Nov. 11?

Here are the choices:

1.) Veteran’s Day
2.) Veterans’ Day
3.) Veterans Day

Retail stores are having Veteran’s Day sales this weekend in time for what many calendars tell us is Veterans’ Day. And, according to the federal government, this Sunday also happens to be Veterans Day.

(Link)

Abuse in a recovery room

Beren writes:

This sign was posted in my recovery room after I delivered my son.

I love that someone corrected the sign.

(I doubt they're referring to "Father's visitors") ;)

Magazine Article on Grammar Blogs

Buffalo Spree recently featured an article on grammar blogs, including Apostrophe Abuse, The “Blog” of “Unnecessary” Quotation Marks, and others.

Link: Bloggers care about grammar—who knew?

Club Room Open's

Randy sent in this sign posted at the American Legion in Jackson, Missouri:


I should also pass this on to The "Blog" of "Unnecessary" Quotation Marks.

Errant apostrophe or elaborate serif?

Granny J sent in this photo and comment:

An "Old Fashioned" Hot Dog Stand for your own family room. Except that in the old days, we knew where apostrophes went -- and where they didn't.

I can't tell if that's an apostrophe after the g or just an olde-time serif.

Sunday's & Monday's

Randy submitted this photo taken at a restaurant in Jackson, Missouri:

Vision *is* in nature!

Dave submits this billboard he spotted just north of Alpharetta, GA:

All about you're copay's

Sara sent in this photo of a sign at a doctor's office:

Ghost Hunters should hunt for proofreader

Sarah writes:

Nothing irritates me more than professional websites with grammar mistakes. I love the show Ghost Hunters on SciFi and was following their live Halloween special when I saw the attached on their site (www.scifi.com/ghosthunters/).

Oh, the horror!