Daniel wanted to make fun of Stanford, so he sent in this photo:
One of the last places one might expect to find large-type, engraved in bronze apostrophe abuse is Stanford University. But sure enough, there's this plaque, placed very prominently at the Taube Tennis Center.
Dorothy writes:
It seems like most of your posts are official signs, not handwritten ones, but I think this one's extra special because the combination of a misused apostrophe and a badly placed period make it seem like Mad Libs!
Beth found this sign on the Atlantic City Boardwalk:
Well, at least the sign is consistent in its abuse.
Anne sends in these two abuses spotted in Boulder, CO:
This first one looks like a lazy rebranding of "Fantastic Sam's"... which, I just realized, dropped their own apostrophe! (What?!)
Lois writes:
I don't know where this school is, but I wouldn't bother going back after vacation, if I were a student who wanted to learn anything about grammar, homophones and apostrophes, at least. I found the sign in a file of photos e-mailed to me by my ever-alert sister, who shares the gene for ferreting out apostrophe and other abuses in the English language.
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Thanks to Jane for sending in this trio...
...that last one *could* technically mean "Lot is For Sale" if it refers to just one lot.
Lara writes:
My boyfriend and I found this one is southern Alabama while we were visiting family.
We're still confused is to what they were aiming for here. Is the restaurant owned by stewed tomatoes? Or maybe stewed tomatoes are the only thing they serve? Inquiring minds want to know. Unfortunately we drove by on Christmas Eve and they were closed.
Kathryn sees the silver lining in this flood zone...
This photo is from the Benoit, Mississippi Outing Club. Benoit is a tiny town located in the Mississippi Delta, on the banks of the Mississippi River. Flooding is an issue right now. I know they don’t want the water to rise any higher, but if it did, it would cover up this grammatical gaffe!
Jenn writes:
This first photo was taken at a gas station somewhere in Oregon on my recent drive up the west coast. I guess I like it because of the total swap out. Manager Special's rather than Manager's Specials. Oh, they were SO close.
Also, here is an eye exam center in Seattle who seems to have seen the error of their ways and attempted to correct their apostrophe abuse with a little, er, white out. On another note, I can't tell if I Exams is meant to be a pun, or if it's just a big fat error. The fact that I'm not positing on that's punny should tell you something, though.
Becky writes:
This picture was taken in front of a ‘large retail store’ in Meridian, Idaho. The establishment in question consists of 3-5 semi-permanent hot dog stands located in the greater Boise area. Strange thing, though; the signage at the actual hot dog stands is error-free…!
Sorry for the poor quality-- my cell phone camera is not very good.
This is from a store window of an antiques store near where I was visiting in Windsor, CA.
By the way, also in Sonoma County, CA, here is some good news on the apostrophe front. There is a prominent sign by the highway in Petaluma, CA for a restaurant called the Green Windmill (I think) --the sign is green and in the shape of a windmill-- and for many years one of the vanes of the windmill said, "FOOD AT IT'S BEST."
Finally, after many years, the apostrophe got painted out!
Jennifer writes:
Spotted on the side of a building in Nelson, WI. Honestly, I have no words.
William sends in this found behind the Sennot Square Building at University of Pittsburgh:
Princesskessie sent in these two apostrophe errors:
The first is a four foot high sign advertising a local amusement park and their Friday night special; the second one is a restaurant not far from the park in a very busy tourist precinct, and the sign itself is over four feet in size, brightly lit and unmissable from quite some distance away.
Both items were seen in the seaside tourism precinct/marina of Dolphin Quay, Mandurah, 60km south of Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
From CBS 2 Chicago:
Error Caught On Pedestal For Ernie Banks Statue
Apostrophe Missing In Inscription, 'Let's Play Two'
CHICAGO (CBS) ― The Ernie Banks statue in front of Wrigley Field was a big hit when it was unveiled, but it turned into an error – a punctuation error, that is.
The likeness of the 77-year-old Hall of Famer best known as "Mr. Cub" was unveiled to much fanfare on Monday.
But the "Let's Play Two" inscription on the pedestal for the statute was missing the apostrophe before the "s."
The sculptor, Lou Cella, took some gentle ribbing from radio jocks, reporters and columnists. But he says he is an artist, not a writer.
The error was fixed in short order. On Wednesday morning, crews came and etched an apostrophe into the inscription.
Catherine pointed out this your/you're confusion as seen in a recent MSNBC article:
While you visit Catherine's site, why not make a donation to help her raise funds for the Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk? Support your fellow pedants! ;)
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