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Sign failures

Started 2 years ago by PSPS
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PSPS
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This caught my eye today, so I decided to share.

From 4th S & Walker:

Posted 2 years ago #
Semele
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that's been up there a couple of weeks at least. Every time I drive by it I mean to call them and talk to the manager. But by the time I get home I am already thinking about more important things. It's very sad though.

Posted 2 years ago #
SarahScoot
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Possibly more sad is the fact that I'd wager half the people who see this see nothing wrong with it. Just read through some of these forum posts, or comments on main page stories, to see some egregious spelling and grammatical errors. In just one comment thread, one person used "weary" when "wary" was the needed word, and another chose to describe a coyote as a "viscous" predator (I assume he meant "vicious," unless maybe the coyote was slow as molasses.)
Those were the funniest errors in the thread, but were certainly not the only ones.
One of my coworkers always types "conformation" instead of "confirmation."

Posted 2 years ago #
datamuse
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"per say" is the one that always gets me; it should be "per se".

And "here, here" which should be "hear, hear".

Posted 2 years ago #
SarahScoot
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Well, datamuse, for all intensive purposes, aren't they one in the same?
;-)

Posted 2 years ago #
HelperMonkey
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IRREGARDLESS, Sarah Scoot....

Posted 2 years ago #
celeste17
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I am a pretty good speller but I have problems as to punctuation. I am unsure of when you need a comma or a semi colon. But the one grammar error that gets me is who and whom. I was reading a book the other day and the author used who and I feel it should be whom.

Posted 2 years ago #
tanyar23
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I love it when I use site for sight or vice versa.

Posted 2 years ago #
Robindianne
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And, when you need something, ask John or myself to help. Hee hee. That is such a mute point if you leave it on it's own.

Posted 2 years ago #
KatherineL
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Real spelling errors and the misuse of homonyms annoys me as much as anyone. But let's make allowances for errors that are probably simple typos. That's something else again. That "viscous coyote," for example, probably started out right, but the key stuck or was missed. It's funny, but not necessarily ignorant.

Posted 2 years ago #
Bonnie
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I had a friend once who would send me an email and say 'Let's meat for coffee.'

Ummm...okay... LOL!

Posted 2 years ago #
Lindsey
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Here's a funny cartoon on how to use a semi colon. Pass it on!

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/semicolon

I can't stand it when people say, "I could care less." It's "I couldn't care less." I'm also driven to insanity by the phrase, "the same difference" when used to compare two things.

Posted 2 years ago #
SarahScoot
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KatherineL, I agree that typos happen (though I'm a perfectionist and try to correct them as they happen or edit after posting), but I think the "viscous" error was a true misspelling. There is no "S" in "vicious" when spelled correctly.
Another misspelling that doesn't even make sense: "defiantly" in place of "definitely." That one does make for some humorous reading, at least, i.e. "I defiantly want to go back to that restaurant!"

Posted 2 years ago #
bertha
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Saw this on Twitter and I laughed for the rest of the day.

RT @thisisbree: 'Let's eat Grandma!' or, 'Let's eat, Grandma!' Punctuation saves lives.

Posted 2 years ago #
SarahScoot
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Lindsey, have you ever discussed the phrase "I could/couldn't care less" with someone who misuses it? I have, and have made some see the error of their ways, but I also had a friend debate the subject with me. She said "I could care less" is correct, and that it means one just doesn't care at all, so he could care less.
I was so dumbfounded by this (lack of) logic. I refuted with the explanation that the correct phrase is "I couldn't care less" because one cares so little that it is impossible to care less. She was still convinced her version was correct.
Side note: I seem to hear "I could care less" used more frequently on scripted television shows than "I couldn't care less," which is very discouraging. It's gotten to the point that I get excited when I hear the correct phrase used. *Blush*

Posted 2 years ago #
SarahScoot
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Wow, I must step away from the WSB forums; I can't stop commenting on this subject!
Bertha, yes, punctuation is so incredibly important. I see far too many questions that end in a period ("Anyone know a good tailor in West Seattle," will get no response from me, as it's not a question, just a nonsensical statement.)
And yes, commas are vital. "Come on people," is different than "Come on, people."

Posted 2 years ago #
sam-c
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my husband freaks out when people on the radio say "enamored with" instead of "enamored of"

found this on the subject:

http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/enamored.html

lol

Posted 2 years ago #
WSB
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Bertha - that reminds me of the excellent book "Eats, Shoots and Leaves," which has a cover showing an armed panda bear. (Take out the comma and you'll get the joke.)

I am a spelling/punctuation perfectionist (though I am sure my fellow perfectionists can point to something I've written on this site that made them clench), but I do refrain from calling people out on it unless they truly have written something with a resultingly indiscernible meaning.

And by the way, for better or for worse, I refuse to use spell-check. Point of pride. (I also was the rebel in math class who refused to use a calculator. Gotta keep that brain working, till the very end.)

TR, who still has the 6th-grade spelling-bee trophy (but bombed out when things got really hard in the 7th-grade qualifications for the National Spelling Bee - those are the words you'd never ever use in real life)

Posted 2 years ago #
austin
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When looking for housing on Craigslist a few years back I couldn't help but notice that the word "quiet" is misspelled "quite" more often than it is spelled correctly. A common transposition of letters or something more sinister, I'll never know.

On the topic of signs, but not fail signs, I like the oft changing and clever punnish phraseologies on the West Seattle Nursery reader board.

Posted 2 years ago #
Huindekmi
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This thread is rediculous. Your all a bunch of loosers.

Posted 2 years ago #
DOC
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Huindekmi:
First, you could have used a semicolon to connect your statment as in, "This thread is rediculous; your all a bunch of loosers.
You also used "your" when you should have used "you're" because we are not talking possesive but a conjunction of "you" and "are".
Rediculous is spelled with an 'i' not and 'e'.
Loosers should have one 'o'.
So if we put all this knowledge together it comes out as, "YOU'RE rIdiculous and possibly a lOser for posting on this thread; (note semicolon) I hope this was a joke statement for you".

Posted 2 years ago #
JanS
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DOC...I do believe huindekmi was just following the trend in the posts to misspell and misuse words...not being serious :)

Posted 2 years ago #
nuni
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Well the sign definitely succeeded in one goal. It made you look :)

Posted 2 years ago #
Lindsey
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"Eats, Shoots, and Leaves" comes with a tear-out page of punctuation stickers. <3

Sarah - When I hear people say "I could care less," I always ask, "Then why don't you?" :D

Posted 2 years ago #
JoB
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it's yur
yu loosers ;->

Posted 2 years ago #
KBear
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I see whats wrong with it. Its missing the apostrophe. It should be "PEACE'S"!

Posted 2 years ago #
DOC
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KBear, You are so wrong. The problem is that the wings are grilled, but frying makes them so much better!

Posted 2 years ago #
KBear
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Yeah, the Colonel seems to have forgotten what the F stands for. You don't go to KFC for health food.

Posted 2 years ago #
Irukandji
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Let's eat Grandma!

Posted 2 years ago #
westseattledood
Member Profile

Datamuse, my HP homie - I think you have busted me for my usage transgressions. Mea culpa.

I believe I might have used "here here" in a post a couple of weeks ago. I rarely edit (duh) or do a lousy job of it when I attempt to negotiate my phone keyboard.

I have a few more excuses where that one came from :]

Rest assured, I will not soon use the phrase again. It was
just too tricky of a reach for me, I guess! :]

Posted 2 years ago #
bluebird
Member Profile

It's one thing in a professional letter or document, but in a forum or casual conversation it's a bit much to become annoyed. So many people are posting everywhere with their phones on autospell. Most of the time not even being aware of the mistake. Try swearing on your phone sometime. Can't seem to train the damn thing for the life of me :)

Posted 2 years ago #
jwws
Member Profile

Reminds me of an e-mail we received a while ago, titled "But Will They Bloom???" Here's the e-mail (I won't post the pic but read on):
But will they bloom???
I wonder whether they would look better on the kitchen table or in the entry.
I wonder if they come in different colors.
I wonder about the fragrance?
I wonder if they're cheaper by the dozen.
I wonder if it would help to put those preservative packets in the water.
I wonder if they come in long-stemmed.
I wonder if they will bloom soon.

Captured at 115th and
Allisonville Rd.
in Fishers, Indiana.
The sign is real and was up for two hours before someone
stopped and told them how to spell PEONIES

The picture shows a Nursery sign advertising fresh cut "peonies" for $7.99 a bunch however the o and last e in peonies were missing!

Posted 2 years ago #
EmmyJane
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A low point in my life was when my boss had to teach me how to spell definitely. I was 25.

By the way, I just googled "sign failures" to leave a link treat for you bloggers, and this thread was the first hit. We're on the map baby!

Posted 2 years ago #
KBear
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If you can spell that word, you're *definitely* in the minority here. Geez, people, how does "definately" make it past spellcheck?

Posted 2 years ago #
KBear
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Jwws, your story reminded me of a sign from my younger days in rural Wisconsin. I don't have a photo, but it was at a company that built metal pole buildings. The sign read, "HELP WANTED - STEEL ERECTION". I'm sure they had to turn many eager yet unqualified applicants away...

Posted 2 years ago #
anonyme
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Craig's List is a source of constant entertainment in the area of mangled language. One of my favorites is "rod iron" for wrought iron, although I recently saw an ad for "rot iron". "Fur tree" conjures up some interesting images, and my recent search for an armoire has uncovered at least 5 different spellings for that exotic beast. What I really find shocking is the growing number of glaring grammatical errors contained in expensive advertising, as well as commercial signage.

Posted 2 years ago #
JanS
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KBear...when Nucor was Bethlehem Steel years ago they had a building near them, part of the business, that had a big sign "Erection Department"...always got a kick out of it - lol..

Posted 2 years ago #
KBear
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anonyme, my personal pet peeve is "pled guilty". Even on NPR!

Posted 2 years ago #
oddreality
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http://www.cjr.org/resources/lc/pleadguilty.php

"Pled guilty" is how I learned to say it 50 years ago [ at school right here in Seattle]. It grates MY last nerve to hear "pleaded" when "pled" sounds correct to me.So we are opposite.:) Seems only in the last few years people on the news have started to use pleaded.Drives me nuts though I know it is also a correct usage. I much prefer pled.

The one I hate [this week :)] is the use of "weary" instead of "leary". So many things seem to be making people tired when they ought to be feeling apprehensive instead.

Posted 2 years ago #
WesCAddle
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Congradulations!

Posted 2 years ago #
texas
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It definately makes me sick to see these types of grammer error's on letters home from my kids teacher's!!!!!!!

BTW, a Seattle author had a nice book on this topic a few years ago: Things That Make Us [sic] by Martha Brockenbrough

Posted 2 years ago #
KBear
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Oddreality, "pleaded" is not "a correct usage", it is THE correct usage. Did you even read the article you referenced? Sorry to hear you prefer "pled". Do you also prefer "ain't"? What else did they teach you in Seattle schools 50 years ago? I hope you'll forgive my snarkiness, but I did warn you it was a pet peeve! :-)

Posted 2 years ago #
sam-c
Member Profile

oddreality: I was looking up that word this week to remind myself of the correct usage, though it's spelled 'leery", right ?

KBear, (#35)- the central library steel was done by "The Erection Company"- a friend and I had a hard time believing that was the real name. so we called the number on the sign. sure enough, the person answered the phone: "hello, the erection company"

Posted 2 years ago #
SarahScoot
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Oddreality, I've always assumed people are going for "wary" when they use "weary" and seem to mean being alert, aware, and/or cautious.

Has anyone ever known someone who can't keep erratic/erotic/ironic straight? Oy, that's a fun one! ;-) "He was driving erotically..."

Posted 2 years ago #
austin
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That sort of driving can be really dangerous.

Posted 2 years ago #
Lindsey
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I recently got a recruiting packet from SCCC. On the first page, in the letter from the president, the word "success" is missing that last s. O_o

Here's the proof:
http://img390.yfrog.com/i/op1f.jpg/

Posted 2 years ago #
JanS
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recently written question on a Linkedin group "What is your option of the Health Freedoms Coalitions agenda in regards to our profession and do you see this group pushing their agenda onto other associations in the profession." First, I think he was asking for an opinion, not an option. And...it was a question, not a statement...where's the question mark? This, written by a "professional", just makes me shake my head and not take him seriously....sigh.

Posted 2 years ago #
KBear
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Also, it should be "in regard to" or "with regard to", not "in regards to".

Posted 2 years ago #
JoB
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i proofread
i post
i edit
i still make errors:(

i care.

the culture of ignorance is what frightens me
it extends far beyond language

Posted 2 years ago #
oddreality
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LOL Job, so true! Reading all the improper usage so prevalent everywhere on the internet has made my brain think twice about everything and I still get many things wrong!So funny.

Yes, I did read the link I posted. :) I thought it funny that so many out there on the internet are arguing the same thing. I picked the first link to copy..there are so many out there!! There are blogs and threads and all sorts of arguments going on concerning the use of pled vs pleaded.Apparently I am easily amused..my own errors amuse me the most.[yes, I do know that leery is "leery" and not "leary".]Cracked me up to see the horror of my own personal error this morning in this thread.
Here is another link [there are many like this one out there] that speaks to the "pled" vs "pleaded" issue.
http://www.grammarphobia.com/blog/2006/10/is-it-pleaded-or-pled.html
It was proper in the 50's to use "pled".Language use changes over time. Not always for the better in my view.

Had I ever said "ain't" growing up my mother would have washed my mouth out with soap..she still would .So no, I do not use "ain't" .I am not totally uneducated.LOL

As to the pled thing.Apparently pled is considered old English and pleaded did not come into vogue until a few years ago.I think this topic could be argued to death and there is no point to it ...for me. *I* do believe both are accepted in many circles and dictionaries, you think not. It is fine to disagree. Obviously there is much disagreement about this particular issue.Which again...makes me LOL.

Please do forgive any glaring errors in this post. I've quit checking...LOL

Posted 2 years ago #