When Pandora opened her mythical box and the world’s evils flew out, what remained was hope. In these signs, grammar and spelling and punctuation have taken flight. This post concerns what I hope remains. First, skill with scissors:
I hope the proprietors are good barbers, because the salon is certainly not wasting any energy inserting an apostrophe in kids’ (or kid’s, if only one child is welcome as a “walk-in”). Fortunately, men’s is properly punctuated.
This sign directs my hope to falling (actually, NOT falling) masonry:
What do I hope? That the company maintaining the exterior walls looming over my head in NYC is better at pointing, painting, piping, and venting than it is at spelling. Verticle? Seriously? Moving on to moving:
Here I hope that every client’s move is a great experience. Were I to use this firm (not that I’m going anywhere except on vacation), I would hope for better grammar (our employees our?) and punctuation (safe positive?).
Last but definitely not least:
Where do I start? Spelling: seperate or softner? Subject-verb agreement: work include? Punctuation: double quotation marks for the first line and single for the second? And why any quotation marks at all? I think I’ll have this shop clean my clothes, which I hope will be handled with more care than this sign.
I always appreciate your eagle eye for these things, however knowing you are in and around the NYC area, I feel I should remind you that many signs are created by folks who speak English as a second language. It’s a tough one to learn, is my understanding.
That said, one WOULD wish that when creating a sign as an exemplar of one’s business ethic, having someone cast an expert eye would be in one’s best interest.
Thanks for the smile.
(I am also reminded of my favorite sign observed in my youth, which read, “Parking for costumers only.” It was outside a bodega in Huntington on Long Island which served the Spanish-speaking community there.)
Melinda, good point! I am very much aware of the fact that many signs come from those who are learning English as a second or third language. I’m constantly working to improve my Spanish, which I’ve been learning as a second language. My errors are often quite funny to native speakers, who kindly correct me. It’s all in fun. I also agree with you: in ordering a professional sign, the store owner would do well to ask for help. My aim in the blog is to spark a smile!
Perhaps theater people park there?
Oh my gosh. What a disaster, those signs!! I’m gritting my teeth just looking at them!