Apostrophe Abuse

Corvette's Only

2008-05-14T09:12:00.000-07:00

...from Randy in Jackson, MO:

Henna Tattoo's

2008-05-05T08:47:00.000-07:00

Anne spotted this sign in Venice Beach, CA:

More Tattoo's

Row's of Champions

2008-04-30T11:09:00.000-07:00

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.

...though, that "Row Is of Champions"... ;)

Chicken and Dumpling's

2008-04-30T09:00:00.000-07:00

Randy spotted this one at the courthouse yard in Jackson, Missouri:

Daily Jubilee's

2008-04-30T08:41:00.001-07:00

Marisa spotted this sign in Bedford, TX:

Mad Libs: Please use the other ATM's _________.

2008-04-30T08:34:00.000-07:00

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!

You got'ta see this...

2008-04-27T17:50:00.000-07:00

...sign spotted at a mall...

(Thanks, Courtenay!)

Card's, Crystal's, Palm's, Tell's... all in one sign!

2008-04-27T17:33:00.000-07:00

Beth found this sign on the Atlantic City Boardwalk:

Well, at least the sign is consistent in its abuse.

Two from Boulder, CO

2008-04-27T17:26:00.001-07:00

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?!)

Panini's

2008-04-27T17:22:00.000-07:00

Cliff spotted this sign in the Arena District in Columbus, Ohio:

Hey Kids: Your on vacation!

2008-04-27T17:20:00.001-07:00

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.

Party's, Pulltap's, and Lot's

2008-04-27T17:16:00.000-07:00

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.

Poor writing in Reading

2008-04-15T08:50:00.001-07:00

Martin shares with us this photo of Pete's Cafe at Oxford Road, Reading.

Stair's Caution

2008-04-15T08:48:00.000-07:00

Kyla spotted this sign in Colorado Springs:

Stewed Tomatoe's

2008-04-15T08:46:00.000-07:00

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.

Abuse in a flood zone

2008-04-15T08:44:00.000-07:00

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!

Manager Special's and Walk In's

2008-04-14T18:03:00.000-07:00

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.

Chicago's Legendary Hotdog's

2008-04-14T18:00:00.000-07:00

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…!

Croissant's and Bearclaw's

2008-04-09T10:13:00.000-07:00

Spotted @ Simon's in Seattle...

Abuse - and a ray of hope - in CA

2008-04-05T11:02:00.000-07:00

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!

(Thanks, earthling!)

Lets' put the apostrophe in the wrong place

2008-04-05T10:57:00.000-07:00

(Thanks, Anna!)

Classic Shoe's in Manhattan

2008-04-05T10:53:00.000-07:00

(Thanks, Julie!)

Bizarre "Where/We're" confusion in Wisconsin

2008-04-05T10:47:00.000-07:00

Jennifer writes:

Spotted on the side of a building in Nelson, WI. Honestly, I have no words.

Okay -- I can completely understand that some people have a hard time with its/it's -- but Where/We're? What?

Abuse at the University of Pittsburgh

2008-04-05T10:43:00.000-07:00

William sends in this found behind the Sennot Square Building at University of Pittsburgh:

Ride's and Tapa's in Dolphin Quay

2008-04-05T10:38:00.000-07:00

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.