Random ramblings from the cluttered brain of a Brit ex-pat North Devonian trying to keep cool in the steamy summers and warm in the frosty winters of The Great White North.
Friday, 1 April 2011
Punky Punctuation
You all deserve an A+ for spotting the spelling mistake in the previous post.... now it's time for your punctuation exam.
Groan! This is a bad one. And it's right across Main Street from the previous post.
It's bad enough to see these on signs here and there but I see errors like that in newspapers and on reputable websites all the time. Editing had taken a back seat to quick information.
You know it was hard already for me to learn French grammar in school – I am not that good with English grammar, as I took English as a 3rd language – but I think my teacher told me that you should write «Frank and Son’s Barber Shop» as it belongs to both of them unless he has more than one son, then it would be Frank and Sons. I am not sure if I am correct here. In French we do not have this, we would say Salon de Coiffure Frank et Fils, or Chez Frank et Fils – Coiffure.
Vagabonde - you are absolutely correct! I hate to see so many spelling and grammar mistakes on signs. I know that many people who run businesses here in Canada speak English as a second or third language, but the people who make the signs should know better!
FRANKS & SON....! I have friends, and their last name is "Franks"....No Apostrophe needed with FRANKS & SON!
Also...is it correct to say PARKING "AT" BACK? Or should it be PARKING "IN" BACK....? Hmmmmmm!
What Hilary said is so true..I too see incredible mistakes in papers and on Internet Websites---when the NY TIMES does it---we are in deep deep trouble.
'I know that many people who run businesses here in Canada speak English as a second or third language, but the people who make the signs should know better!' - that tells you something about sign makers too, lol. Anna :)
Groan! This is a bad one. And it's right across Main Street from the previous post.
It's bad enough to see these on signs here and there but I see errors like that in newspapers and on reputable websites all the time. Editing had taken a back seat to quick information.
ReplyDeleteMaybe he couldn't spell "Franksand son" LOL!
ReplyDeleteI am beginning to think I should ban you from my blog!
ReplyDeleteI can just imagine your next post being "look at this spelling mistake from the blog of Spencer Park!"
Spencer... you read my mind!
ReplyDeleteYou know it was hard already for me to learn French grammar in school – I am not that good with English grammar, as I took English as a 3rd language – but I think my teacher told me that you should write «Frank and Son’s Barber Shop» as it belongs to both of them unless he has more than one son, then it would be Frank and Sons. I am not sure if I am correct here. In French we do not have this, we would say Salon de Coiffure Frank et Fils, or Chez Frank et Fils – Coiffure.
ReplyDeleteVagabonde - you are absolutely correct! I hate to see so many spelling and grammar mistakes on signs. I know that many people who run businesses here in Canada speak English as a second or third language, but the people who make the signs should know better!
ReplyDeletethe daily mail uk on line is the worst for punctuation and spelling mistakes....
ReplyDeleteGill
FRANKS & SON....! I have friends, and their last name is "Franks"....No Apostrophe needed with FRANKS & SON!
ReplyDeleteAlso...is it correct to say PARKING "AT" BACK? Or should it be PARKING "IN" BACK....? Hmmmmmm!
What Hilary said is so true..I too see incredible mistakes in papers and on Internet Websites---when the NY TIMES does it---we are in deep deep trouble.
Now I wonder if he only has one son? :D
ReplyDeleteJust goes to prove you don't have to know spelling and grammar to make a sign. :))
ReplyDeletePS
Please do NOT check my blogs for errors. My fingers are very creative and my proofreading skills are close to non-existent. :))
Perhaps the name of the father is FRANK and he wished to claim ownership of the shop while just mentioning that he had a son? Duh.
ReplyDeleteAs my Dad would have said, (tongue in cheek) some folks never learned English like what we did!
ReplyDeletehugs
xx
Nice to see that the error was spotted by the French Vagabonde!
ReplyDeleteIn Paris, we have a very fashionable deparment store called Franck & Fils! :-)
I'm thinking it should be Frank & Son's. (scrolling up to verify... Yup!)
ReplyDeleteIt's crazy to see spelling errors on signage. Why wouldn't the customer and sign-maker each check to make sure it's right?
I'll agree with Hilary.
ReplyDelete'I know that many people who run businesses here in Canada speak English as a second or third language, but the people who make the signs should know better!' - that tells you something about sign makers too, lol. Anna :)
ReplyDelete