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View Full Version : "Grammar English for has reason", or a pedantic rant

Shade
02-06-2003, 12:59 PM
A small govermentment meeting is discussing the wording of a sign:

'Disabled' badge holders, only, park here.

1: That's no good! Remove the commas, and then it could mean that 'disabled' badge holders can't do anything else there!
2: And why not remove the apostrophes? Then it could apply to people with badges that can't walk.
1: Good idea. And we could move the 'only.' Do you feel like excluding people with multiple badges, or stopping disabled people parking elsewhere.
2: Oh, I think keeping those disableds locked up is a good idea.
1: Right, so we have:

Disabled badge holders park only here.

2: I don't know, still too helpful. Why don't we make the sign blank? No one'd ever guess what we mean then.
1: I like it. But you think small. Make it say "Guess what I'm thinking, arse-dildo!"
2: "Yeah, lets seriously fuck the public! More!"

The bold version is what the sign actually says. We all know what it means, but we have a language for a reason, guys. THINK BEFORE YOU WRITE! Ready for Gaudere's law?

It's not so bad on street signs, but for fuck's sake, not on official forms, exam papers or laws, please!
iampunha
02-06-2003, 01:19 PM
How about "Parking for 'disabled badge' holders only"?
Shade
02-06-2003, 01:19 PM
Much too clear.
Vixenation
02-06-2003, 01:22 PM
Perhaps the people who wrote the signs were taking some tips from The Onion:
http://www.theonion.com/onion3109/newgammar.html
Ludovic
02-06-2003, 01:53 PM
Or, perhaps they MEANT that, meaning, if the disabled badge holders parked in the regular parking lot, it would fill up the lot so the regular parkers wouldnt have a place to park? nawwwww.

Still funny though! :D
Ethilrist
02-06-2003, 01:58 PM
How about "Not for Abled Parkers"?
Any particular reason not to use the blue & white wheelchair logo?
Jpeg Jones
02-06-2003, 05:23 PM
Or how about a sign with a logo of an abled person crossed out?
Shade
02-06-2003, 06:39 PM
Originally posted by Jpeg Jones
Or how about a sign with a logo of an abled person crossed out?

Can I see this sign?
monica
02-07-2003, 04:57 PM
I think my English teacher wrote the sign...she's still trying to teach Honors English 10 about capitalization and commas. Of course, she gets confused while teaching this.