# Spelling Mistakes in Public Places **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 4, 2004, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-mistakes-in-public-places/263049 "2004-09-04T00:34:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2004, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-mistakes-in-public-places/263049/21 "2004-09-04T15:10:45Z")
This is mostly an inconsistency that I noticed on a recent trip from KC to St. Louis. All along the way on I-70, there are advertisements for a sex shop called Passions. Some signs advertise “Passion’s” while others advise all drivers to stop at “Passions.” They’re both the same store (there are two of them - they’re owned by the same people), but every time I see those signs, I just want to stop at the sex shop and say something to the management. I hate it when people screw up with apostrophes. And I hate it more when people don’t use consistent spelling and punctuation in their advertising. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2004, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-mistakes-in-public-places/263049/22 "2004-09-04T15:21:08Z")
There’s a town on I-10 in Florida called Macclenny. Approaching it from either direction, there are signs for local businesses, which I’m sure the owners have to proofread before they pay the bucks. Well, depending on the ad sign, it’s spelled McClenny, McLenny or MacClenney. That’s not quite as bad (well, maybe it is) as the signs all over this town last summer, advertising an Exotic Bird and Pet Fair, to be held on Aug 22th, 23th and 24th. ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2004, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-mistakes-in-public-places/263049/23 "2004-09-04T15:31:16Z")
> [@overlyverbose](#): > > . . . every time I see those signs, I just want to stop at the sex shop and say something to the management. I hate it when people screw up with apostrophes. And I hate it more when people don’t use consistent spelling and punctuation in their advertising. Yes! And while you’re there, you’ll probably notice that the porno mags are out of alphabetical order. See! See, you’ll say, this is exactly the kind of carelessness I’m talking about! And just look at these grammar mistakes, _right on the cover of the magazine!_ I wonder if the articles themselves are as bad? Let’s open it up and see . . . My goodness, yes. Yes they are. I’m going to need a red pen, and a quiet, private room. It could take me several hours to . . . fix all these mistakes . . . 😃 ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2004, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-mistakes-in-public-places/263049/24 "2004-09-04T15:37:46Z")
From a carpet company: Don’t pay _ **to** _ much. :eek: Would you trust those folks to add up your bill and not overcharge you? And I’ve seen ball misspelled as bal. Should we worship or what? Not to mention the constant ‘wierd’ or ‘thier’ in books. Yikes!! Makes me want to correct them in red ink\* and send them back to the publishers. \*After all, we’re not worried about _their_ self-esteem. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2004, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-mistakes-in-public-places/263049/25 "2004-09-04T15:56:11Z")
> [@Burrido](#): > > “Spagetti Dinner Thursdays Nights” at a local church near my house. I see it everyday and is starting to annoy the piss outta me. Sorry to pick on you, but you’ve reminded me of something that bugs me: “Everyday” is an adjective. (“This is an everyday occurence.”) “Every day” is an adverb. It means roughly the same thing as “each day.” (“I see it every day.”) ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2004, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-mistakes-in-public-places/263049/26 "2004-09-04T16:18:15Z")
> [@Podkayne](#): > > Yes! And while you’re there, you’ll probably notice that the porno mags are out of alphabetical order. See! See, you’ll say, this is exactly the kind of carelessness I’m talking about! And just look at these grammar mistakes, _right on the cover of the magazine!_ I wonder if the articles themselves are as bad? Let’s open it up and see . . . My goodness, yes. Yes they are. I’m going to need a red pen, and a quiet, private room. It could take me several hours to . . . fix all these mistakes . . . > > 😃 Maybe I should send my husband in instead of going in myself. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2004, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-mistakes-in-public-places/263049/27 "2004-09-04T16:38:29Z")
The misspellings bug me, but what really chaps my ass is the use of quote marks. The very good cheap car repair down the street has ‘Service You Can “Trust”!’, and my favorites are always at the grocery store: once we had “Fresh” “Meat” on “Sale”! :eek: For weeks several years ago the evil Maurice’s Barbeque was looking to hire “mangers” for all shifts. We didn’t tell them. Did you guys see the actual text of the loyalty oath you had to sign to get in to see Dubya? Searching would take me forever here at work, but trust me, it is to weep. ---
**Author:** ![Burrido](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Burrido](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burrido)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2004, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-mistakes-in-public-places/263049/28 "2004-09-04T16:40:29Z")
> [@Thudlow Boink](#): > > Sorry to pick on you, but you’ve reminded me of something that bugs me: > > “Everyday” is an adjective. (“This is an everyday occurence.”) > “Every day” is an adverb. It means roughly the same thing as “each day.” (“I see it every day.”) Hmm, always wondered about that. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2004, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-mistakes-in-public-places/263049/29 "2004-09-04T16:50:44Z")
OK, I’ve got another one, in my neighborhood. At one end of the street, the sign says “Sonnet.” At the other end, it says “Sonnett.” ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2004, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-mistakes-in-public-places/263049/30 "2004-09-04T17:06:20Z")
In Van Nuys, CA, there is a bakery outlet store across from the Budweiser plant that has had the following professionally painted on the side of the building for at least 11 years: **Tuesdays Bargin Day** ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2004, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-mistakes-in-public-places/263049/31 "2004-09-04T17:41:41Z")
> [@Rico](#): > > **Tuesdays > Bargin Day** Obviously, those are the days you’re allowed to just **bargin** without an invitation. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2004, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-mistakes-in-public-places/263049/32 "2004-09-04T17:55:38Z")
> [@Sami41](#): > > Years ago I was working at a bar that had local music every night. On the night in question we had a band playing called “Sombody’s Weird.” That day I was the AM bartender, so it was my job to change the marquee. After much deliberation about whether or not “Somebody’s” ought to be “Somebodys’,” or possibly, “Somebodies,” or maybe even “Some Bodies’,” I finally settled on “Somebody’s Wierd.” > > Quite proud of myself for getting the “Somebody’s” part right, I was pretty embarrassed when the drummer\* came in and said, “We’re not WIRED! We’re Weird.” > > I haven’t spelled “weird” incorrectly since. Um, sure you have. (Take a close look, friend.) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2004, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-mistakes-in-public-places/263049/33 "2004-09-04T18:17:30Z")
My ex-giorlfriend’s apartment building used to claim on a sign outside that besides the usual amenities of on-site laundry and air conditioning it also had “subtrainian parking”. ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2004, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-mistakes-in-public-places/263049/34 "2004-09-04T18:23:21Z")
Hand written sign seen, and photographed in Ellerslie, Auckland, NZ, years ago: “No Vehicles Aloud” which isn’t I think what was meant. ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2004, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-mistakes-in-public-places/263049/35 "2004-09-04T18:42:25Z")
> [@overlyverbose](#): > > Maybe I should send my husband in instead of going in myself. 😉 Nonsense. Why should he have all the fun? And are you sure his grammar and spelling skills are as good as yours, anyway? ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2004, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-mistakes-in-public-places/263049/36 "2004-09-04T20:10:46Z")
At the animal shelter near me, for years there was a roadside sign pointing you to the “Spray-Neuter Clinic.” It was replaced some years ago, but I do have a photo of the original sign. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2004, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-mistakes-in-public-places/263049/37 "2004-09-04T20:15:18Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > I worked at a theater in Beverly Hills. The cast and crew was having a hard time finding parking spaces. The little Asian guy next door got fed up with us parking in his spots. One day a sign appears: > > “No Park. You will be toad.” Don’t I know it! He turned me into a _newt!_ ---
**Author:** ![ouisey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9fc29f/32.png) [@ouisey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouisey)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2004, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-mistakes-in-public-places/263049/38 "2004-09-04T20:22:44Z")
My company has a huge banner in the biggest conference room we have. The one where we all meet to hear the President talk about the state of the company and so forth. It says “Where Service is One in the Same”. I always thought the phrase was “one and the same”. There’s a restaurant on the east side of town called “Git Yo Chicken”, which isn’t exactly a mis-spelling, but makes me laugh every time i pass it. I’ve gotta eat there one day. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2004, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-mistakes-in-public-places/263049/39 "2004-09-04T20:32:29Z")
At a Chinese restaurant I frequent - “Sweat Tea”. I did point out the error to them, being sure they weren’t serving perspiration tea. Oh - that reminds me. I hate it when a sign or menu advertises “Ice Tea”. It’s iced tea, you idiots! Yesterday at Sam’s Club there was a large sign at the front of the store with a plastic N backwards. I pointed it out to the Service Desk (The sign was next to the desk) and had to actually tell them, "Look - it’s the first “N” in “Vending.” Even so they had a hard time seeing it. It makes you want to cry. StG ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2004, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-mistakes-in-public-places/263049/40 "2004-09-04T20:42:35Z")
I was in an electronics store the other day and noticed a display of LCD television equipment. Rather than showing stunning visual images, the screens featured a demonstration of how to program the devices for recording shows. The sample broadcast featured in the graphic was _The Fiesty Black Cat_. I remarked to my friend that I hoped the manufacturer was better at designing and installing circuitry than at spelling **feisty**. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-mistakes-in-public-places/263049.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-mistakes-in-public-places/263049.md?page=3)