So You Think You Can Punctuate

Hello, dear readers! While I've taken some time off from writing, I have continued to actively search for public errors. I've acquired a plethora of photos, and I'm glad to be back. My hope is to post weekly (ish) and get back on track with consistent writing. After all, the world needs educated about all these errors!…

A Selfish Farmer

This elevator can be found in the bustling metropolis of Roggen, right along Interstate 76. At first, a passerby might not even notice the teeny, tiny apostrophe placed ever-so gently between the r and the s in farmers. But I assure you; it is there. And it is wrong. I happen to know that Roggen…

Appositive Message about Commas

I was waiting patiently in line to turn in my papers for a passport when I spotted this error. At first, I thought, "Aww, how nice! The Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder is welcoming its newest member, Nancy A. Doty!" At least that's how this would be interpreted if someone with a particularly astute eye…

Commas 101

This mistake is not too bad in the grand scheme of grammatical life, but it provides a nice lesson for us about commas. Commas have about a bajillion rules, and I would say almost everyone I know admits to having a hard time remembering when to put them and when not to. My mom, for…

Sugar and Splice

IHOP, IHOP, IHOP. I expected more from you since you're a huge chain and all; I really did. This is a problem -- a big problem. Here we have . . . (drumroll) . . . a comma splice (gasp!). It makes me sad when people try to give the job of a period (or…

Apostrophes Not Fit for Plurals

I know "CD GOODIE BOX" AND "$9.99!!" are the most important messages on this sign, but that's no reason to include errors in the small print. Again, I was at Tradesmart, and again, I found an error in its advertising strategies. This particular error happens frequently: using an apostrophe to form a plural. In this…

Apostrophe Slip-Up

I found this while on tour at the Coors factory. What is particularly interesting about this problem is that the sign contains something that isn't even a word. Mens does not exist in the English language. Men is the plural for man, so if one is trying to make men plural by adding an s,…

A Hyphen Holocaust

I was on my way to Pittsburgh, midair, when this ad resulted in my producing a slight "awk." I have three problems with this AirTran ad -- two of which deal with hyphens. First of all, I don't like that a period sits at the end of "An under the table offer from AirTran." The…

Commas Matter

I found this on the Facebook page of one of my favorite places to shop -- Tradesmart. It's like Hastings on steroids and has every possible type of entertainment imaginable. I love your merchandise, Tradesmart, but I need you to step up the punctuation. This isn't technically a mistake, but it can lead to misreading.…

Facebook — Just, Yeah . . .

I usually stick to writing that I observe in public, but a friend of mine supplied me with this beauty, and I couldn't pass up the teachable moment. First, I have one thing to say: "Watson, get me my red pen -- stat!" (We will tackle mixed metaphors another day.) Okay, now that I feel…