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Original poster

Grammar Police v Wedding Party *MNHQ tweaked title at OP's request*

191 replies

WillLiveLifeAgain · 01/10/2024 15:27

I'm usually OK with grammar but this one has me scratching my head. Probably lack of sleep (not over this).

Went to a wedding at the weekend. They had one of those neon signs with their surname but added an apostrophe. So it said

The Smith's (name changed)

Shouldn't it have said The Smiths? There were four of them including children. Not one belonging to something/someone.

I'm very happy to be proved wrong. I'm not a grammar nazi but would hope something like that would have been right?

I know this is AIBU so disclaimer obviously what matters is the happy marriage of two loving people not an apostrophe.

OP posts:
Original poster
WillLiveLifeAgain · 01/10/2024 16:32

MassiveOvaryaction · 01/10/2024 16:28

@WillLiveLifeAgain are either of them greengrocers?

Ha ha no I don't think they have any in the family either.
Greengrocery is somehow exempt though don't you think. I love a good bag of tomatoe's

OP posts:
Cattery · 01/10/2024 16:32

Hoppinggreen · 01/10/2024 15:45

There is a plaque on a memorial bench in a place we visit often and it says something along the lines of "if love could of saved you"
Gives me the rage, I appreciate that sometimes people make grammatical errors or spelling mistakes but when its by a "professional" it makes me very cross

😱 Shocking

Petitchat · 01/10/2024 16:31

Boskit · 01/10/2024 15:37

I loathe the term 'grammar nazi'. There's nothing fascistic about being able to use one's native language with accuracy and discrimination. Once upon a time they used to teach it in schools - imagine!

Shouldn't that be "fascist" not "fascistic" ?

Just wondering.....

TeaHagTeaBag · 01/10/2024 16:28

Dontlletmedownbruce · 01/10/2024 16:20

But the thing is it's their job! No way would I contract a sign company who didn't include spelling and grammar check as part of the service. They are attaching their name to something that makes them look incompetent.

I walked into a furniture shop once with a homemade sign saying 'dinning table's'. I walked back out again.

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But it's not their job to check or correct spelling or punctuation. That's the job of a proof reader or copy editor. The maker/printer's job is to make or print what they have been given. Some offer an add on service, but it's just that, an add on.

MassiveOvaryaction · 01/10/2024 16:28

@WillLiveLifeAgain are either of them greengrocers?

Cattery · 01/10/2024 16:27

Boskit · 01/10/2024 15:37

I loathe the term 'grammar nazi'. There's nothing fascistic about being able to use one's native language with accuracy and discrimination. Once upon a time they used to teach it in schools - imagine!

They did indeed and we were all the better for it. There are some truly horrendous attempts at grammar nowadays.

Original poster
WillLiveLifeAgain · 01/10/2024 16:25

I know someone once refused to buy hair straighteners of all things from a website as they had spelled something incorrectly. It does smell of incompetence a little.

OP posts:
honeybeetheoneandonly · 01/10/2024 16:24

Pogggle · 01/10/2024 15:37

If it makes you feel any better, I saw a photo that my local tattooist uploaded the other day of one she'd just done that said 'know you're worth'. I actually couldn't believe that neither her or the person having it done thought to just double check that it was right 😬

They could still get an "it" tattooed at the end and pretend to be sponsored by L'Oréal.

Dontlletmedownbruce · 01/10/2024 16:22

@Pogggle I think the singer Jessie J has an incorrectly spelled tattoo on her body that really restricts her clothing.

TypingoftheDead · 01/10/2024 16:21

I have autism/ADHD but also good grammar/spelling - are some people really using those as excuses? I can understand dyslexia but by definition you’re going to struggle with words if you have that.

Dontlletmedownbruce · 01/10/2024 16:20

IOSTT · 01/10/2024 16:12

Unfortunately all this poor grammar has become normalised to many people. I don’t think people making signs are going to be particularly bothered about grammar.

But the thing is it's their job! No way would I contract a sign company who didn't include spelling and grammar check as part of the service. They are attaching their name to something that makes them look incompetent.

I walked into a furniture shop once with a homemade sign saying 'dinning table's'. I walked back out again.

Original poster
WillLiveLifeAgain · 01/10/2024 16:20

I don't blame the supplier of the sign in the slightest. It is most definitely on the couple to check.

I think it was an Etsy sign as they did the decorations themselves and didn't have a wedding "dresser" or whatever they are called now.

OP posts:
RachelGreeneGreep · 01/10/2024 16:16

Hoppinggreen · 01/10/2024 15:45

There is a plaque on a memorial bench in a place we visit often and it says something along the lines of "if love could of saved you"
Gives me the rage, I appreciate that sometimes people make grammatical errors or spelling mistakes but when its by a "professional" it makes me very cross

I saw a headstone a couple of years ago with 'Your simply the best' etc from the Tina Turner song engraved on it.

Original poster
WillLiveLifeAgain · 01/10/2024 16:16

Just addressing the nazi comments.

I don't wish to trivialise Naziism - I apologise. It is a term used generally and does not imply any dumbing down of the terrible acts of the Nazis.

OP posts:
Zimunya · 01/10/2024 16:15

Pogggle · 01/10/2024 15:37

If it makes you feel any better, I saw a photo that my local tattooist uploaded the other day of one she'd just done that said 'know you're worth'. I actually couldn't believe that neither her or the person having it done thought to just double check that it was right 😬

@Pogggle - this is absolutely brilliant and has made me laugh so much. Thank you!

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 01/10/2024 16:15

This gives me yet another opportunity to mention the name of a school I saw many years ago now. I am not exaggerating when I say that we would not have applied there for our children, on the grounds that a secondary school with a name that was so obviously grammatically wrong couldn't be trusted to teach anything. It was called The Hawthorne's. It stood near Hawthorne Road. I was so gobsmacked when I came across it that I tried to see if it had perhaps been founded by a person called Hawthorne, so maybe historically it had been Hawthorne's School, but no. It's not called that now, I'm relieved to say.

LushLemonTart · 01/10/2024 16:14

Pogggle · 01/10/2024 15:37

If it makes you feel any better, I saw a photo that my local tattooist uploaded the other day of one she'd just done that said 'know you're worth'. I actually couldn't believe that neither her or the person having it done thought to just double check that it was right 😬

😳That's shocking

PeggyMitchellsCameo · 01/10/2024 16:14

The apostrophe pet peeve. It seems to be everywhere and I can’t handle it.
’Could of’ drives me nuts.
I have whole list of offenders.
One I noticed last year when girls were attending race meetings was the sheer number of them posting about ‘going to the racers’ and ‘racers outfits’ it made me want to weep!
Apparently younger generations dislike full stops as they are a sign of aggression.
I see naked sentences all over the place now.

ISeriouslyDoubtIt · 01/10/2024 16:13

Of course there shouldn't be an apostrophe.

Embarrassing for them to lay out their illiteracy for all to see, but given it's on Facebook where 99% of posts contain errors in grammar and spelling, it won't stand out.

Also, if they're anything like very many posters on Mumsnet, if you told them they'd be up in arms shouting about how grammar and spelling don't matter at all; you're such a snob thinking you can spell better than they can; they didn't have the privilege of primary education; they've got dyslexia, autism or adhd;, they can spell perfectly well when needed but don't bother unless in a work situation etc. etc.

IOSTT · 01/10/2024 16:12

Unfortunately all this poor grammar has become normalised to many people. I don’t think people making signs are going to be particularly bothered about grammar.

muddyford · 01/10/2024 16:11

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 01/10/2024 15:53

I used to drive past a motor dealer that sold van's car's and 4x4's. Massive letters, about a foot high.

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A local garden building company has a van saying they do 'pagolas'. Obviously a cross between pagodas and pergolas!

Original poster
WillLiveLifeAgain · 01/10/2024 16:10

Flugelb1nder · 01/10/2024 16:00

Oh dear not a good look OP

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Luckily you can't see me.

BTW neither is picking holes in someone but I can't see you either so we're both OK.

OP posts:
Holdyourpeace · 01/10/2024 16:09

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

InSpainTheRain · 01/10/2024 16:08

You lost me at "Nazi". Completely inappropriate here in my view.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 01/10/2024 16:07

Pogggle · 01/10/2024 15:37

If it makes you feel any better, I saw a photo that my local tattooist uploaded the other day of one she'd just done that said 'know you're worth'. I actually couldn't believe that neither her or the person having it done thought to just double check that it was right 😬

I guess they could add "it" to the end? 😉