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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:
BuzzieLittleBee · 01/10/2024 16:06

To those who wonder why the printer/signwriter didn't pick it up or say something...

My friend works in a print shop, and has the most impeccable grammar going (and when we used to work together would happily (and politely) correct things so that clients didn't get work that was sloppy). But she says she can't possibly correct everything that comes her way - she had to let that go very early on in her time there (she's been there about 6 years now). Lots of things are just plain wrong, and lots are passable but could be better, but the service they provide is a printing one, not a copywriting or editing one. If she had to correct everything that could or should be different then everything would take twice as long (going to and fro with the client, potentially entering into discussion about the right course of action, re-doing proofs, extra rounds of approval etc). They just have to print what they're given.

What I think is inexcusable is Etsy (or similar) sellers who actively sell grammatically incorrect signs. Like your 'The Smith's' example. I guess some people might correct the Etsy seller, but I bet loads wouldn't, because people who care about it being right would be unlikely to buy from them in the first place.

Cynic17 · 01/10/2024 16:02

OP, you're right. That would have really set my teeth on edge, not to mention that it just sounds really tacky!

Breadcat24 · 01/10/2024 16:01

definitely should have been Smiths'

Anele22 · 01/10/2024 16:01

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 😬

‘Neither SHE NOR the person having it done thought to just double check…’

Flugelb1nder · 01/10/2024 16:00

WillLiveLifeAgain · 01/10/2024 15:36

Ha ha.
Not irrationally annoyed by it. Ever so slightly smug as she was a bit of a Bridezilla. But would never admit in the real world.

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Oh dear not a good look OP

Alicana · 01/10/2024 15:59

FlyHalf · 01/10/2024 15:49

Only if it was one Smith getting married. It should have been The Smiths, or The Smiths' Wedding.

Maybe they were trying to avoid Morrissey vibes.

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Surely there would only be one Smith getting married? Or is that the twist, were they related?!!

Holdyourpeace · 01/10/2024 15:58

This reply has been deleted

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

Anele22 · 01/10/2024 15:58

Alicana · 01/10/2024 15:31

Maybe they were thinking it implied it was their wedding?

Still wrong. Apostrophe in the wrong place

KnottedTwine · 01/10/2024 15:57

Oh agree absolutely that the client signs off the proofs. I used to work in a similar field and really appreciated it when a printer or graphic designer flagged up an error. Everyone makes mistakes. From what the OP says though, her friend thought the sign was perfectly OK.

TeaHagTeaBag · 01/10/2024 15:56

Ooft, don't blame the printer/maker for these aberrations. When getting anything made, and I do a fair bit for work, the responsibility for any and all typos lies exclusively with the client. They don't have time (or inclination) to check spelling or punctuation.

Original poster
WillLiveLifeAgain · 01/10/2024 15:54

This reply has been deleted

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

No it doesn't end in an S but does end in a vowel.

OP posts:
GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 01/10/2024 15:53

KnottedTwine · 01/10/2024 15:45

I followed a builder's van the other week which had the brand name (similar to) Cambuslang Builders. The van was proudly stating that they did extension's, foundation's, patio's, ground work's and loft conversion's.

Again, you'd think the person who produced the vinyl stickers for the van might have checked, but obviously not.

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

Original poster
WillLiveLifeAgain · 01/10/2024 15:52

FlyHalf · 01/10/2024 15:49

Only if it was one Smith getting married. It should have been The Smiths, or The Smiths' Wedding.

Maybe they were trying to avoid Morrissey vibes.

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But Heaven knows they're miserable now?

OP posts:
GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 01/10/2024 15:51

WillLiveLifeAgain · 01/10/2024 15:43

I saw one of these recently too, except it said Mary's wedding and in smaller writing featuring Bob. It was quite funny.

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😂That's brilliant!

KnottedTwine · 01/10/2024 15:51

FlyHalf · 01/10/2024 15:49

Only if it was one Smith getting married. It should have been The Smiths, or The Smiths' Wedding.

Maybe they were trying to avoid Morrissey vibes.

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Yes, maybe. But then you'd just get a sign saying "Donna and Jim" or whatever wouldn't you?

Holdyourpeace · 01/10/2024 15:50

This reply has been deleted

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

FlyHalf · 01/10/2024 15:49

This reply has been deleted

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

Only if it was one Smith getting married. It should have been The Smiths, or The Smiths' Wedding.

Maybe they were trying to avoid Morrissey vibes.

Original poster
WillLiveLifeAgain · 01/10/2024 15:48

There's a lot of it around. A lovely pub we visit for very good food serves Pizza's! I can't look at it but at least it's only a blackboard. For a neon sign to feature in your otherwise delightful wedding photos is a bit embarrassing.

OP posts:
WingSluts · 01/10/2024 15:48

The one that really boggles me is when this happens to some items in a list but not others. For example:

We went out to buy bread rolls, tomatoe's, apples and three do-nut's.

TheLittleOldWomanWhoShrinks · 01/10/2024 15:47

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!

Agree, 'Nazi' is not a term to use lightheartedly.

QuiteCloseBy · 01/10/2024 15:46

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!

Yeah, I'm not a grammar nazi. I just use language accurately. And I'm all for regional usages, coloquialisms, different Englishes etc etc, all of which I use myself, when appropriate. But Smith's in the context you mention, OP, is just illiterate.

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

KnottedTwine · 01/10/2024 15:45

I followed a builder's van the other week which had the brand name (similar to) Cambuslang Builders. The van was proudly stating that they did extension's, foundation's, patio's, ground work's and loft conversion's.

Again, you'd think the person who produced the vinyl stickers for the van might have checked, but obviously not.

Original poster
WillLiveLifeAgain · 01/10/2024 15:45

This reply has been deleted

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

I didn't see a missing "Wedding" sign anywhere.

OP posts:
XDownwiththissortofthingX · 01/10/2024 15:45

I've noticed a creeping rise in the number of instances I've seen a surname ending in "s" apostrophised recently. Not exactly the same thing you've witnessed here OP, but still utterly discordant and it makes my teeth itch every time.

I'm not sure if it's something related to autocorrect, or whether it's just ignorance and laziness, but I'm seeing "Collin's", "Adam's", and "Steven's" more and more often when it's actually "Collins", "Adams", and "Stevens" surnames being referenced.

I genuinely don't know why apostrophes confuse so many people.