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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not buy a product due to erroneous apostrophes?

202 replies

PavlovtheCat · 23/06/2013 18:10

It is an otherwise appropriate product and to be fair, there is only one misuse of apostrophe. I can even see why they have placed it; if in doubt add an apostrophe, right? Wrong.

But, it makes me think they have not had their website proofread, which then leads me think they are not such a professional business. This in turn concerns me should there be a problem with the product in terms of customer service and aftercare. And, if I am completely honest, it makes me feel a little bit irrationally grumpy.

Am I Being Unreasonable? DH thinks I am being so.

OP posts:
garlicnutty · 23/06/2013 21:02

Pavlov - Grin at bunk beds with no leg to stand on.

Or should that be leg's?

PavlovtheCat · 23/06/2013 21:04

I use comma splicing for informal stuff like here; semi colons for formal work, and ALWAYS when writing to MIL.

OK, how about a comma after 'and', when writing a list?

It was red, yellow, and blue.
It was red, yellow and blue.

OP posts:
PavlovtheCat · 23/06/2013 21:06

before, not after.

Grin
OP posts:
kim147 · 23/06/2013 21:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LetUsPrey · 23/06/2013 21:09

I remember it fondly now kim147 Grin. It was a couple of years ago. I put it back in his tray at first under all his workbooks, but I couldn't ignore it so I crossed it out. I was a bit of a wimp because I only used a pencil for the crossing out and not a red pen.

Teacher was otherwise excellent and I think it was a one off Grin

OP - YANBU. I've had many WTF faces from DH when I've refused to buy stuff because of random apostrophes.

Shakey1500 · 23/06/2013 21:09

JamieandtheMagicTorch

Regarding your post about "Your Beautiful*

Exactly the same reason I stamp my feet when that Emile Sande/Labyrinth song is aired. Even DS (5) now says "Beneath your...what?

Hat? Fringe? Scarf? Coat?

Grrr.

PavlovtheCat · 23/06/2013 21:12

kim which one?

OP posts:
kim147 · 23/06/2013 21:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

garlicnutty · 23/06/2013 21:20

... although it's correct to put a comma before 'and' or 'but' when they begin secondary clauses.

I went shopping, but they were out of Pom bears.

I think it depends on whether your 'and' is part of a list. Somebody even more pedantic will be along to explain properly.

ChippingInWiredOnCoffee · 23/06/2013 21:22

"Target: to work on the correct use of apostrophe's."

LetUsPray - I hope you have a red pen these days Grin

kim147 · 23/06/2013 21:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

KittensoftPuppydog · 23/06/2013 21:26

Pedant needed? And here I am.
Should have a comma, so that lists are clear, eg, tesco, next, and marks and spencer.
Though I will let this one go.
Some stuff I will go by the style guide of the organisation I'm writing for. Other stuff, I won't budge.

kim147 · 23/06/2013 21:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SueDoku · 23/06/2013 21:27

garlicnutty what's pretentious about semi-colons? They are very useful (even if my children moan when I use them in texts... Grin).

The wonderful 'Eats, Shoots and Leaves' has a great section on the use of commas - with special reference to the Oxford comma.....

badbride · 23/06/2013 21:30

YA soooo NBU. Apostrophe abuse is unforgivable. Getting it right is hardly rocket science; getting it wrong belies a sloppiness that may well translate into other aspects of a company's business.

Sloppy punctuation doesn't exercise me as much as sloppy grammar, though. DH has to physically restrain me in the supermarket every time I see the "Five items or less" sign. Gah! It's FEWER, goddammit. Just let me at it with a marker pen...

He's no better, mind. Anyone who dares to use "due to" where they should say "because of" is treated to a rant about how "due to" is an adjectival prepositional phrase and therefore cannot modify a verb. He should probably get out more Grin

KittensoftPuppydog · 23/06/2013 21:34

I would say that we should all get out more, however I did a course where we learnt about mistakes in grammar and punctuation that had caused serious accidents (flight manuals etc). It really is important.

PavlovtheCat · 23/06/2013 21:46

kittens there was a huge misunderstanding in some war - it was in 'Eats Shoots and Leaves'. I don't have to hand right this second, but it was something along the lines of meaning 'get here right this second' or 'whatever dude, we don't want ya here', depending on the placement of the apostrophe. The newspapers posted the apostrophe in the wrong place, and some bloke plodded along and was told to take a hike. Or, the other way around.

So, it can actually be Really Bad.

My understanding of commas before 'and' is that if it's a list, it is ok, however, I find some people don't like it (maybe don't understand it?) and so I get myself a little confused with it. I also find it used a lot with 'and' generally, which irks me somewhat.

OP posts:
PavlovtheCat · 23/06/2013 21:49

Sue - is the Oxford Comma the comma before 'and'? I have not got that far. Or, rather, I am dipping in and out, reading about pedantry leading to violence, laughing a lot then putting it down. It's a great book.

OP posts:
PavlovtheCat · 23/06/2013 21:50

kittens it is really important for another good reason: without it, there will be a lot more pedants with heart conditions.

OP posts:
garlicnutty · 23/06/2013 21:57

www.buzzfeed.com/emmyf/25-biggest-comma-fails
Grin

Birnamwood · 23/06/2013 21:58

There's a tanning salon in my town called...

Tan "ya" hyde

Spelt exactly like that.

I have to avoid looking at it every time I drive past Angry

Nanny0gg · 23/06/2013 22:04

definIite

garlicnutty · 23/06/2013 22:08

Birnamwood, I'm guessing the tanning salon is owned by one Tanya Hyde? And that Ms Hyde really loves a crap pun.

ChaosTrulyReigns · 23/06/2013 22:09

One of the local hairdressers is called Kut's 4 U.

I sighed and asked BigDD if it couldbe any worse.

Yup, mom, they could've put a "z" in place of the "s"

I love my DD.

ChaosTrulyReigns · 23/06/2013 22:11

When in A&E the other day (twice this week, if you're counting), I was highly amused by a door that was for "Personel only".

Lolwhut?

Wink