Hot Water Will Burn

[PigeonPie]

Was the sign above all the hand basins in the ladies' loo in Debenhams, Oxford, when we used it yesterday. (They also had at least two loos without loo seats, but that's another story).

The thing is that as it was above all the hand basins so someone in head office must have passed it for publication.

There really is no hope is there?

Call me thick (actually please don't) but I don't see what's wrong here?

yes am I being really thick?

Is it because its h and s gorn mad?

Do you mean that it should say scald?

Otherwise joins lettinggo in the head-scratching.

Capitals for each letter? Is that the issue?

It should be "scald", or better still "scald you".

Just "burn", to the pedant, suggests combustion.

Indeed, it is the fact that it should say Scald.

Fire burns, liquids and steam scald.

It is just wrong! And this is Pedants' Corner, so I can put it here.

And I can start a sentence with And if I want , but I know that's wrong too!

I would think it is deliberate. Scald is a more difficult word than burn. So incorrect, but there for a purpose. Communication has to be quick and to the point.

Well the more I research, the more it seems that 'burn' is technically correct. It covers injury to the flesh from a heat source.

I still prefer scald of course! Lovely word.

Wouldn't "Very hot water" have sufficed, allowing the user to reach her own conclusion as to the effect of allowing sustained contact with skin?