[DoctorBeaver (OP)]

Many of you will know that I abhor misuse of the apostrophe. Well, today I saw gross misuse of a comma.

Painted on the side of a lorry was "JCB,s and Tipper,s for hire".

I'd like to find whoever did that & poke them in the eye with a sharpened Eskimo grandmother.

Is that the worst example ever of appalling punctuation? Or has anyone seen anything worse? (Is that possible?)

[rosalind dna]

When I was in my local cafe today, I noticed that there were a lot
of possessive apostrophes in the wrong places.

Coffee's
Sandwich's
Baguette's
Omelett's
Tea's

[JimBob]

therefor; ...

seen on a discussion question i was grading as part of my teaching assistant job at university.

[blakestyger]

There's a market stall here that uses greengrocer's apostrophes on all the vegetable's - except where they are probably needed: Local King Edwards.

[rosalind dna]

Have you read this book for punctuation, grammar criticism but a laugh too. It has gone to 3+million sales since 2003.
http://www.profilebooks.com/title.php?titleissue_id=441

[RD]

Dr B, the London Underground, (not a secret resistance movement  [] ),
must drive you nutty with its inconsistent use of apostrophes in station names.

[SquarishTriangle]

I've recently seen people use multiple commas,, and I thought that rather bizarre,, especially when,,, commas aren't,, even,, required in the first place,.

I remember being asked to find an 'everyday' example of incorrect grammar for homework in high school. Having not done it by the next class, I quickly scanned the fire evacuation plan on the classroom door and found four.

Eats, Shoots and Leaves is an awesome book.

[rosalind dna]

I've recently seen people use multiple commas,, and I thought that rather bizarre,, especially when,,, commas aren't,, even,, required in the first place,.

I remember being asked to find an 'everyday' example of incorrect grammar for homework in high school. Having not done it by the next class, I quickly scanned the fire evacuation plan on the classroom door and found four.

Eats, Shoots and Leaves is an awesome book.

I know and it's still being published after the first ones in 2003.
Wowwwwwwwweeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Make it Lady]

Many of you will know that I abhor misuse of the apostrophe. Well, today I saw gross misuse of a comma.

Painted on the side of a lorry was "JCB,s and Tipper,s for hire".

I'd like to find whoever did that & poke them in the eye with a sharpened Eskimo grandmother.

Is that the worst example ever of appalling punctuation? Or has anyone seen anything worse? (Is that possible?)

Perhaps the owner is so used to his plant being turned upside down by inexperienced drivers that he thought he would make the point in his punctuation. Also, as Mrs Global Awareness, the term Eskimo annoys me. Please call them inuits.

[Bored chemist]

While the term Eskimo might bother people It's far from clear that Inuits is any better (and note the capitals since we are discussing that sort of thing).
Surely the important bit is sharpening, rather than mislabeling, their Grandmothers.
"the London Underground, (not a secret resistance movement "
It is a secret resistance movement. All those trains and such are a front. Why else would it do such a bad job of moving people about?

[RD]

The station name, King's Cross, is seen spelt both with and without an apostrophe:

King's Cross is the signage used in the Network Rail and London Underground stations and on the tube map.
The official Network Rail webpage uses the "King's Cross" spelling.
Kings Cross is spelled without apostrophes in National Rail printed Timetables.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_King's_Cross_railway_station

[SquarishTriangle]

I always thought "Mothers Day" had an apostrophe when I was little until I got told off for putting one in on the card. It made sense to me!

[DoctorBeaver (OP)]

Many of you will know that I abhor misuse of the apostrophe. Well, today I saw gross misuse of a comma.

Painted on the side of a lorry was "JCB,s and Tipper,s for hire".

I'd like to find whoever did that & poke them in the eye with a sharpened Eskimo grandmother.

Is that the worst example ever of appalling punctuation? Or has anyone seen anything worse? (Is that possible?)

Also, as Mrs Global Awareness, the term Eskimo annoys me. Please call them inuits.

"Sharpened Inuit grandmothers" does not have the same comedic impact.

[blakestyger]

I always thought "Mothers Day" had an apostrophe

It has - either singular possessive (Mother's) or plural possessive (Mothers').

You're owed some retribution sometime!

[Make it Lady]

Many of you will know that I abhor misuse of the apostrophe. Well, today I saw gross misuse of a comma.

Painted on the side of a lorry was "JCB,s and Tipper,s for hire".

I'd like to find whoever did that & poke them in the eye with a sharpened Eskimo grandmother.

Is that the worst example ever of appalling punctuation? Or has anyone seen anything worse? (Is that possible?)

Also, as Mrs Global Awareness, the term Eskimo annoys me. Please call them inuits.

"Sharpened Inuit grandmothers" does not have the same comedic impact.

I don't get the point either way!!!

Anyway, my son is a punctuation snob and goes around shouting at shop owners and pouting at pub owners for their shoddy apostrophes. I think he is Beaver's love child, although I think I might have remembered something like that. Is there any cure for his punctuation Tourettes. If he shouts 'apostrophe moron' one more time well I'll........ 

[JimBob]

shall we cal child protection services now or later?

[DoctorBeaver (OP)]

I think we should call the genetic modifier who created her.

[blakestyger]

Is there any cure for his punctuation Tourettes. If he shouts 'apostrophe moron' one more time well I'll........ 

Tourette's should have an apostrophe. [^]

Don't let the boy find out!

[rosalind dna]

While the term Eskimo might bother people It's far from clear that Inuits is any better (and note the capitals since we are discussing that sort of thing).
Surely the important bit is sharpening, rather than mislabeling, their Grandmothers.
"the London Underground, (not a secret resistance movement "
It is a secret resistance movement. All those trains and such are a front. Why else would it do such a bad job of moving people about?

The London Underground is definitely NOT a secret thing because it's other name is the Tube.
Since I went on the trains recently and the only front is the part of the carriages !!!!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Underground
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/modalpages/2625.aspx

[paul.fr]

The London Underground is definitely NOT a secret thing because it's other name is the Tube.
Since I went on the trains recently and the only front is the part of the carriages !!!!!

rosalind, i think you mean "the tube". The Tube is the train service that serves London, as for the london underground and it being a secret movement! You are all wrong, it was a band from the 80's.
call yourselves educated?