1589 readersThis sign that I found in the bathroom at Gargoyles restaurant in Davis Square features just about every type of punctuation problem known to man.We've got comma splices, unnecessary quotation marks, missing periods, random capitalization, and, of course, apostrophe catastrophes. My favorite part is where they put two apostrophes in Boston's'. What the hell?But the
830 readersToday's apostrophe catastrophe comes to us from my parents, who are both authors and who are both awesome, so I'm taking an opportunity to shamelessly promote them.My mom writes, "We, Becky’s parents, were horrified (and delighted at the same time) to encounter an apostrophe catastrophe on this road sign on a rural road in Oregon.
816 readersMy friend/former co-worker Fiona found this apostrophe catastrophe in Hampton Beach, NH:If you look closely, you can see the same sign reflected in the glass of the freezer. It's a lovely photo but a hideous apostrophe catastrophe.Thanks, Fiona!
1199 readersAmy found a double apostrophe catastrophe at a Coney Island liquor store called Beer Island. What a cool name for a liquor store, right? Too bad about the punctuation errors. On the left, we have it's rather than its, and on the right, today's is missing an apostrophe. "Maybe the apostrophe jumped from one sign
1190 readersMy friend Katy's father, Denis, sent in this sign from the Stop & Shop in Braintree:The main problem with the sign is that Lenten, an adjective referring to Lent, is spelled wrong. The apostrophe and the "s" are superfluous because Lent doesn't really own the specials, but it might not be technically a catastrophe. An
955 readersToday's apostrophe catastrophe/spelling disaster comes from the the Harrisburg, Penn., Artfest. The person who made this sign clearly doesn't listen to Gwen Stefani because he or she doesn't know how to spell bananas.Nanci, who submitted this apostrophe catastrophe, is clearly awesome. She writes that the ice cream stand "had just taken down a handmade sign
1361 readersHeather sent in an adorable example of an apostrophe catastrophe that she found in a book called Hippie Artifacts.I love stuff like this! If I had a print of this poster, I would totally frame it and put it up in my apartment, even with the apostrophe catastrophe. That says a lot. Thanks, Heather!
1190 readersThis sign from Reading, England, is a double apostrophe catastrophe:There should be one apostrophe in the sign, but it's in the wrong place. Shouldn't it be gents' hair cuts?Thanks to Kate for sending this one in!
836 readersSticking with Scotland for another day, this catastrophe comes to us from (believe it or not) a library in the Barmulloch area of Glasgow. Children's is misspelled and missing an apostrophe.Thanks again to Marie for submitting this catastrophe.
4592 readersWith the end of the world happening tomorrow, this may be the last apostrophe catastrophe I will ever post. It's a Friday and there's really nothing we can do about the impending apocalypse, so today's catastrophe will involve alcohol. Obviously.Besides the obvious apostrophe catastrophe in margarita's, every day should be two words. This restaurant's website