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  At Least the Food Was Good

  2113 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

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  Best Authors and Parents Ever

  1050 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.

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  Sundae’s, Sundae’s, Sundae’s!

  1064 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!

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  But I Did Not Mock the Deputy

  3200 readersJon sent this apostrophe catastrophe from a St. Patrick's Day parade. Perhaps this sign is more of a missing-word catastrophe. Should it be "sheriff's office"? Thanks, Jon!

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  Catastrophe at Beer Island

  1475 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

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  Giving Up Punctuation for Lent

  1380 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

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  This Sh— Is Bananas

  1502 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

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  I Wish It Was the ’60s, I Wish We Could Be Happy

  1531 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!

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  The First Cut’s the Deepest

  1466 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!

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  Double Apostrophe Catastrophe from a Library

  5267 readersMy friend Natalie was horrified to find this double apostrophe catastrophe at the Medford Public Library. Some style guides recommend using an apostrophe in abbreviations such as DVD, but since the videos has a catastrophe in it, I'm going to assume that DVD's is a mistake too. Thanks, Natalie!