One of my pet peeves is the deterioration of spelling in this country — perhaps even this world. Everywhere I look, spelling is getting worse and the errors are more prominently displayed. Here’s just one example, from the Target near me:
There were several of these large signs in the store. I guess their proofreader was unavailalbe.
One other spelling aberration that’s always bugged me is the way people mangle the name Michael. So many people swap the A and E, and it’s done so often that it’s become almost acceptable. In fact, I have met at least one person officially named Micheal, who clearly had a typo on his birth certificate. And then, there’s this headline from today’s Washington Post, an outfit that one assumes has proofreaders on staff:
For the record, my name is spelt Gene Cowan, not Gean Cowen. Seriously.
You’ll find english in general going down hill. And bad spellers are not the cause. The reality is a lot of Americans can’t (or don’t) read.
I closed my restaurant for the weekend for painting.
Posted several large signs in the parking lot.
CLOSED FOR PAINTING
I had several signs on the doors.
CLOSED FOR PAINTING
As you looked through the glass it was clear to see everything covered under dropcloths. Ladders everywhere and painters working.
I tried to keep count of the number of stupid people that rattled the door and mouthed “Are you open” I kept track on Sat and was well past 50 and lost count on Sun when people standing behind the people that rattled 3 seconds ago had to take their turn.
As a business man I almost have to ask.
Why should I worry about spelling or proper use of the comma when 90% of the people don’t read the sign when its mounted on a door directly in front of them. And written in 6 inch letters!
That spelling error is pretty appalling. You’d be amazed what I see every day working for a printer, and this is stuff sent in by people using Word or Quark, software with built-in spelling checkers. If they would only use them.
Misuse of apostraphes is really rampant, from it’s vs its to plural possessive and wrong use in contractions… sigh.