Sometimes, I think that this blog is having some effect on me – not just looking out for signs, but also reading and interpreting signs.

Most would have seen a sign similar to the above at some bar or restaurant and taken the message at face value. I used to be like that.

 When I came across the sign recently, my thoughts were that the sign probably needed some small print:
     When does one qualify as a customer?
                 Upon entering the bar with the intention to buy a drink? But what if I don’t order after using toilet,
                 Upon ordering? – so I can call a drink and then use facilities, or
                 Only upon payment

     How long does one remain a customer?                 
                 If I was in the pub last night, could I use the toilet today?                 
                 What about last month? Last year

    Do I need to purchase something? If I ask for a glass of tap water, do I qualify as a customer?
 
Maybe there is a need for an asterisk and a note that terms and conditions apply. Or maybe just not read too much into signs……

And I almost completed without reference to the missing apostrophe,,,,,,,,,,,,

I suppose this supports the contention that for every one hundred people, there are one hundred opinions.

 Even Mary Lou McDonald, one of the loudest opponents to the property tax, paid the tax.

 Some people obviously consider it stupid to pay a tax set by the legislators.

 Others might think it stupid to use the word ‘your’ when one should use ‘you’re’ as a shortening of ‘you are’.

 More might think it stupid not to have expressed the message as:

                                                                   YOU’RE STUPID

                if you pay the Property Tax. Learn how the Troika is scamming you.

 Some may argue that the ‘Troika’ is plural and so should be ‘the Troika are’ but I don’t.

My recollection of my schooldays was that when a word ended in ‘S’, any apostrophe was placed after the ‘S’ and there was no need for an additional ‘S’ after the apostrophe.

I was getting ready to write a blog about the misspelling being in situ for such a long time but decided to check the web as to whether my memory was correct.

Wikipedia advises that opinion is divided as to whether an ‘S’ should be added to a singular word ending in ‘S’ – that makes both options correct depending on which style one wishes to adopt.

Or is that a cop-out to allow the wrong to be right?

I passed this poster recently. It had been applied to plywood boarding on Richmond Hill.



I noted that someone did not take too kindly to the sentiment of the original poster and had added his/her own commentary.



What caused me to stop was the use of the word ‘BELIEVE’. Should it not be ‘BELIEF’?


Also there is the issue of the missing apostrophe.

Eliminating some words leaves us with ‘….cars …do so at owners risk’ – the days of Knight Rider have not yet arrived, have they?

Should it not be ‘..drivers park cars in this car park at owner’s risk’ or even ‘cars are parked at owner’s risk’

As for the missing apostrophe, maybe it will reappear in the replacement sign.

Is the Brown Thomas sign correct as intended? Or is it correct by default?

When I saw the sign first I thought the placement of the apostrophe was incorrect. But if it is ‘delivery’ rather than ‘deliveries’ that is accepted then it appears to read correct as ‘Delivery is accepted’.

But the more the image of the sign rattled about the recesses of my brain, the more I suspected that it was a case of two wrongs making a right.

Generally signs at Stores Entrances refer to ‘deliveries’ not ‘delivery’ – as Eason’s photograph. That is logical as most suppliers will be presenting with more than one item to be delivered and also because more than one delivery will be accepted  in a morning.

This jury is still out as to whether the person who drafted or prepared the sign intended to mean ‘deliveries’ or 'Delivery is'......... 

The person who may stare?

The person who may glance when their eye spots some movement?

The person who drew and put up the sign?




Omitting the apostrophe may just be poor punctuation - not rude.

One would think that a company such as Hallmark would have a good proofreading department. I suspect they would not sell too many cards saying – hapPY BITRHDAY. There is an expectation that what is printed is correct.

Imagine my surprise today when spotting an apostrophe instead of a dot, as well as capital S and DAY. Not fatal to anyone. Most people will probably read as a dot as intended but that does not alter that it is incorrect.  Everyone can make an error but what is surprising is that within Hallmark or its subcontractors, the sign must have been read on a screen or as printed by the graphic designer who came up with the proof; the sign maker; the people who erected the sign; and, all staff entering the building.

That suggests that these people did not spot the missing dot, the misplaced apostrophe or the capital letters. Alternatively, it suggests that they did not care as to what potential customers might think. I think that the latter would be worse but need to consider it further.

However, my first though when turning the corner and seeing the sign spanning the Hallmark shop to the building on the other side of the street was not punctuation. Neither was it whether the sign was covered by insurance should the tie-wires come loose and it fall down on a passer-by.

I took the photograph.
 
I have shown it to others.

I would not have shown it to others if TAXI had been spelt correctly.

I probably would not have even taken the photo just because of the poor missing apostrophe.

Was it done in error?
 
Or, was it a smart idea to increase the reach of the marketing?

As I took the photo in May 2011 and as the sign is still on a car spotted in the last few weeks, I suspect the latter.

There are very many who put the apostrophe in the wrong place. Some may even find the misplaced apostrophe amusing – so there may be some benefit to the public. It may even feature in the next edition of Eats, Shoots and Leaves.

The mobile phone has developed its own language of sorts. Mobile phone set-up requires more keystrokes in texting to include a punctuation mark so they are being excluded from many texts.  The Dunne family and the Roche family did away with their apostrophe many years ago on their stores.

Me. Maybe I am odd and in a minority but I do like to see the apostrophe. I fear that Cork County Council may be afraid to get it wrong and so avoided making a decision as to where the apostrophe should be placed. But for that fear to make a decision to be extended  to the extent that all punctuation should be omitted – that is some level of fear.

Maybe it is a test or even a competition. Maybe next week there will be a separate notice, with appropriate apostrophes and punctuation, inviting all to submit entries to the County Manager as to how many different ways the sign can be punctuated and still read in a sensible manner.

As with the apostrophe, I suspect that a prize may be missing.