i'll be sure to skip it

which one, MTA?

is there an english teacher doesn't suck? oh wait, ME!!!

I've been away for a while, and have a bundle of pictures sent in by my avid and wonderful readers/students.  Keep em coming, boys! I promise I'll try to keep up now.  Here are some of the best...

 

How does this even happen?  Oh Brooklyn, you never fail to amaze me.

Oh yea? You've also got an amazing command of the English language.

 
 

WHY??? Who taught you people that this is an apostrophe's job?

I'm wondering why the one visitor needs more than one backpack.

 

The ultimate irony: no ownership?

tax dollars well spent

Maybe so many English teachers suck this much because the city doesn't pay us enough.

Really NYC?  No Apostrophe?  Did you forget to inspect this sign?  Thank you, to the reader who discovered this in the lobby of his own building!

if you're not responsible, then who is?

Sent by a reader, it seems this famous downtown restaurant needed to excuse their misspelling of the word "which."  While the disclaimer only excuses one typographical error, I'm going to have to assume there are more inside the menu.

Was having that disclaimer printed cheaper than hiring a proofreader?

starbuck's still at it

Re: April 10

While I took this picture in a Starbucks in Los Angeles, it is the very sign I was kicked out of Starbucks for attempting to take months ago.  I guess they still haven't realized that their English teachers sucked.

don't you need a degree to write copy? and to edit it?

I'm not going to blame this one on the printing company.

This was sent in by one of my readers, who is also one of my high school students. To quote him, "I also hope that most people are smarter than whoever wrote this advertisement.  If not, then the English language is in great peril."  Thanks Mike!

I wish I had seen this on the subway myself.  I would have post-it-ed the hell out of it.

if you're gonna screw it up, be consistent about it!

This happens to be my favorite mistake yet, though the bar on Ave A between E2 and E3 in the East Village itself leaves something to be desired.

The most incredible thing about this is that these signs are side by side in the same window.  Were they bought at the same time?  From the same neon company?

mens day fridays?

Without my dear friend, the apostrophe, three words near each other make a sentence not.

I see this error all the time!  Men's and Ladies.  Whatever happened to equal rights?  At this bar on Ave A between E 2 and E 3, ladies are not permitted to have any possessions. Especially not a whole night. 

My accomplice this particular evening was happy to give the ladies their rights back.

the question everybodys asking...

Oh Apizza on Ave A and 12th street...you're allowed to name your joint whatever you would like.  But your sign, well, it's Amissing an Apostrophe.

foot fetish?

Sent in by a reader afraid of what getting "toed" entails.  I'm thinking it's dirty.

if they had wine and beer there...

it wouldn't be a legitimate desert, would it now?

Clinton off Houston is definitely not the desert, last time I checked.  Although, with the heat lately, one can't be too sure.

mines?

Battery Park City.  I thought they talked classier down there.

 

the 'affects' of not teaching grammar in school...

Sent in by a reader from an art school in NYC.  I know this one is a toughie!

horse steak?

In general, horses are not street fair food.   However, on Fifth Ave in Park Slope, Brooklyn, they most certainly are.  As a bonus, artichoke is misspelled too.

i've been around the world and all but...

sent in by a very confused reader, from Chiantown, NYC

i'd like to buy an "i"

I took this picture on the corner of 9th Ave and 41st Street, and I have to admit, I was afraid to put the post-it.  Every worker from this shop came out to glare at me, and I wasn't sure of the reprecussions of correcting their grammar.

fook spelling...

Sent in by a reader on the corner of Canal and Mott...I think that there are no words for this.  I'm afraid to explore Chinatown on my own for this project - I may never get out.  But you, readers, by all means go ahead.

togo party!

Sent in by a reader and fellow English teacher in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.

the hills are alive...

I can hear him saying it now with his thick Russian accent on 20th Ave and 85th Street in Brooklyn, and I just can't help but wonder about printing companies and their lack of morals.

I didn't even get enjoyment out of this one.  Really.

if she were a real psychic, she would have seen it coming,

I really cannot understand how a printing company has the audacity to do this. I blame them for this one, not Honeybee on Ave C between E3rd and E4th in Alphabet City.

I probably should have corrected "walk in" too, but I got nervous.  She was watching me through the window with her psychic eyes and I was afraid she was going to come out and chase me.  She must know where I live.

Is Sud a name?

Attention!  This is very serious!  Sud...if you are out there, and you own a laundromat on 8th Ave and 16th Street in Park Slope, Brooklyn, please contact me as soon as possible!

Otherwise...I think this sign is wrong, as does the reader who sent it in to me.

7Avacado

While there are many things wrong with this sign, I have made a rule that I will not correct words in other languages.  Somehow, I feel like that would be wrong.

 I know it's hard to see, so here is a close up of my target for this morning.

Seriously 7A? I love you, and your East Village corner, but your English teacher really sucked.

re: you missed something

It seems like they had the right idea on Atlantic Avenue and Court Street in Brooklyn, but maybe the printer left out the apostrophe and thought no one would notice.  Someone should call and tell them.

I stopped a young man who appeared taller than he was, and asked him to jump up with my apostrophe.  He kind of missed, but in the process his phone fell out of his pocket and broke. I felt bad making him try again, after he missed for the second time.

and so it was written...

I was pretty impressed by the signs at Kingsborough Community College...except for this posting:

I know the grammar in the bible is a bit confusing, but I think that God is pretty clear on possessions.

supa spella!

Courtesy of a reader...found in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

 

corner sign...so not fine

How much did you pay that printing company, Discount Liquor on the corner of Avenue A and East 4th Street?  The huge apostrophe must have cost extra.

 

How does one get a Post-it up there?   Apparently, all a girl needs is a friend who can jump high, hang from an air conditioner grate, and reach with extra-long monkey arms.  Nice.

 

and it says...

strongholded by Starbucks

I went into the Starbucks on 86th Street in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn and found by the counter, a sign which read:

Two Mom's in the Raw
Try their snacks!

I tried to take a picture of this printed sign, and was told it was not permitted. I did anyway, and was forced to delete the picture from my camera and thrown out! I immediately googled this company to find out whose English teacher actually sucked. Was it the Moms'? Was it Starbucks'? I wrote this company an email, explaining who I am and how Starbucks misrepresented their grammatical skills. We'll see if they write back.

Hey Starbuck's...

I doubt you'd like it if I gave you an apostrophe.

beefy disappointment

After being thrown so rudely out of Starbucks, I was granted a reprieve. The sun shone proudly on Mr. Beef, directly across the street on 86th between 19th and 20th Ave in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. Two misused apostrophes at once! Oh Mr. Beef, is this why you had to shut down?

While standing there, gazing at the beautiful awning, I wished with all of my might for what every girl needs. A freakishly tall person willing to stick a post-it on an awning. As luck has it, a train had just arrived and a young man walking down from the platform was more than willing to oblige. A little off center, but you can't irk the wish granters.

and it says...

mcdon'tknowhowtospell?

Corner of Essex and Delancey

Are you kidding, McDonald's?