Posted in Chickens, Grammar, etc., tagged Chickens, Facebook, Signs, Trish (the chicken), Twitter on March 6, 2010| 1 Comment »
Trish wasn’t just a chicken. She was a cottage industry. She had a Facebook page, was the theme for my Twitter account, and the star of this blog. So I’m struggling with how to proceed.
For now, she will remain as the inspiration and theme.
And today, I’ll return to a popular topic: signs.
At a sushi place in the Mall of Georgia, I spotted this bit of loveliness:
Does that “sause” get you soused? Sigh.
Posted in Grammar, etc., tagged Bright ideas, Bureaucrats, Peeves, Signs on February 28, 2010| Leave a Comment »
I know I haven’t posted in a few days. Too much going on. I apologize. Let me make it up to you with the following photo.
Why is “one” in quotation marks on the sign? Is it because they are trying to be cute with counting?
OK, then what about the other sign up the road:
God wants “full” custody, not just weekend visitation.
Why is “full” in quotation marks? Perhaps this blogger can explain.
Posted in Grammar, etc., tagged Peeves, Signs on February 16, 2010| 1 Comment »
I’ve been saving this New York gift from Shane Marshall Brown. Today is the day I will share.
You see why I’ve been saving it. It is just so wonderful, I wanted to build up to it. Yesterday’s post was the appetizer.
Every sign in the photo has multiple mistakes. I think that middle sign says, “Match Boox’s.”
This makes me want to take a trip with a red pen — and a dictionary to offer the sign maker.
Posted in Grammar, etc., tagged Bright ideas, Bureaucrats, Peeves, Signs, Students on February 15, 2010| 2 Comments »
Today’s topic and photo are courtesy of Travis, a student in the SCAD writing department. He discovered this sign on a printer in the Jen Library. Some students say it has been there for a couple of weeks.
Here’s my beef with this sign: the word “utilize.” What did the word “use” ever do to anyone? “Utilize” is like pearls on a pig. Pointless. “Use” is a fine word; there is nothing wrong with it. That’ll do, Pig. That’ll do.
And don’t get me started on “supersize” as a verb. Damn you, McDonald’s.
Posted in Grammar, etc., tagged Apostrophes, Definitions, Passive vs. active voice, Peeves, Signs on February 8, 2010| 1 Comment »
I love the show “Hoarders.” I hate the written chunks between segments. Not only are they unnecessary recaps, but they usually feature passive voice. I hate passive voice.
On the last episode, I was shocked to discover something I hate even more: an egregious error. Take a look:
Despite how people may want this to work, and expect it to work, the possessive form of “it” is “its.” No apostrophe. “It’s” is always a contraction for “it is” or “it has.” Those are the rules.
To the “Hoarders” production crew, I say, “Please stop hoarding apostrophes.”
Posted in Grammar, etc., tagged Academics, Bright ideas, Peeves, Signs, Students on February 2, 2010| 5 Comments »
I must thank Jacque, a student in the SCAD writing department, for providing the subject of tonight’s blog post. She reports that the image below was on the desktop of the college’s computers.
Ordinarily, I’d ask you to avert your eyes at such hideousness, but not tonight. Tonight I want you to look. Focus on it in all of its glory. And then let’s talk about it.
WHAT is going on here? Do people in these departments not know that there are people at SCAD who can help them write and design marketing materials? Is Montgomery Hal any relation to Shallow Hal? How many fonts are represented overall? And the colors! The colors! GAH!
Please make it stop.
Posted in Grammar, etc., tagged Definitions, Food, Signs, Travel on January 29, 2010| 1 Comment »
Thanks to my friend Heidi, I am now wearing my mascara in a variety of places. She directed me to a site that has me weeping: http://engrishfunny.com/
Here is a sample of what you will see on this site:
Enjoy!
Update: Here is a similar site, courtesy of my friend Billy: http://engrish.com/
Posted in Random, tagged Peeves, Rage, Signs, Travel, Trish (the chicken) on December 29, 2009| 2 Comments »
Dear Blog:
I’ve neglected you and I feel guilty. I apologize profusely, but I can’t promise it won’t happen again.
I could make excuses. I’ve been hosting folks in my house (as usual). I’ve been visiting family out of town. I’ve been working at the station and trying to sleep when I’m not.
But really, there is a bigger reason I have ignored you for five days: I don’t know what topic to tackle.
So, Blog, it is not that I don’t want to write. I just don’t know what topic to address. Forgive me for my indecision, and I’ll try to come up with something soon.
Love and kisses,
Beth
Posted in Grammar, etc., tagged Academics, AP Style, Bright ideas, Food, Kids, Peeves, Signs, Students on December 22, 2009| Leave a Comment »
Dominic asked me last night what I asked for from Santa Claus for Christmas. I said I had everything I needed. That’s true. But like most folks, I have an Amazon wish list in case Santa wants to reward me for being a good girl this year. (Though I’m sure I’ve spent time on the naughty list too.)
There are a couple of things I can’t add to Amazon, though, that are in keeping with my role as the grammar guru. One is a Grammar Nerd Corrective Label Pack. (I actually thought about making my own.) In that same vein, another site sells copyeditor marks, but the site appears to be down right now (in the biggest purchasing season of all, no less). And there are a bunch of other funny grammar-themed items out there. There’s also the AP Stylebook iPhone app. For regular readers of this blog who wondered if I won the Thanksgiving contest with my haiku, I did not. I was a little pissed, because I did not think the winning entries were better than mine. Yes, I know I’m biased. Judge for yourself. Here are the winners:
What I really want is time. Or maybe a clone. The clone could work on the research for my dissertation, and I’ll do the fun stuff like teaching, preparing for class, and hanging out with Eddie and the boys. I implemented a No Work Week this week, and I plan to make gingerbread people with the boys today. Wish me luck!
Posted in Grammar, etc., Random, tagged Academics, Bright ideas, Media, Signs on November 24, 2009| Leave a Comment »
I guess this sign is supposed to tell folks that the faucet is on a sensor, but it makes no sense as written. It’s funny, though. I took this image somewhere in Shanghai last year.
My reaction to the photo is similar to what I’m doing today: trying to make sense out of the vast amount of communication research that deals with media ethics and the journalistic decision-making process.
Or it could be a reminder that my life is flushing down the dissertation toilet.
Sigh.
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Observe and report 