From The Reading Post (That is in England, folks) -
The war on poor grammar
By Anna Roberts
April 25, 2008
A self-confessed grammar addict is on a one-man mission to purge Reading of its punctuation problems and spelling struggles.
The man – who will go only by his first name Jonathan – has gone around the town photographing signs where spelling errors and grammar crimes are committed.
He even reads the Evening Post attempting to find errors and photographing stories and newspaper bills – posters advertising articles – which tickle him.
Then he uploads all his findings on to the massive, 4,500-people strong Facebook page “I live in Reading… Fear me”.
Jonathan’s targets include shops, supermarkets and buses.
A sign outside a Cemetery Junction shop window which reads ‘Tuitor available. For home tuition GCSE and A-level in chemistry, biology, sciences etc’ gets the treatment.
“Would you want a tuitor tutoring your children?” Jonathan asks.
He has also taken a picture of an A-board for an Indian furniture shop in Reading. The billboard picture includes the sign ‘Looking is free’.
“Phew! I’m glad there’s no charge for looking,” Jonathan said, presumably sarcastically.
A board advertising a bag shop through ‘Sainsbary’ in Broad Street is also focused on by the grammar-keen 36-year-old.
But Jonathan, from Earley, does not just focus on poor punctuation in the town centre. He also turns his attention to the Sainsbury’s Local store in Shinfield Road.
A frankly nonsensical sign said: ‘Customer Notice. Due to store End week, Every Saturday we are close by 22.45 hours. Our apologies for any inconvinance.’
And it is lucky for this shop they give fines for illegal parking, rather than bad spelling.
The sign read: ‘Parking for Bargain Booze customers only. Unathorised vehicles will be clamped. Release fee £150.’
Jonathan took the next example of poor punctuation to heart, particularly as it came from Kings Road-based Thames Valley University.
A ticket produced by the university advertising a party read: ‘Your Unique.’
The next picture Jonathan took was at Arthur Hill Swimming Pool in East Reading.
The pool proudly advertises a ‘Family/hanging room.’
Now we can only presume the pool means this is where towels are hung, but you never know.
A particularly genius ‘bargain’ at Sainsbury’s advertised this cut-price Guinness at £3.99.
Great, you think.
However, the alcohol was already – as Jonathan’s picture shows – being sold at this price.
Sales advisor Jonathan admitted: “On the face of it, taking pictures of crap spelling could probably be construed as a little sad.”
- Noticed any spelling mishaps in town? Contact Anna Roberts on (0118) 918 3063 or email aroberts@reading-epost.co.uk
A good article that was made even better by the first comment -
I am that grammar addict, and I couldn't help noticing the gift delivery shop by the escalators in the Broad Street Mall that says, in large letters across the top, that it does "Local, National and Internal Deliveries". Shurely shome mishtake?
Jonathan, Reading
The war on poor grammar
By Anna Roberts
April 25, 2008
A self-confessed grammar addict is on a one-man mission to purge Reading of its punctuation problems and spelling struggles.
The man – who will go only by his first name Jonathan – has gone around the town photographing signs where spelling errors and grammar crimes are committed.
He even reads the Evening Post attempting to find errors and photographing stories and newspaper bills – posters advertising articles – which tickle him.
Then he uploads all his findings on to the massive, 4,500-people strong Facebook page “I live in Reading… Fear me”.
Jonathan’s targets include shops, supermarkets and buses.
A sign outside a Cemetery Junction shop window which reads ‘Tuitor available. For home tuition GCSE and A-level in chemistry, biology, sciences etc’ gets the treatment.
“Would you want a tuitor tutoring your children?” Jonathan asks.
He has also taken a picture of an A-board for an Indian furniture shop in Reading. The billboard picture includes the sign ‘Looking is free’.
“Phew! I’m glad there’s no charge for looking,” Jonathan said, presumably sarcastically.
A board advertising a bag shop through ‘Sainsbary’ in Broad Street is also focused on by the grammar-keen 36-year-old.
But Jonathan, from Earley, does not just focus on poor punctuation in the town centre. He also turns his attention to the Sainsbury’s Local store in Shinfield Road.
A frankly nonsensical sign said: ‘Customer Notice. Due to store End week, Every Saturday we are close by 22.45 hours. Our apologies for any inconvinance.’
And it is lucky for this shop they give fines for illegal parking, rather than bad spelling.
The sign read: ‘Parking for Bargain Booze customers only. Unathorised vehicles will be clamped. Release fee £150.’
Jonathan took the next example of poor punctuation to heart, particularly as it came from Kings Road-based Thames Valley University.
A ticket produced by the university advertising a party read: ‘Your Unique.’
The next picture Jonathan took was at Arthur Hill Swimming Pool in East Reading.
The pool proudly advertises a ‘Family/hanging room.’
Now we can only presume the pool means this is where towels are hung, but you never know.
A particularly genius ‘bargain’ at Sainsbury’s advertised this cut-price Guinness at £3.99.
Great, you think.
However, the alcohol was already – as Jonathan’s picture shows – being sold at this price.
Sales advisor Jonathan admitted: “On the face of it, taking pictures of crap spelling could probably be construed as a little sad.”
- Noticed any spelling mishaps in town? Contact Anna Roberts on (0118) 918 3063 or email aroberts@reading-epost.co.uk
A good article that was made even better by the first comment -
I am that grammar addict, and I couldn't help noticing the gift delivery shop by the escalators in the Broad Street Mall that says, in large letters across the top, that it does "Local, National and Internal Deliveries". Shurely shome mishtake?
Jonathan, Reading
And I am still that grammar addict! Strange how there's billions of articles on the web, and I stumble on a repost of an article about me from 2 years ago. Funny old world.
ReplyDeleteGot loads more for ya, too. Will upload to a gallery soon and send you the link.
Thank you, Jonathan. I look forward to the link. It is, indeed, a funny old world.
ReplyDelete