Holiday Catastrophe!

Evelyn spotted this catastrophic flyer from a store in San Diego.

Evelyn says apostrophe catastrophes are her biggest pet peeve. I hope it doesn't ruin her holiday! Bah humbug.

Thanks, Evelyn!

I Want My Tuition Back

Leaving class tonight, I noticed this triple apostrophe catastrophe on a bulletin board.

I grade this an "F"!

Newer Magazines

Travis sent this double catastrophe from a dentist's office in LA.

Ouch! The picture of the lips is pretty awful, too.

Quiz: Anyone know what the title of this posting refers to?

Thanks, Travis!

Fox News Weather Catastrophe

Breaking news: There's an apostrophe catastrophe on Fox 25 Boston right now. The weather forecasters were so excited to induce mass hysteria that we might get two inches of snow on Tuesday that they forgot to proofread the title of this story.

Don't ask me what masochistic tendencies caused me to have the local news on in my living room, but I guess it's a good thing because I was able to capture this catastrophe.

I think this is a sign once and for all that I should cancel my cable.

Pre-Fab Catastrophe

Heather spotted this doozy in Austin, Texas.

The sign maker was looking for a unique way to advertise an alternative to a double wide and ended up with a double catastrophe. It's certainly eye-catching!

Thanks, Heather!

Event Is Catastrophe

Joe spotted this catastrophic sign on the way to Emma Lake, Saskatchewan.

If the store is named after a person named Fern, the first apostrophe is fine, but the second one is a catastrophe for sure.

Thanks, Joe!

Houston, We Have a Problem

Dustin sent in this unique apostrophe catastrophe from Torchy's Tacos in Houston, Texas.

I'm not sure I would trust their food with an error like that on their sign.

Thanks, Dustin!

Money Can't Buy Good Puncutation

Leah spotted this catastrophe "forever cast in bronze" in one of the wealthiest towns in Massachusetts.

It's youth should not have an apostrophe in it. Weston may have many Romney-esque salaries, but poor punctuation always looks cheap.

Thanks, Leah!

Double Whammy

Josh wrote in that he took this photo way back in 2006 in Kenilworth, UK.

I think it was worth the wait!

Thanks, Josh!

Kid Is Eat Free

Matthew spotted this badly punctuated sign at a hibachi restaurant in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Despite the badly punctuated sign, the food was impressive, Matthew reports.

Thanks, Matthew!

Triple Catastrophe!

Laura spotted this triple apostrophe catastrophe at a steak house in Fort Worth, Texas.

That sign could kill someone's appetite!

Thanks, Laura!

Oh, What a Night

First of all, I'm not sure what kind of a ladies night would take place at a pottery studio unless a reenactment of that scene in Ghost were happening. So, this establishment clearly doesn't understand what ladies want, nor even how to spell the word ladies.

Also, I believe the word they are looking for is complimentary (a.k.a. free), not complementary, which means matching or enhancing something well.

Incidentally, my idea of a ladies night always involves drag queens.

Thanks to Don for finding this catastrophe in Eugene, Oregon, and posting it to the Apostrophe Catastrophes facebook group.

Canadian Catastrophe

Joe spotted this catastrophe at a Days Inn in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.

I think it's safe to assume that more than one employee works at the hotel.

Thanks, Joe!

Happy National Punctuation Day!

Today is National Punctuation Day! What are you doing to celebrate?

Today's unusual catastrophe comes from Canada, where apparently National Punctuation Day does not apply.

Thanks to Kevin for sending this one! I don't think I've ever seen an apostrophe and an s added to a word that is already plural. I guess they have a plethora of boat cruises at this place.

College Visit Catastrophe

As an institution of higher learning, a college should have a special obligation to demonstrate proper punctuation in its materials. University of Texas at Tyler has failed in this regard, at least on this particular flyer.

I would hope the English Department knows its grammar a bit better than the Admissions Office does.

Thanks to Ricky for sending in this catastrophe!

Party Foul

Fun is this company's business, but apparently punctuation is not.

Thanks to Bill for sending me this catastrophe from Alabama.

Calling All Farmer Is

It's open to debate whether or not farmers' market needs an apostrophe, but the apostrophe in farmer's in this ad is certainly out of place.

Artisans somehow escaped unscathed.

Thanks to Alan for sending in this catastrophe!

Gold Medal for Bad Punctuation

Emily was dismayed when she discovered this triple apostrophe catastrophe on a shop window in a London mall.

Athletes and Olympic fans from all over the world may have seen this sign, which is a bad way to represent England.

To quote a former U.S. president who is making a big speech tonight, I feel your pain, Emily. But thanks for sharing the catastrophe with us.

Sunday Is

Charles in Denver sent in this apostrophe catastrophe from a market that has special hours on Sundays.

Two out of three apostrophes on this sign are correct at least. Incidentally, instead of using an apostrophe in 'til, you can just write till. It's a word. Really!

Thanks, Charles.

Boy Is and Curl Is

Craig sent me this odd sign from a hair salon.

I assume that this is a double apostrophe catastrophe that is meant to say "Boys and Curls," but that name, even if grammatically correct, still makes me cringe.

Thanks, Craig!

Keeping Up with the Jones' What?

I've been very busy this summer chillaxing on the beach, so I've been neglecting Apostrophe Catastrophes. I apologize, dear readers! Luckily, I found an apostrophe catastrophe in the Glamour I was reading on a Nantucket beach.

My brain might be mush right now from the excessive eating, drinking, and sunbathing, but shouldn't this just be "keeping up with the Joneses?"

Off-Shore Proofreading

The Caymen Islands may specialize in banking, but apparently the proofreading there is lacking.

I didn't try the smoothie's [sic], but the beach was gorgeous, and I want to go back immediately.

How About Supporting Your Local English Teacher Instead?

An anonymous reader sent me this classic photo that she took in Vermont in 2005.

The rider with the catastrophic t-shirt appears to be from New Hampshire, of course. Its state slogan certainly isn't "Punctuate Well or Die!"

Thanks to the person who sent in this catastrophe!

Plumbing Need Is

I hope Mandy didn't risk her life trying to capture this apostrophe catastrophe while driving, but it is a pretty funny one.

Besides the apostrophe catastrophe, this slogan has some capitalization errors, and it's a bit strange to refer to how people's plumbing needs cause them to be "uptight." What would Freud have to say about this?

Thanks, Mandy!

It's All About the Benjamins

John writes that this apostrophe catastrophe causes hundreds of "daggers in his eyes."

To make a number such as 100 plural, you can just add an "s," but in this case, it would be better to just write "hundreds of uses." This looks like it is saying "one hundreds of uses."

Thanks, John!

You're Not in Good Hands

Bradley was horrified to see this ad pop up on his screen featuring a your/you're error and misuse of the word "to," not to mention a missing period.

I normally don't post web ads, but this one is from a major company, so it definitely counts as a catastrophe.

Thanks, Bradley!

Diner Catastrophe

Ben in Marysville, PA, wrote to tell me that his friend told him about Apostrophe Catastrophes one night over drinks, and then he found this double apostrophe catastrophe the next morning at breakfast.

I hope the food was better than the punctuation!

Thanks, Ben!

No Tomatoes for You!

Jamie spotted this apostrophe catastrophe at a grocery store in Clarkston, WA.

She says that there was another sign advertising "GRAPERFUT 2/$1" that she did not capture.

Thanks, Jamie!

CNN Catastrophe

Alan sent in this apostrophe catastrophe that he spotted on CNN during a report from Hawaii.

He's sure that they are typing fast to get the captions up, but it's a catastrophe nonetheless.

Thanks, Alan!

New Corolla Is Every Day

Fred spotted this blatant apostrophe catastrophe at a Toyota dealership in California.

Incidentally, the sign should say "every day," not "everyday." There is a difference.

Thanks, Fred!

Double Mountain Apostrophe Catastrophe

Joe spotted this sign that features two apostrophe catastrophes and a missing comma at a mall in Lansing, Michigan.

I appreciate the sentiment, but am appalled by the punctuation (and capitalization of articles).

Thanks, Joe!

Can You Punctuate Me Now?

Adam spotted this double apostrophe catastrophe at a Verizon store. He says he "was surprised to see that the nation's largest carrier can't be bothered to proofread their promo materials."

Verizon's reception is excellent, but its punctuation leaves something to be desired.

Thanks, Adam!

Abe Lincoln, Apostrophe Hunter

It's almost Independence Day, so it seems like a good time to post a patriotic apostrophe catastrophe. The makers of this Abe Lincoln boot write that Lincoln led this country "through one of it's darkest hours."

This is a dark hour for punctuation.

Thanks to Craig for sending in this apostrophe catastrophe.

Beer Comma Catastrophe

This poster was hanging up in a bar in Somerville last night, but I blame Budweiser for the errant comma, not the bar itself.

I love you, On the Hill Tavern!

Can Not Use Apostrophes

Zip found this catastrophe-laden sign in the media lounge at San Diego State University's sports arena.



Also, check out the custom-made stamp that Zip's friend's mother made. Maybe we could market them together. Sadly, it would get a lot of use.

Thanks, Zip!

Review of Michelob ULTRA Cider (not a catastrophe)

I was excited to have the opportunity to review this new, light alcoholic beverage. The main reason that it appealed to me was that I know that Michelob ULTRA has a reputation for making low-calorie beers. So, I figured that the cider would be about 90 calories for a 12-ounce bottle.

I went to a liquor store in Somerville that, unlike this one, which my cousin Joe sent me, had a properly punctuated sign.

When I picked up the six-pack, I was a little bit disappointed to discover that the cider is 120 calories for a 12-ounce bottle despite the fact that it contains artificial sugar. Michelob’s promotional materials say that this cider has 1/3 fewer calories than a traditional cider, but I still felt that 120 calories was rather high for a beverage with only 4 percent alcohol.

I brought a six-pack of Michelob ULTRA Light Cider to my book club so the girls could all try it. The product is marketed as being delicious straight or over ice, so we tried it both ways. Drinking it straight, the cider has a nice, sweet, but not overpowering taste that one of my friends said was like “a diet Jolly Rancher.” It is more refreshing than Magner’s or more traditional ciders that are even sweeter. I definitely preferred the cider over ice as it cut down on the sweetness and made the beverage more refreshing.

When we poured the cider, it created some foam, but as we drank it, we noticed that the fizziness disappeared almost immediately. I don’t mind flat beverages (the bubbles hurt my nose somehow), but one of my friends said she wished the cider was more carbonated.

Throughout the course of the night, I kept my Michelob ULTRA Light Cider on ice nearby and sipped it periodically, but even after several hours of eating and chatting, I wasn’t able to finish the whole glass. I don’t think any of my friends were either. It may appeal to people who want to drink something that looks like an alcoholic beverage but don’t want to get drunk. At 4% ABV, I did not feel the effects of the drink whatsoever.

Overall, I felt that this drink was more like a juice than an alcoholic beverage. I don’t mind unnaturally tasting beverages if they are truly low-calorie (e.g., Crystal Light), but personally, I thought that Michelob ULTRA Light Cider’s 120 calories per bottle is too high, and four percent alcohol is too low.

Which favorite summer meal or activity do you think would go best with Michelob ULTRA Cider?

Wallpaper Catastrophe

Well, this is a new one. I've posted apostrophe catastrophes spotted on cakes, tattoos, and Christmas tree skirts, but never before have I seen an apostrophe catastrophe on wallpaper.



This wallpaper is hideous from afar, but it's even worse up close!



Thanks to Brian for sending in this truly heinous catastrophe.

Every Day Is Silent and Grey

Joe, who sent me this apostrophe catastrophe from Saskatoon, acknowledges that there was only one senior citizen in the store when he took this photo.



It's a catastrophe nonetheless. In addition to the apostrophe error, every day should be two words.

Thanks, Joe!

Diamond Jubilee Catastrophe

This flag, spotted at the recent Diamond Jubilee, is a double-whammy.



This may be Britains greatest year [sic], but the nation may have reached its low point for punctuation. And unless this celebration is taking place in a borough in NYC, Queens is wrong too.

Thanks to Brenig for posting this through the Apostrophe Catastrophes Facebook page.

Toyota Ad Catastrophe

Brace yourselves, readers. This may be the worst apostrophe catastrophe we've had to date. While the errors are not posted on a huge billboard, the number of apostrophe catastrophes this Toyota dealership managed to squeeze on to one page is truly astounding.



Click on the image above to make it larger. I counted 10 errant apostrophes. Anyone find more?

Thanks to Dan for sending me this horrific ad.

McDonald's Sign Catastrophe

Travis was shocked to see this McDonald's sign in Seattle with the apostrophe in the wrong place.



The other side of the sign is correct, he notes.

I guess too much trans fat can destroy one's ability to properly punctuate.

Thanks, Travis!

Pennsylvania Apostrophe Catastrophe

When my friend Jodi first sent me this ad that she found in a budget travel magazine, I was certain that it was a your/you're error.

But now I'm wondering if the editors actually meant "find you are happy." Thoughts?

Parisian Sex Shop Catastrophe

Emily, who is teaching English in Paris, found this apostrophe catastrophe in a sex shop in Paris. She writes, "My friends were more amused by the fact that sperm fancy dress outfits even exist, but as you can see I was disgusted by the punctuation."




"Even super heroes can't punctuate," Emily points out.

Practice safe punctuation, please, readers.

Thanks, Emily!

The Bear Owns the Bar

TT the Bear's Place will always hold a special place in my heart because it's the first bar at which I ever got a drink. So, I know its name is supposed to have an apostrophe in it. Apparently, Harpoon Brewery is not aware of this.

Thanks to my friend Alaina for taking this photo.

Wacky Worm Catastrophe

Leah sent me this apostrophe catastrophe that her brother found at a carnival in Revere, Mass.

Even without the catastrophe, what the heck is a "wacky worm photo"? The picture is weirding me out.

Thanks, Leah!

Rajon Rondo Playing for a Jewish Softball Team Apostrophe Catastrophe

This photo has been published elsewhere, but nonetheless, it may be my favorite apostrophe catastrophe of all time. At least until someone sends me one involving Kevin Garnett.

Rondo playing for a Jewish softball team?! With an apostrophe catastrophe on his t-shirt?! This just made my week. And that's saying a lot because the Celtics won last night and advanced to the second round of the playoffs. Woo!

Thanks to Bill for bringing this photo to my attention. And Go Celtics!

Double-Apostrophe Catastrophe

Jaclyn sent me this photo from a convenience store that recently changed from a White Hen Pantry.

Perhaps Jia couldn't decide which direction an apostrophe should face (as opposed to as single quote mark), so she decided to put both.

Thanks, Jaclyn!

Tiara Catastrophe

Jillian sent me this picture from a store in upstate New York.

It looks like a cute idea for a business, but sadly, it's marred by the apostrophe catastrophe in the word tiaras.

Thanks, Jillian!

But I Did Not Mock the Deputy

Jon sent this apostrophe catastrophe from a St. Patrick's Day parade.

Perhaps this sign is more of a missing-word catastrophe. Should it be "sheriff's office"?

Thanks, Jon!