In Reality, This Is a Catastrophe

Why, oh, why does Terrell Owens have a reality show? Clearly, the show is too low budget to hire a proofreader, as evidenced by this apostrophe catastrophe.


Thanks to my friend Merry for sending in this catastrophe! I wonder why she was watching the T.O. Show anyway...

The Unwan'ted Apostrophe

Sometimes readers send me punctuation errors that seem familiar. But this one -- my first from Tasmania! -- manages to find a unique to screw up apostrophe placement:


I think the headline should have a question mark at the end of it, and the text in white should have a period at the end. Some style guides would say that DVD's is an apostrophe catastrophe as well, but that varies based on the style guide.

Thanks to Kim for sending in this gem from a magazine about horses. She also came up with this headline! Very clever!

Happy National Punctuation Day!

At this bar in Washington, DC, called My Brother's Place, there's an apostrophe catastrophe for every day of the week!


Except Friday! Maybe that's in honor of the fact that National Punctuation Day falls on a Friday this year.

Here's a haiku I submitted to the National Punctuation Day haiku contest:
So many errors!
Catastrophes make me [sic]
Who taught you grammar?

What are you all doing to celebrate?

Thanks to Amanda for sending in this photo!

National Punctuation Day Eve

Tomorrow is National Punctuation Day. I hope all of my readers have bought gifts for me! To me, NPD is more romantic than Valentine's Day.

Not everyone appreciates this wonderful holiday, however. For instance, whoever made this sign (Sid?) somehow managed to mispunctuate every single word.



Thanks to Jeremy for sending in this photo, which he took from a Silver Line bus in Boston's South End.

Walmart Sign Catastrophe

Jessie and her husband spotted this catastrophic sign at a Walmart in Oklahoma:


The cashiers are clearly not "the greatest" at spelling and punctuation.

Check out Jessie's blog here

Thanks, Jessie!

This Time, Baby, I Feel Bullyproof

Scott sent in this two-for-one apostrophe catastrophe (see the bottom left side of the flyer):


(Click the photo to embiggen.)

Not sure the kid is really yours? This is the martial arts academy for you!

Thanks, Scott!

Amish Apostrophe Catastrophe

J found this example of bad punctuation/misspelling in Mesopotamia, Ohio.


The buggy's [sic] refer to the vehicles that the Amish drive. I guess spell-checker is too technologically advanced for them?

Thanks, J!

Sundae's, Sundae's, Sundae's!

My friend/former co-worker Fiona found this apostrophe catastrophe in Hampton Beach, NH:


If you look closely, you can see the same sign reflected in the glass of the freezer. It's a lovely photo but a hideous apostrophe catastrophe.

Thanks, Fiona!

Trois Catastrophes

Lauren snapped this photo in Montmartre (Paris):


Quelle Horreur!

Thanks, Lauren!

Catastrophe at the Nike Store

Salvador spotted this apostrophe catastrophe at a Nike Store in the Philippines (Manila):


As Salvador points out, the lack of apostrophe in mens is exacerbated by the fact that the sign next to it just says "women." Those are some strange-looking women....

Check out Salvador's blog here.

Eternal Ridicule

I feel slightly guilty posting today's apostrophe catastrophe because it is a photo of someone's gravestone. But really, if you are going to carve something in stone, you should really proofread it first.


The Bette Midler quote uses "your" instead of "you're," and it should have a question mark at the end.

Cathy, who submitted this catastrophe, came up with the "eternal ridicule" headline, and her parents, Rose and Doug, took the photo while they were on a vacation in Vermont. So, I'm just the messenger here.

Thanks, Cathy, Rose, and Doug!

Case of the Monday's

Chili's is a big, chain restaurant, but apparently no one proofreads its banners. Michelle found this apostrophe catastrophe at a Chili's in Virginia.


Sadly, it was after she had already eaten there. "We were too hungry to look up before we went in," she writes.

Thanks, Michelle!

Burned by an Apostrophe Catastrophe

Natalie writes, "Desperately bored at work today I resorted to playing Burn Notice games on USA's website. I was happily finding out what kind of spy I would be when I was completely derailed by this apostrophe catastrophe."


Feel the burn.

Thanks, Natalie!

The Apostrophe Song

The geniuses at Cool Rules present "The Apostrophe Song." Prepare to have this song be stuck in your head for the rest of the day.



Thank you to Cindy for bringing this video to my attention! I love it!