Flu Shot Catastrophe

Leigh spotted this badly punctuated sign at Walgreens.


Some people think that the name of the store itself is missing an apostrophe, as well. For whatever reason, Walgreens went the way of Starbucks and omitted any punctuation from its name. Also, why was Walgreens advertising flu in the spring? Everything I have ever read about flu shots says to get them in the fall. Maybe this was from a Walgreens in South America?

Thanks, Leigh!

Bad Punctuation Keeps Me Up at Night

The inevitable backlash to the energy drink craze has arrived: relaxation drinks. But Dream Water's proofreader must have been a little too relaxed when reading this ad that I spotted at the Park Street T station.


In case you can't read the smallish font on this photo, don't is missing an apostrophe in the headline.

I'm going to have nightmares.

How to Prepare for the Rapture

With the end of the world happening tomorrow, this may be the last apostrophe catastrophe I will ever post. It's a Friday and there's really nothing we can do about the impending apocalypse, so today's catastrophe will involve alcohol. Obviously.


Besides the obvious apostrophe catastrophe in margarita's, every day should be two words. This restaurant's website also contains an apostrophe catastrophe involving kids meals [sic].

As Britney might say, keep on drinking till the world ends.

With the lack of sun this spring, I already look like a zombie, and I'd love to hang out with Cher. Cockroaches, I'm not so sure about...

Thanks to Alan for sending in this festive apostrophe catastrophe from Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Ghosts of Christmas Past

It still feels like November in Boston, so it seemed like an appropriate time to post this Christmas double apostrophe catastrophe that Patty spotted in the South End a few months back.


Thanks, Patty!

A Civics Lesson

The CD player in my car is broken and Honda claims that it would cost $524 to replace it. Who would pay that much for an obsolete piece of technology on a seven-year-old car? And furthermore, how could I trust a business that commits a blatant apostrophe catastrophe on a banner outside its showroom?



Maybe I should have offered my proofreading services in exchange for parts and labor, but I just took my igntition key back and went back to work. So, I will probably never listen to another CD again, which is a little bit sad. Other than the broken CD player, my 2004 car is in pretty decent shape, and family tradition dictates that I can't buy a new car until the previous one is literally held together with duct tape. (Hi, Dad!)

This Makes Me Grumpy

Sleepy must have proofread this sign at Disney World.


But it makes me grumpy. Grammar is nothing to sneeze at.

Thanks to Rae for sending in this apostrophe catastrophe from the new Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ride. Being stuck in a mine filled with bad punctuation is my worst nightmare.

Bob Dylan Apostrophe Catastrophe

This blog claims that the director of Dont Look Back [sic] purposely left the apostrophe out of the title.


Intentional or not, I still think it's a catastrophe.

Do think twice; it's not alright.

Apostrophe in Mother's Day

Style guides traditionally call for the apostrophe in Mother's Day to be placed between the r and the s because the holiday is supposed to honor one's own mother. But in this day and age, should we rethink the apostrophe placement to accommodate nontraditional families? This cartoon from the New Yorker provides food for thought.


Thanks to Mary and Julia for sending me this cartoon, and thanks to my mom for being the best mom ever.

An Apostrophe Catastrophe Set in Stone

Ian reports that he was generally impressed by the punctuation in South Africa, but he found one glaring error set in stone atop Table Mountain.


Life's is OK because it's a singular possessive, but gift's should just be a plural.

Check out Ian's blog here.