Love Drunk, but Apostrophe Deprived

While watching Fuse the other night, (I'll gladly admit I was watching Empire Records) there was a commercial for some band called Boys Like Girls and their new single "Love Drunk."

During the commercial, the lyrics for the chorus were flashing across the screen and we noticed the above...so we took a picture.

I'm not sure who is responsible for making these commercials, or if anyone responsible even noticed, but we did. Pathetically, while double-checking the lyrics, I discovered that the apostrophe is included correctly on one of those fan-written lyric sites that always have grammatical errors.

Its vs. It's is a common apostrophe error, but that's not really an excuse when you're making a television commercial. Perhaps the somewhat lame nature of the lyrics led to the apostrophe mishap. I've decided to include the whole chorus, so you can really appreciate the song with proper punctuation:

"I used to be love drunk,

but now I'm hungover.

I'll love you forever,

but now it's over."

Sign Language on Wheels?

I think the best part about a mistake is when the person makes it repeatedly so you know that they really meant it when they were wrong. "Paul Signs" appears in no less than five places on this truck. I bet your first thought upon seeing this wonder on wheels was that Paul wanted the world to know about his mad sign language skills. That was my first guess. But no, because he also specializes in awnings. Since 1984! Do you think he's been driving this truck around NYC for 25 years and no one bothered to tell him? Is he the one responsible for all of the misspelled signs around the city? In the interest of good business, if one is a maker of signs, shouldn't their own signs be correct?

Disclaimer: I'm willing to accept that this might be okay, but Becky and I decided prior to posting that it was still funny, mostly because without the apostrophe, it's a complete sentence. If you're not willing to accept that this is a misfit apostrophe, do not fear, we have many more pictures in the pipeline.

Ugly Betty

I took this picture of my TV after pausing the DVR. This episode was called "Zero Worship" and was aired in January of 2008. The picture is of an invitation to the Mode Fashion Show during Fashion Week in New York. Adding an apostrophe to gets is my favorite of all misfit apostrophe placements. It's one thing to mess up its and it's. I can understand that. It's entirely another to add an apostrophe to a word that would never need one. What does get own? Do you ever use the phrase "get is"?

I wonder if anyone else even noticed this...

In Search of the Wal-Mart's Bus

I live in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, but I grew up in South Jersey. I have noticed in the years that I have lived here that people like to add an apostrophe s to names of stores. I think that probably happens everywhere, but it seems to be quite pervasive here. My favorite is when people use Wal-Mart's as in, "I'm going to Wal-Mart's, do you need anything?" I think I understand why people might do it when it is a store like Aubuchon Hardware and people say Aubuchon's Hardware like someone named Aubuchon owns the hardware store. But the Wal-Mart name stands alone and people still do it. There's also Panera's, Costco's and a whole list of other places.

Anyway, I thought it was just a verbal expression that people used. Then, when I was at the mall in Albany once, I saw a public bus that displays its destination on the front. The destination was listed as Wal-Mart's. I have actually now seen it two or three times, but have not been able to get a picture. I would LOVE to have a picture of that.

Again, how is it that someone lets that go by? And if you can understand how it happens for one day, how is it that nobody who works for the bus company catches it so that it doesn't persist?

I am on a mission to take a picture of that bus. If anyone has seen it, please send a picture along.

The Sign that Started it All

I took this picture two years ago when I went to see my husband work in Durham. This sign is at the concession stand in the stadium where the Durham Bulls play. I'm not sure what the dogs own. Is it the dogs' drinks and popcorn? What kind of dog sells drinks and popcorn? If it is the dogs' drinks and popcorn, why the comma after dogs? Or, if the apostrophe was indeed appropriate, why isn't there an apostrophe after drinks or popcorn?

After seeing this sign, I began to wonder who approved the sign. I guess I could see it slipping by one person, but then wasn't there a proof? Then I thought about all of the people who work for the Durham Bulls who go to the stadium every day. Don't they notice the sign? Why hasn't anyone said anything? I can't believe nobody working there has taken a stand and insisted that the sign be fixed. Is nobody embarrassed? I have not gone back recently, so I am not sure if it has been changed. If anyone lives in Durham and can verify whether this sign still exists, please let us know.

This sign was the one that started my obsession with signs that have inappropriate apostrophe placement.

Intro to Misfit Apostrophe's

My sister and I have been noticing misfit apostrophes for a number of years and have sent pictures of them back and forth. We have often spoken of creating a blog about them, but have never had the time. We are now spending our days caring for my twins, so we have some more time to type when the twins are sleeping. We have built up quite a collection of misfit apostrophes and will begin to post them here. If you have your own picture, please let us know and we will be happy to post it.

Please be on the lookout for more misfits as we collect them in the Land of Misfit Apostrophe's.