At least it wasn’t an F…?
A rogue grammar Nazi has achieved what many have long dreamed of doing, pulling the cap off a red sharpie and going to town on a terrible display of English.
Their target? A poorly worded real estate board posted in Melbourne’s east:
The photograph, taken in December, was posted on Facebook and went viral as scores of like-minded grammar gangstas applauded the move.
MORE: Grammar police unite: The mistakes you can’t stand.
The photographer Felicity Humann told the Herald Sun it was spotted by her grandfather on his morning walk, who then took her past for a good ol’ language lesson.
“Perfect located one of the famous street in Balwyn, school zone of Balwyn high second colloge,” the listing reads.
“It is only walking minutes to shopping mall, 109tram and the Eastern Freeway.”
“The house features with classical style, stable construction; offers 3 generous size bed rooms with built in wardrobes, plus study space. Two townhouse permit!”
Though the offending sign managed to score a D+, some were calling the mark too generous:
But it wasn’t long before our red-penned rascal was the target of his own success:
As grammar nazis debated furiously across the interwebs, devouring their young as they each tried to be the most correct, the best advice came from Jeff:
MORE: Excellent news for anyone bemoaning the downfall of good grammar.
Top Comments
My take on the matter of the ladies of Asian appearance on the board and whether English was their first language or not, is that it's irrelevant. If your paid job is communication (drafting up a sign to put in a public place or newspaper) then get it right. If you are uncertain whether you have it right, then ask or employ someone else who can check it for you. We have plenty to say about journalists who fall down in this department and sign writers who get it wrong are subject to derision. Whoever drafted up the copy for this sign did a bad job.
There are heaps more of mistakes there than this person fixed. I am a grammar nazi too (proofreader by profession). But I wouldn't have done this. Still, it's a scandal that badly written signs like this get put up in the first place!