Have you blown up any cats recently?

[cambrensis]

I love language; most of all I enjoy fine-tuning it for the sake of clarity.
Most languages can be fairly flexible in the was they are put together but English is strongly dependent on word positioning to clarify the meaning. Earlier this week, walking around a local supermarket I came across some plastic inflatable cushions, bearing the legend: "Inflatable cat island". I continued to wander as I pondered why it was that the Creator, in His infinite wisdom had never, so far as I know, designed an inflatable cat.
Determining that I should leave the store as soon as possible, as more and more signs were annoying my sensibilities, I was soon finished and at the till-point, where I read the following:

"If you appear to be under 25 years of age, we may check that you are over 18."


I managed to leave the store without screaming or crying, but had to sit quietly in my car for five minutes, before I dared drive into the town traffic.

[sucadot]

Oh lol! You couldn't make it up

Not quite in the same league as yours Ian, but my local supermarket came up with this gem -

[cambrensis]

Isn't it crazy? If we are speaking and unsure about what is meant we may ask.....But notices etc need absolute precision! Love that! Meat free caulflower cheese! hahaha...we can both guess they are on about high protein but meat free...so why not say so!

Thanks for joining in...there must be thousands out there which I have not seen and cried over!

I love English - it is sooo flexible! But those whose livelihood depends upon using it...copy writers, etc, ...owe other speakers a duty!!! Get it right!!!

[moonwitch]

I remember a notice in a paper reminding senior citizens to renew their bus passes before they expire

[cambrensis]

I remember a notice in a paper reminding senior citizens to renew their bus passes before they expire

Wonderful!

[sucadot]

I love English - it is sooo flexible! But those whose livelihood depends upon using it...copy writers, etc, ...owe other speakers a duty!!! Get it right!!!

and use a dictionary!

[madelaine]

Or this

[yellerbelly]

and use a dictionary!

Love it, no proof reading, (although I can be guilty of this when in a hurry)

I read a few years back that it was wrong to pull a student up on their spelling as it would shatter their confidence !!!

[crafters_corner]

Love it, no proof reading, (although I can be guilty of this when in a hurry)

I read a few years back that it was wrong to pull a student up on their spelling as it would shatter their confidence !!!

When being shown around the local primary school with my son (now aged 50) I enquired of the head mistress why children's work wasn't corrected.

That was precisely the reason she gave.

[astral276]

I read a few years back that it was wrong to pull a student up on their spelling as it would shatter their confidence !!!

Typical snowflake thinking.

It's no wonder there are so many mental health problems suffered by youth today. They have no coping mechanism due to being taught that they are always right, can do as they like, and nobody is allowed to say 'No' to them. When, inevitably, something doesn't go their way they are unable to handle it.