It's Always Grammar
The sun is out in full force, and it's actually tropical here on the west coast. Reluctantly I am working on my planter boxes and pots and, seeing some healthy specimens on the rack outside my local grocer I scooped up....6. Basil, parsley, oregano, rosemary.
At the checkout, the cashier and I had a little grammatical set-to. She insisted (maybe it had been communicated to her that way) that my first 5 were @$4.50 but Mr. #6 would be the full $5. I demurred, pointing out that the tag clearly states that 5 or more are $4.50 each. She didn't see it that way, preferring to interpret that the lower price applies only to multiples of 5, which makes ZERO sense to me.
What do you see? This is just the latest example of the impact that spelling and grammar can have on the unsuspecting! I've seen signage that admonishes would-be parkers that these spaces are reserved for "COSTUMERS ONLY", and, by contrast, the very clever "We accept Walkens" in a hair-dressing shop.
I've almost given up correcting the flying apostrophe; the volume is simply too great and that, as an indicator, is pretty depressing. There was a time when someone's credibility and authority was severely rocked by poor grammar or spelling but the tolerance level has moved, granting amnesty where none is deserved.
Voice talent, writer, and former pastor at The Mustard Seed Street Church, Victoria BC
1 年Of course it matters! Nothing damages credibility like poor spelling, because it suggests either sloppiness or ignorance. And for newcomers, the English language is hard enough to learn (I know: I was a TA in ESL while I was in University) without having “variants” thrown into the mix. Mind you, reflecting cultural norms can depend on the target audience, but one has to be careful to avoid being condescending.
Joanne, you’re absolutely, unequivocally correct! Can you bring this to management? It’s n ot to get more product, but to ensue that signs in English make sense and are correct. Maybe they need to contract out an English-language specialist!! You or me both!????
Investment & Retirement Financial Planner @ RBC Royal Bank | CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER?
1 年It matters! I drove past an elementary school sign earlier this week and they used To where they should have used Too. What does this say about the education those students are getting and the standards that being upheld?