Homework 27/7 (for Bob): Riotous Ringers

[Shelley Hansen]

Don't get me started on spelling and grammar and apostrophe use, Maureen!!!

But on the subject of "drawers" and "draws" - we have a local "buy/swap/sell" page on Facebook and I took a quick scroll down the latest adverts. I know I'm straying from topic, but I just had to share these. In two minutes I found the following four (so there must be a lot of artistic people out there!!) ...

Wanted to buy set of draws can pick up today thanks
For sale 2 door wardrobe with 3 draws and top space
Balinese cabinet, 2 long draws on the inside
Three draw / Cupboard underneath

More bizarre still - you have to wonder about these three adverts ...

Man short size 92 $5 each
Electric Chairsaw $25 ono
This boat has a toilet, 4 people can sleep in it comfortably
Shoes. US Size 8. Good Condition - bearly worn

Mmm ... short men going cheap, a new twist on capital punishment, an oversized loo and some grizzly shoes.

But this one took out the prize ...

Pooping elephant excellent conditions comes with balls

Words fail me (and that doesn't happen often!!) And yes, they are all extracts from actual adverts. It's a wild country up here in Queensland

Cheers, Shelley

[David Campbell]

Thank you, Catherine!

Shelley, there's probably a new thread's worth of material along that road, especially with apostrophes.

Cheers
David

[Heather]

Well at least the draws advert was consistent.

Electric chairsaw sounds painful.

That would be an elephant you wouldn't want in the room wouldn't it?

[Shelley Hansen]

Yes, David, you are right - there's plenty of material worthy of the grammar and spelling police! I've taken your advice and have commenced a new thread - we'll see where it leads!

When I was working, there were 6 of us in a "club" dedicated to blooper observation. We were scattered all over Queensland and we shared our findings by email - always keeping our sources anonymous. I miss that therapy - and have fond memories of sunscreen issued to protect "bearskin", "lion chops" at the local butcher, and so on! When you begin to observe, it's amazing how many errors are out there.

I remember looking out the window of my second floor office one day to see a signwriter blithely paint "Red Sheild Store" on the new Salvation Army premises being renovated across the road. We phoned them up and they made him correct it!

Aside from the humour ... why is it that there is such a proliferation of poor usage and abusage these days? Do they just not teach it any more, or have we ceased to care and simply tolerate what we would once have objected to?

And yes, Heather, I don't think that elephant in the room would go unnoticed!!

Cheers, Shelley