Bad Marks over giraffe grammar gaffe

Bishka · #1 10-08-2006, 07:00 PM

MARKS and Spencer has apologised for a grammatical error spotted on a pyjama top.The words "Baby Giraffe's" were printed above a picture of two giraffes.
As giraffes is plural there should not have been an apostrophe. The pyjamas are no longer on sale.

The mistake was spotted by Suzanne Walker, from Stockport, who bought the pyjamas for her three-year-old son from the M&S store in Handforth Dean.
Mrs Walker, daughter of a retired English teacher, said: "I just thought how stupid it was that a large company like that could get it so wrong. Surely, they should have people who check things like that.

"When I wrote to Marks & Spencer they said they would raise the issue with their childrenswear technologist and she would follow it up. They indicated it had been an oversight.

Gaffe

"I do not care to dress my child in a top containing a glaring grammatical gaffe."
A Marks & Spencer spokesman said: "We have been in contact with Mrs Walker and have offered her a full refund.

"We apologise for any inconvenience or dissatisfaction Mrs Walker felt with this product which is no longer on general sale."

The company has also sent Mrs Walker vouchers "as a goodwill gesture".
John Richards, from the Apostrophe Protection Society, said: "It is a very simple matter. Apostrophes are used to denote possession or missing letters.

"They are never used in plurals. One might expect `Banana's for sale' on a market stall, but not in a store as fastidious as Marks and Spencer.
"I am glad the firm has acknowledged the error."

Giraffe Story

To me, the funniest part was

Quote:

I do not care to dress my child in a top containing a glaring grammatical gaffe."

Scuba Pete · #2 10-08-2006, 08:46 PM

I thought this thread was about being apostate free!

Way too funny though!

kiwimac · #3 10-10-2006, 04:55 AM

Some people obviously have too much time on their ... PJ's.

Kiwimac

Inky · #4 10-10-2006, 01:43 PM

Unnecessary apostrophes are one of my major pet peeves. Also, people use commas all the time where they should use semicolons. Arrgh.

Buttercup · #5 10-10-2006, 01:46 PM

Oh....I thought this thread was about Becky being sued for using her tripping giraffe. Glad it's not.

Booko · #6 10-10-2006, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inky

Unnecessary apostrophes are one of my major pet peeves. Also, people use commas all the time where they should use semicolons. Arrgh.

And then there's the misplaced or irrelevant accent mark on business names in an effort to appear fancy.

lunamoth · #7 10-10-2006, 02:47 PM

Good: I do not care to dress my child in a top containing a glaring grammatical gaffe.

Better: I do not care to dress my child in a top containing a glaring grammatical giraffe gaffe.

Best: I do not care to dress my child in glaring grammatical giraffe gaffe garb.

lizskid · #8 10-10-2006, 03:16 PM

I hate the apostrophe thing...you know, on those signs at restaurants, etc? I am a teacher and want to call every business and tell them they have it wrong. Good for this woman!

Even better for Luna....say those sentences 3 x quickly!

MidnightBlue · #9 10-10-2006, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inky

Unnecessary apostrophes are one of my major pet peeves.

Mine too. Another one is "Ye Olde [fill in the blank]," and yet another is affected spellings. For instance, there's a shopping mall near our house called Columbiana Centre. "Oooh, Marge! They use the British spelling; it must be nice!"

And while I'm at it, there's the inept use of other languages. I see this a lot locally, especially at restaurants. Every time I see "roast beef with au jus," it makes me want to order "potatoes with au gratin" on the side.