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Sloppy signmakers fall foul of apostrophe police
Jamie Whelam and Felix Allen13 Nov 2009
Westminster council was criticised today over a rash of misplaced apostrophes on new signs in the borough.
In Bayswater alone, six street names have gone up incorrectly - often within feet of a sign carrying the right punctuation.
They include Bishops Bridge Road and Bishop's Bridge Road, Lord Hill's Bridge and Lord Hills Bridge, Botts Mews and Bott's Mews, and Kensington Garden Square and Kensington Gardens Square. John Zammit, chairman of the South East Bayswater Residents' Association, said: "They really ought to check these signs before they order them because it's annoying for the people who have to walk past them every day."
John Richards, of the Apostrophe Protection Society, said: "Teachers spend a lot of time helping children learn how to use apostrophes. It's a terrible example to set."
Westminster council said the erroneous signs would be replaced.
Reader views (5)
"Maybe it's time we dropped apostrophes altogether. No-one seems to know how to use them any more"
Don't tar everyone with your own ignorance. Apparently 25% of the population are functionally illiterate and limited in their job prospects. Why should the rest of us adjust our lives in order to accommodate the less educated?
- George, London, 13/11/2009 16:01
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The apostrophe may be wrong.It would be Bishops' if more than one were involved.
- Norman Bird, London, 13/11/2009 15:45
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Maybe it's time we dropped apostrophes altogether. No-one seems to know how to use them any more and plenty of other languages seem to get on fine without them.
- Roy, England, 13/11/2009 15:30
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Seriously, the "Apostrophe Protection Society"?? Some people really have nothing better to do...
- Jay, London, 13/11/2009 14:26
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Its an absolute shambles - no two way's around it.
- Nowan, London, 13/11/2009 13:33
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