10 Items or.....

[lovesmurfs]

No. She actually means 'its', as in the improper or incorrect grammar being used on the DIS as a whole .

DOH! Okay--guilty of reading too quickly.

 

[punkin]

No. She actually means 'its', as in the improper or incorrect grammar being used on the DIS as a whole .

Wait, if you read it your way, doesn't a participle dangle? Then it should be "DIS and its incorrect grammar all the time", not "DIS all the time and its incorrect grammar.

I'm all for correcting other people's grammar as long as no one tries to correct my spelling. Now, that's a lost cause!

 

[crashbb]

Wait, if you read it your way, doesn't a participle dangle? Then it should be "DIS and its incorrect grammar all the time", not "DIS all the time and its incorrect grammar.

I'm all for correcting other people's grammar as long as no one tries to correct my spelling. Now, that's a lost cause!

Thank you! I was having major trouble reading the way the PP said it should be read.

Actually, even with your change, the sentence (if the "its" is correct) still seems off.

 

[Metsfan520]

The one that gets my knickers in a twist is using "of" instead of "have". Let me give you an example...

"I would of preferred to stay at the Poly."

It is EVERYWHERE here on the DIS and it makes me want to smash things (tongue in cheek of course).

That drives me crazy too!

 

[ChrizJen]

Thank you, OP.
I've endured countless hours of ridicule (and will likely endure many, many more) from friends who just don't understand why things like that "bug" me. This whole thread is giving me hives.
OP, you're my hero for standing up to "the man" and pointing out to them the error of their ways.

 

[arminnie]

I had dinner recently with one of the founders of Whole Foods. Can't wait to give him this update.

 

[Imzadi]

Cornflake, how about if they changed it to this sign:

 

[BrerMom]

Cornflake, how about if they changed it to this sign:

Love it!

 

[leebee]

Cornflake, how about if they changed it to this sign:

LOVE IT ! Personally, I am with the bananapants crew. Incorrect grammar and usage drive me crazy... almost as crazy as those who don't CARE that they speak/write incorrectly. While I recognize that nobody is perfect, many,many people use incorrect grammar in their daily language and don't even realize it. Of course, if we educated our children in grammar and usage, instead of VOICE (don't get me started!), maybe the English language wouldn't be so seriously abused!

 

[cornflake]

Cornflake, how about if they changed it to this sign:

I don't see a smiley with an exploding head, so I cannot properly express my reaction to that sign.

Seriously?! Though I have to say I don't quite understand who their target audience is. "Fifteen is this many" is quite a lot of words for what I'm assuming they assume is a population so illiterate in English as to not comprehend the arabic number on the sign. Without comprehending the 'fifteen is this many' part, the sign is randomly waving, 'hello.' I really don't know, if I could not comprehend anything at all about a sign, that I'd assume three hands were representative of item numbers for the register.

Were I in a market in China and a sign entirely in Chinese except for two hands was posted someplace, item limit at a register just probably wouldn't be my first guess, though I admit I have no idea what I would guess it meant. Huh.

 

[Forevryoung]

One of the "supervisors" at work sends emails that always contain multiple errors (I've never gotten a 100% correct email from her unless it was a one line "ok, thanks" type)

My recurring favorite from her:

"Stay tune" (yes that's what she believes the phrase is- no spelling error)

 

[cornflake]

One of the "supervisors" at work sends emails that always contain multiple errors (I've never gotten a 100% correct email from her unless it was a one line "ok, thanks" type)

My recurring favorite from her:

"Stay tune" (yes that's what she believes the phrase is- no spelling error)

I would have a very hard time not sending those emails back, corrected. I'd also have a hard time not dropping the 'd' from random word endings around her, or saying 'I'm staying tuneDDDDDDDD, Cheryl, I can't wait to see what we're all tuneDDDDDDDDD in for,' etc., until she either took the hint or I was amused enough to stop being annoyed by it.

 

[goofyintoronto]

Argh!

I was in Whole Foods earlier tonight, and they've revamped the line system (it's the busiest WF in the City by far, the place is like the Calcutta airport), so there are now 9 available lines for express registers instead of six, and they reversed where the express and regular lines were.

So, logically, they put giant, new signs showing people where to go.

The giant new signs read:

11 Items or more

and

10 Items or less.

Why?! Whole Foods was one of the very few stores that had signs that said "10 items or fewer." How did they manage to go from correct to incorrect? Though I do appreciate the mathematical specificity.

I stopped at the customer service desk, as it was between the registers and the exits, and asked, and the guy pointed me to the people he said were in charge of such things. I went to ask them, though I doubted they were in charge of creating the giant, printed signage, as they appeared to be floor managers. The one I approached, however, as soon as I said, "I know it's a minor issue, but your old signs said '10 items or fewer and now..." interjected, "yeah, they're wrong, right?"

I said they were; she said she's a substitute teacher when she's not at the WF and mentioned it to the people in charge as soon as she saw them hanging the new signs. She said she has no idea why they switched or who decided to go from right to wrong but that I wasn't the only one who'd noticed and she'll bring it up again. It's comforting to know other people noticed but still... WHY!? How?! What happened to the person who knew the correct word between the previous signs and these? Was he or she killed by a rogue melon and now no one who knows basic grammar is left? Why, WF, why?!

Wow, I cannot believe this is an issue with some ppl. Really?? Believe it or not, the grocery stores in my area have had "10 items or less" signs for YEARS and years and years. As a matter of fact, I have yet to see a sign that actually reads "10 items or fewer".

 

[kimmar067]

Argh!

I was in Whole Foods earlier tonight, and they've revamped the line system (it's the busiest WF in the City by far, the place is like the Calcutta airport), ....

.... I don't think they SERVE grain-fed, antibiotic-free beef at the Calcutta Airport....

 

[Imzadi]

I don't see a smiley with an exploding head, so I cannot properly express my reaction to that sign.

Seriously?! Though I have to say I don't quite understand who their target audience is. "Fifteen is this many" is quite a lot of words for what I'm assuming they assume is a population so illiterate in English as to not comprehend the arabic number on the sign. Without comprehending the 'fifteen is this many' part, the sign is randomly waving, 'hello.' I really don't know, if I could not comprehend anything at all about a sign, that I'd assume three hands were representative of item numbers for the register.

Were I in a market in China and a sign entirely in Chinese except for two hands was posted someplace, item limit at a register just probably wouldn't be my first guess, though I admit I have no idea what I would guess it meant. Huh.

Had too much Black Friday shopping already?

 

[goofyintoronto]

I have never in my life seen the express lane that said "10 items or few". Every large store I shop at (and they are ALL big chains), the signs say "10 items or less." I had to google what you are talking about because I didn't even know "10 items or less" was wrong. When I first saw this thread, I thought you would going to vent about the people who go in the express lane with a whole cart full of stuff. I can understand your frustration, but there are some things you just have to let go. Whole Foods is not going to spend thousands of dollars to change the signs. The whole "10 item or less" just sounds better (well to me anyway) and is more common. I wouldn't waste time and energy complaining to the store manager. (they most likely do not care and will not bring it up to higher management) If you really feel strongly about this, call corporate office.

I really couldnt have said it any better myself.

 

[cornflake]

Had too much Black Friday shopping already?

LOL It's been a bit of a day, and the only shopping I did was online and in the Whole Foods, actually - though one with grammatically correct signs. What can I say, I'm an analytical sort.

As for no one caring, again, the manager certainly cared and said other customers had mentioned it as well. It's difficult to convey inflection in type but her reaction was quite exasperated and happy someone else was complaining so she could get to complain again.

 

[topolino]

The "or less"/"or fewer" issue reminds me of the usage of "farther/further". Similarly, "farther" measures distance that you can count, while "further" is a measure of uncountable units.

Two correct example:

"Your house is much farther away from the school than I thought".

"Even though we've been talking to him for an hour, we still need to question him further".

 

[topolino]

One of the "supervisors" at work sends emails that always contain multiple errors (I've never gotten a 100% correct email from her unless it was a one line "ok, thanks" type)

My recurring favorite from her:

"Stay tune" (yes that's what she believes the phrase is- no spelling error)

This reminds me of when people say, "I was surprise to hear it". It should be, "I was surprised to hear it". In the correct example, a past participle is used as an adjective.

 

[cornflake]

The "or less"/"or fewer" issue reminds me of the usage of "farther/further". Similarly, "farther" measures distance that you can count, while "further" is a measure of uncountable units.

Two correct example:

"Your house is much farther away from the school than I thought".

"Even thought we've been talking to him for an hour, we still need to question him further".

This too, though I find it kind of baffling how people get it wrong, given 'far' is right there in the word that signifies distance.

Also lie/lay, raise/rise, affect/effect, etc.