As a proofreader, I’m in the habit of spotting typos and misused words; this isn’t something I can turn off, even when in public. In fact, I find spotting typos in unexpected places to be rather fun.
Today I’m going to share how I came across my latest public proofreading find:
Not long ago, my husband and I took our four kids to the EAA Aviation Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. This amazing place abounds with spectacular exhibits. If you’re ever in the area, it’s definitely worth visiting. My kids’ favorite stop was the KidVenture Gallery, which is full of fun, interactive experiences. Just read the sign that’s posted at the entrance (I apologize for the reflective shine in my low-quality smartphone photo):
Did you spot it? Or rather, did you spot the lack of it?
Here, allow me to use my red-ink proofreader’s “pen”:
“Individual exhibits test visitors abilities . . .” should read, “Individual exhibits test visitors’ abilities . . .”
See it now? That apostrophe needs to be there to show possession. Whose abilities? The visitors’ abilities.
The grammar reasoning goes like this:
Visitors is a plural noun ending in s. You form the possessive of a plural noun ending in s by adding an apostrophe after the s.
Example: The girls’ dolls wore pretty dresses.
When a plural noun does not end in s, such as the word men, you form the possessive by adding an apostrophe and then an s.
Example: The men’s coats hung on the rack.
While it’s unfortunate that the KidVenture Gallery sign contains an error, it’s a very minor one and likely won’t be noticed by many. It certainly didn’t affect my kids’ enjoyment of the room!
Have you come across any typos in public places?
If so, I’d love to hear about them. Please share in the comments below.
Categories: .
Tags: Christian editing, Christian editor, Christian fiction proofreader, Christian fiction proofreaders, Christian manuscript proofreader, Christian novel proofreaders, Christian proofreaders, Christian proofreaders blog, Christian proofreading, Christian proofreading services, EAA Museum, missing apostrophe, plural possessive, public typos, typos in public places