Guardian readers and Marta Bausells May 13, 2014

Bad grammar: rogue apostrophes and bizarre spelling – in pictures

In honour of the Bad Grammar awards, we asked readers to share examples of grammatical gaffes by institutions or people who should know better – and you sent in more than a few rogue apostrophes and a wide variety of other errors. Here is a selection of your contributions

bad grammar example — Spotted at the University of Edinburgh, the Pleasance: If you are not Scottish, you might have thought the mistake was on the left side – but we learned that in Scotland "stance" doesn't only refer to a posture, but also to "a place where buses or taxis wait". However, have you taken a look at the inscription on the right? Photograph: Heather Johnson/GuardianWitness Photograph: Heather Johnson/GuardianWitness

bad grammar example — What's missing, a hyphen or a comma? Photograph: Ian Hart/GuardianWitness Photograph: Ian Hart/GuardianWitness

bad grammar example — Not just for Friday's what? "This effort by Tesco again. Stroud, Gloucestershire." Photograph: carnaptious99/GuardianWitness Photograph: GuardianWitness

bad grammar example — The London Cabinet Maker: "In King's Cross, London." Photograph: ferfcuksake/GuardianWitness Photograph: ferfcuksake/GuardianWitness

bad grammar example — They do what to the bacon? "City of Bath College." Photograph: MightyAntar/GuardianWitness Photograph: MightyAntar/GuardianWitness

bad grammar example — Women's health centre in Dublin 7: "I laugh whenever I walk past. They got the apostrophe correct but would you trust them with your helth?" Photograph: dannyboydublin/GuardianWitness Photograph: dannyboydublin/GuardianWitness

bad grammar example — We've listened to your feedback, but not looked. Photograph: Minky13/GuardianWitness Photograph: Minky13/GuardianWitness

bad grammar example — Apostrophe misuse alive and well in Melbourne. Twice. Photograph: EmmaB/GuardianWitness Photograph: EmmaB/GuardianWitness

bad grammar example — NatWest getting it wrong: "I have tweeted the screenshot to them a while ago, no changes made." Photograph: Kinga Pasko/GuardianWitness Photograph: Kinga Pasko/GuardianWitness

bad grammar example — Bad grammar sours beverage: "Annoying on-counter ad for Vit Hit." Photograph: emmyemmylondon/GuardianWitness Photograph: emmyemmylondon/GuardianWitness

bad grammar example — Cineworld should, know, better: "Saw this advert in the Cineworld toilets. Bad enough place to be at the best of times without extraneous commas." Photograph: GabrielJS/GuardianWitness Photograph: GuardianWitness

bad grammar example — "A extraordinary taste sensation?" "Obviously it should be 'An extraordinary taste sensation'. I can't believe such an obvious mistake wasn't picked up by someone within the company (Collier's Powerful Welsh Cheddar)." Photograph: Sionyn/GuardianWitness Photograph: Sionyn/GuardianWitness

bad grammar example — Apostrophe catastrophe at Tesco Bank: "Gloria, a glamorous marketing sign in the Tesco Bank Haymarket office, displays an appalling lack of grammar." Photograph: Ancridhe/GuardianWitness Photograph: Ancridhe/GuardianWitness

bad grammar example — Makers of (an admittedly great-tasting) breakfast muesli: "I pointed out this error to them ten years ago. The box is still in circulation. Accordingly, so is my grammatical wrath." Photograph: Lesedi Amore/GuardianWitness Photograph: Lesedi Amore/GuardianWitness

bad grammar example — Sainsbury's Surprises: "A rare offender. Sainsbury's surprises with its apostrophe error." Photograph: Antoine Ó Fionnagáin Moreno/GuardianWitness Photograph: Antoine Ó Fionnagáin Moreno/GuardianWitness

bad grammar example — Everyday error every day: "In Poundland." Photograph: 8002575540/GuardianWitness Photograph: GuardianWitness

bad grammar example — Kentucky Fried Grammar: "Taken in Copenhagen." Photograph: HelenSB/GuardianWitness Photograph: HelenSB/GuardianWitness

bad grammar example — It's a good thing they are not giving out free grammar lessons: "Spotted in the local free Metro paper." Photograph: ID4788819/GuardianWitness Photograph: ID4788819/GuardianWitness

bad grammar example — Buy one apostrophe and get one free? That's why it's redundant! "Whitehall (redundant apostrophe) Preserve Society!" Photograph: BountifulOne/GuardianWitness Photograph: BountifulOne/GuardianWitness

bad grammar example — Is English grammar in the UK going to the dogs?: Discount cosmetics store somewhere in the South West of England Photograph: Catharegirl/GuardianWitness Photograph: Catharegirl/GuardianWitness

bad grammar example — Hmmmm, are little boys really made "off"?! "Everybody is familiar with the nursery rhyme "slugs, snails and puppy dog tails, that's what little boys are made of", well that's everyone except Dunnes Stores in the UK who are the makers of this grammatically incorrect sleepsuit designed for babies." Photograph: suziestrawberry/GuardianWitness Photograph: suziestrawberry/GuardianWitness

bad grammar example — Label on M&S jeans, 2013: "I naturally returned the jeans to Marks and Spencer because they were of grammatically unacceptable quality." Photograph: richardthomson/GuardianWitness Photograph: richardthomson/GuardianWitness

bad grammar example — Just the one picture. Photograph: Tara Barnett/GuardianWitness Photograph: Tara Barnett/GuardianWitness

bad grammar example — Classical mistake: "Escape door on bus in Nottingham." Photograph: Joanne Whetstone/GuardianWitness Photograph: Joanne Whetstone/GuardianWitness

bad grammar example — Surely the extra E would have fit. Photograph: Minky13/GuardianWitness Photograph: Minky13/GuardianWitness

bad grammar example — If you must get a tattoo here, dont let them do word's: "Probably the owner's name is Mr. Tattoo, and this is Tattoo's Tattoo Parlour. That would explain it. I've always envied those people whose last names tell them what line of work to pursue." Photograph: tarian/GuardianWitness Photograph: tarian/GuardianWitness

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