Oh, I might get on my soap box here… look out, the wordsmith/word nerd is in town! 
As a writer and reader, I love words. Interesting, new, unique, whatever, they all fascinate me. I also love to hear people speak, the cadence, the inflection, the enunciation - all of it. It comes through in my writing too - my characters will say “gonna” or “I aim to”, or “She’s fixin’ to” and things like that. It’s part of being human, part of culture and history.
So what’s my rant about? Why it’s spelling errors on signs. If I see a sign anywhere (building, car, window, etc.) it had better be spelled right. Lately I’ve noticed a rash of bad spelling and it annoys my inner word nerd.
For example… there’s a church I pass by every day on my way home. I believe it’s a Baptist church (there’s lots of those down here) and each week, they change the sign outside to catch people’s attention. It’s one of those signs that you put big plastic letters on. Without fail, at least once a month, there’s a spelling error. From a church! Unfortunately it’s not the only church I’ve seen with this spelling problems either.
Driving to work last week I saw this large pick-up truck with a cap that had a painstakingly perfect sign on the back (those stick-on letters that you buy at Home Depot) for a home improvement business. The word improvement was spell “IMPROVMENT”. Sigh…
Here’s another one. At a gas station in Georgia a sign in block letters made on someone’s computer… “PLAY GEORGIA LOTTREY HELP EDUCATION”. *slaps forehead*
I’m not asking for perfection here people, but can people check the dictionary? Or go into their favorite word processing program and do a spell check at least?
Now for me (and my poor kids) I’m also a stickler for proper grammar from my children. Don’t say “ain’t got no” in my house. Yes, I know, dork. 
I don’t impose that on anyone else but if you’re going to advertise (face it that’s what signs are for) check your spelling!!
Rant over. I just had to let that one out. Anyone else have a weird, wacky rant?
It is a pet peeve of mine as well. It bugs me when things are not spelled correctly. And it especially bugs me if I am writing it and cannot remember how to spell it.
by Kris January 11th, 2007 at 2:17 amI am a music teacher not an english teacher but i still correct my student’s grammar and spelling. It is just habit and I want them to be well-spoken. They will be perceived better when they grow up if they speak correctly.