by Thomas Russell

Created on: June 14, 2009

It simply amazes me how little importance is placed on assuring correct spelling on reader-board signs. You would think that the owners or managers would take special care in presenting their company in a respectable light to the masses, but when you see signs like, "We Are Masters At Keeping You're Business!" or "Todays Spcial: Fryed Chix Wings $299," you have to wonder how important proper grammar is. $299 for Chicken Wings? I would hate to see what a glass of water costs.

I'd like to think a national fast-food franchise would have supervisors monitoring such egregious mis-use of the English language, but having worked for a franchise myself, I came to realize they they are just as blind as the managers. The thing that is so incredibly annoying to me is the wording on these signs will stay up for several days with nobody fixing the problem. My guess is the manager chose the most non-productive, irresponsible employee whose worst subject in school happened to be English. The sad part is if the manager checked to make sure the sign was correct and he didn't notice the misspelling, he's culpable as well.

Most people working in retail understand when people visit their establishment, one out of eight will complain to a company. All others will choose to be silent without their grievances being heard. I am one of those silent majority. But I'm at the point where my voice must be heard. I'm not saying I would call or enter an establishment, demand a manager's attention, and embarrass him in front of his crew and other customers; I've been in retail long enough and suffered the indignities of customer abuse. I would do my best to offer my suggestion that his reader-board can be his best or worst source of advertisement. Competition is too tough these days to drive anybody away to a business next door, so take a little time to follow up on your employees.

But I'll be honest, the next time I see, "5 out of 4 Chooze Joes Hom Cukin," I cannot sit idly by and see someone do one more hatchet job on the English language. Upon entering the restaurant, I will politely order my food, which totals $5.14, hand the clerk $1.14, and tell him I've now entered the illiterate zone. "I just figured if you can't invite your customers with proper spelling on your reader-board," I say, smiling and slurring in a Redneck drawl, "then I might just as well step down to your level and be the kind of customer you intend to attract.

Learn more about this author, Thomas Russell.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.