A WORD ON THE WORDS

BOW your heads, cast down your eyes. Let us stand for a moment in remembrance of a body of artisans sadly passed from this world.

All ye lovers of the English language should weep for the demise of the professional signwriter.

Once, not long ago, these skilled men and women plied their noble trade. They manually painted functional works of art. Most impressively, from my point of view, they had an unfailing command of English grammar.

In my youth I cannot recall seeing a shop or information sign that was incorrectly spelled or punctuated. Not a single one.

The digital revolution, however, changed the world. Now any Torm, Duck or Hairy with a computer can create a sign, a poster or a pamphlet.

And they do. With sometimes regrettable results.

The trigger for my melancholy mood was this sign (pictured).

That errant apostrophe would never have been painted in by an old-fashioned signwriter.

This is, I’m sorry to say, truly a sign of the times.