Sign Language （間違っている英語の看板） Archives - Page 8 of 44

I’d like some money, please

currencies available

X 12 foreign currencies available to exchange to Japanese Yen.

Tim says:

“Available” means 「入手できる」, so if you say that something is “available”, I think I can get it. So this shop is giving away foreign currencies that I can use to buy yen with? I don’t have to exchange my own money? Sounds good to me!

The sign shouldn’t say that the currencies are available; it should say that it’s possible to exchange them here.

O We can exchange these 12 foreign currencies into Japanese Yen.

周囲にある英語を見て、果たしてそれが正しい英語なのだろうかと感じる英語はありますか？「あの英語は絶対に間違っている」という英語の表記はありますか？看板の写真を撮って、Machigai.comに送りましょう！とんでもない英語だったら、このコーナーで出します！

I’m saving this restaurant’s bacon

bacons

X Bacons

Tim says:

In Machigai Podcast’s “Count/No Count” feature, I’ve mentioned that some nouns can be both countable and uncountable (数えられる名詞、数えられない名詞). However, “bacon” is only used as an uncountable noun, so adding an “s” to it just looks strange. You can order two strips of bacon, not two bacons.

O Bacon

I can’t bear to listen

ear prug

X Ear prug

Tim says:

If you’re not sure whether to use “r” or “l”, it’s best to check a dictionary! Also, do they provide only one ear plug? Two of them would be better! It should be plural.

O Ear plugs

The meaning is fuzzy

hair and talk

X Hair and talk

Tim says:

I’ve mentioned before that a sign like this, on a shop, would be expected to say what the shop provides. So, this shop provides hair? No thanks, I have enough of that already!

Also, “talk” feels more like a verb, and I think a noun would be better. Here’s what the shop provides:

O Haircut and conversation

This one is kind of a stretch

stretch sapplies

X Stretch sapplies

Tim says:

First of all, “supplies” is not spelled correctly. But besides that, “stretch supplies” is not what we usually call these exercise items!

O Stretching equipment

Oh, deer!

deers

X Deers

Tim says:

Yes, in this case we’re talking about a sports team, not the actual animal. But it doesn’t matter: The plural form of “deer” is always “deer”, not “deers”!

O Deer

Please post a better sign here

at this place

X Please refrain from parking your bike at this place.

Tim says:

Saying “in this place” would be better than “at this place”. But even better than that, you could just say “here”!

O Please refrain from parking your bike here.

Is this a mistake? Of corce!

lunch corce

X Lunch Corce

Tim says:

This week, another extra-bad misspelling. The “u” was left out, and the “s” was changed to a “c”. Let’s remember to run “spell check” on our menu designs!

O Lunch Course

Substandard spelling

submrinine

X submrinine

Tim says:

Whoever wrote the menu on the chalk board must have decided: “If I’m going to misspell a word, I’m going to REALLY misspell it!” So they didn’t just leave out the “a”, they also added an extra “in”!

O submarine

I can’t stand it!

Don't Stand the Step

X Please don’t stand the step

Tim says:

This sign seems to mean 「段を我慢しないでください」. That’s because “stand” in the meaning of 「立つ」should be followed by “on” when an object （目的語）follows it. Without “on”, “stand” means 「我慢する」.

O Please don’t stand on the step

Category: Sign Language （間違っている英語の看板）

I’d like some money, please

I’m saving this restaurant’s bacon

I can’t bear to listen

The meaning is fuzzy

This one is kind of a stretch

Oh, deer!

Please post a better sign here

Is this a mistake? Of corce!

Substandard spelling

I can’t stand it!

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