Universities Weblog

Can you find the errors in this sentence?

the Stanford's purchased `the farm' from the Gordon's in 1876.Too bad people at Stanford University apparently couldn't!

The line appeared on a prominent plaque at the university, prompting visitors to speculate that it was a student prank. It wasn't.

In the most embarrassing kind of irony, one of the nation's best universities has proudly displayed poor grammar.

What do you think? Should this be chalked up to 'one of those things,' or should Standford officials feel embarrassed?

From the Mercury News:Too many apostrophes, not enough proofreaders. That was the opinion of legions of angry Mercury News readers who wrote to demand a correction of Stanford University's bronze plaque outside the Gordon Carriage House, which was featured in an article and photograph published Wednesday.

The plaque explains that “the Stanford's purchased `the farm' from the Gordon's in 1876.''

While historically accurate, the sentence outraged Bay Area punctuation police, who seek to remind Stanford that apostrophes are meant for indicating possession, not pluralization.

“It's hard to believe that not a single person associated with writing the text or ordering, making, or installing the plaque noticed,'' wrote Stephanie Cerra. “I'd expect better from a project associated with Stanford.''

“Quick, somebody, replace the plaque before it becomes the university condoned precedent for all those illiterate merchant vendors' `Tomato's,' `Pea's,' `bean's,' `Shoe's,' etc. signs that sprout on roadsides and in our markets,'' wrote Edward Strong. “Where was the Mercury editor to let this appear without comment?''

“The mistake is an embarrassment to the community as well as to the university,'' according to Marcine Landon. Charle Tilford proposed that “Someone from their English Department should get out there with a grinder!''

Did you enjoy this article?