ADVERTISEMENT

How many “c’s” and “m’s” in “accommodate?” Is there a “c” in “acquire?” While it might seem obvious when written out in front of you, English spelling can make fools of the best of us, but most people will probably overlook a misspelled word in a text. But that mistake becomes ever so magnified when you are driving around and see it displayed in, say, a shop window. 

The “English Language Police” Facebook page gathers word crimes and grammatical mistakes people have spotted in the wild. So scroll down and enjoy the funniest examples here, upvote your favorites, and be sure to let us know what common language mistakes are your number one pet peeve.

More info: Facebook 

#1

Listening To "Water Music" Will Never Be The Same Again

Listening To "Water Music" Will Never Be The Same Again

Anindya Roychowdhury Report

Native speakers (and writers) of English all have their own struggle words. Some people can’t stand the doubling of a specific letter, like aggression versus agression. In other cases, people think there is a second letter where there actually is none, for example, imitate versus immitate. More often than not, this is a result of English not being a phonetic language. 

Many writing systems attempt to just jot down the sounds that a particular word consists of. As logical as this sounds, many languages skip this part, English being one of them. Partially, the French can be blamed, as a lot of constructions in modern English have old French (and Norman) origins, due to William the Conqueror, well, conquering England in 1066. 

#4

So Many People To Send Them To

So Many People To Send Them To

Jonathan Good Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#5

I Don't Know If I Can Stay Awake For 5 Days... Anymore

I Don't Know If I Can Stay Awake For 5 Days... Anymore

Dawson Delamar Report

Add photo comments
POST
Falcon
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Spitting into your own eye is already a challenge, but idk if I can do that after being awake 5 days in a row.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

To counter this, English orthographer Christopher Upward designed something called cut spelling. The basic idea was to “cut” redundant and silent letters, which would “help” save 8–15% of space when printing written texts and, potentially, reduce the number of spelling mistakes that we all run into regularly. It never really took off because who wants to go through the hassle of remaking the entire spelling system of a language?

#7

Well That Is One Way To Prevent Theft

Well That Is One Way To Prevent Theft

VidE27 Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#9

Good Advice

Good Advice

Robert Mark Report

As English is spoken around the globe by over 1.5 billion people as a first or second language, it makes sense that large, sweeping changes might not be that realistic to implement. It’s also a language without a “central” authority, with different spelling, pronunciation, and slang depending on where one is. Researchers call this a pluricentric language, meaning that different strains develop and intermix without one being regarded as the “official” variant. 

ADVERTISEMENT
#11

You Expect The Guy To Open The Store While Being Circumcised?

You Expect The Guy To Open The Store While Being Circumcised?

Jar Raj Grover Report

#12

I Hadn't Realized It Was Banned

I Hadn't Realized It Was Banned

Emmay McDonald Report

The result is that most variants of English are mutually intelligible, though there are always many anecdotes about thick accents from one English-speaking country or another. It also has a global reach, both due to colonial history and mass media. These days, English can be referred to as a true “lingua franca,” as it is often used when both parties don’t share a common language. 

#13

Okay Then

Okay Then

Jar Raj Grover Report

Add photo comments
POST
Falcon
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You'd be surprised how many people don't understand what a designated parking space is.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#14

Aldi Australia Is Selling This Stool

Aldi Australia Is Selling This Stool

visegripandducttape Report

Add photo comments
POST
martin734
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is that for the person giving or receiving? I suppose sitting on that would be more comfortable than kneeling.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT

Attempts to make a “neutral” global means of communication have led to the creation of “Globish,” a somewhat uninspiring name for a language. The idea, created by Jean-Paul Nerrière, was to have something that was not tied down by the cultural weight of English and also incorporate elements from other languages around the world. Nevertheless, its largest “lender” of words was still English (around 1500 words) and it has not really taken off at the moment.

#16

Where Is Elon When You Need Him?

Where Is Elon When You Need Him?

Daniel Rogers Report

Add photo comments
POST
Loverboy
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Luckily, I have quite a strong musk. I've been told it's "repelling", even.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#17

A Sticky Situation To Be In

A Sticky Situation To Be In

Sael-er Report

#18

The Four Apostrophe’s’ Of The Apocalypseses’s’

The Four Apostrophe’s’ Of The Apocalypseses’s’

Vincent Turner Report

English is so predominant that some scholars believe it might lead to premature language death. As it is tied up with employment, research, and a lot of popular media, English remains one of the top choices for people to learn, at the cost of acquiring a different language. The unfortunate result is that it introduces alien words and idioms into languages where they don’t belong, supplanting the more unique original structures. 

ADVERTISEMENT
#21

Pretty Intimidating If You Ask Me

Pretty Intimidating If You Ask Me

itzme89 Report

Add photo comments
POST
Biofish23
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know home birth vs hospital birth can be somewhat controversial, I didn't know online birth was an option, never mind death.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#22

Can You Eat Non-Customers At The Tables? Asking For A Friend

Can You Eat Non-Customers At The Tables? Asking For A Friend

Malka Wolf Report

Add photo comments
POST
Loverboy
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's alright, the customers taste better than the food anyway.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
See Also on Bored Panda
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#29

Yummy

Yummy

Jar Raj Grover Report

Add photo comments
POST
Tabby_Sohee
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lol for anyone wondering, that’s in Korean and it says 낙지젓, seasoned and preserved baby octopus side dish

SadieCat17
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The label sounds genuinely good though. Would try seasoned baby.

Tetelestai
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

😱 IS THAT WHERE LITTLE JOEY WENT?! I failed you so badly Joey 😢

Ron H.
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

After reading ingredients, I'd rather it was baby!! 🤢

View more commentsArrow down menu
#31

I've Read This Five Different Ways. Each Giving A New And More Disturbing Meaning To It

I've Read This Five Different Ways. Each Giving A New And More Disturbing Meaning To It

Nicholas del Cioppo Report

#32

How Can You Fill Both Sides Of An Aisle With One Niche Product Category?

How Can You Fill Both Sides Of An Aisle With One Niche Product Category?

Gilbert Cockton Report

Add photo comments
POST
Libstak
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Have you seen how many baby products are in a supermarket aisle lately?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#33

Saying “You Are A Cancer” Isn’t Much Better

Saying “You Are A Cancer” Isn’t Much Better

Pina Vyas Report

#34

Seems Awfully Cheap

Seems Awfully Cheap

Stacy DeMeo Robbin Report

Add photo comments
POST
Harris Good
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

reminds me of bob's burgers... "we make our burgers with dead bodies from the crematorium next door!"

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#36

Misogynists (Somewhere In Canada)

Misogynists (Somewhere In Canada)

The Interior Report

Add photo comments
POST
°CORLEONE°
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is a real park hahaha https://www.google.com/maps/@49.2636471,-123.0969396,3a,75y,31.29h,89.12t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sZ-R9NWejKReyPNsxHbbuzQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DZ-R9NWejKReyPNsxHbbuzQ%26cb_client%3Dsearch.revgeo_and_fetch.gps%26w%3D96%26h%3D64%26yaw%3D280.0476%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#37

But How Many Fake Ones?

But How Many Fake Ones?

Marcy Bauman Report

Add photo comments
POST
GB
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It always gets me when I see phrases like "with real cheese" on a pizza box or other cheese-related product. The implication being that the default is fake cheese.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#39

Shucks, Wouldn’t You Know It, We’re On Vacation And Only Have Our Holiday Maid With Us

Shucks, Wouldn’t You Know It, We’re On Vacation And Only Have Our Holiday Maid With Us

Alastair John Stewart Report

#40

Hope Agian Shows Up

Hope Agian Shows Up

David Levy Report

Note: this post originally had 150 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.