I often see misplaced apostrophes in the market but I put them down to ignorance or a way of catching attention. A notice I saw last week read “tomatoes cheep”! Do they? Why and when? I bought some to find out. Then I went to have coffee and a “doorstop” sandwich, which it certainly was as was quite stale. Surely a thick sandwich is called a “doorstep”?
I realise that I am becoming pedantic with age. I read a lot and I am tempted to pencil over incorrect grammar, although I disapprove of the fact that often other readers have done so already. Do not writers and editors attend English lessons at school? They would learn that it is: different from, compared with, sentences must not end with a preposition, it is his, not he, being a kind man, to whom is preferable to who to.
English is an expressive creative language and we must get it right. If spelling is not a strong point we must keep a dictionary to hand and not feel inadequate when consulting it.
Sylvia Stilts, London
