"Rules" are made to be broken

Also in quotes: "Do Not Use Quantity Key"

D'Agostino, Third Avenue

"1000s of DVDs for sale" vs. "1000's of DVD's for sale"

I've been thinking about this predicament lately — namely, what do you do when it looks awkward to put an apostrophe and awkward not to? Which awkward is least awkward?

For example:
I've come to not really mind people writing, "CD's and DVD's for sale," and the like (that's how the NYT does it). However, AP Style is to say someone is in their 20s, and temperatures are also sans apostrophe. Maybe just words, not numbers, need the apostrophe for clarity.

Anyone else have different thoughts?

Thanks to Kimberly from Oregon for the photo!

Gimme gimme "more"

I have all kinds of problems with this ad. To begin with, everyone knows chicken strips is two words. I mean, right?


But the funnier bit is what's circled. Quotes around "numbers" — don't look "directly" at them!! Three words: Spell it out. When numbers touch numbers and it looks awkward, you always spell it out!

And finally, what's a Swee Treat? Or is it Sweet Reat? Either way, I'm a bit concerned.

Thanks to K, who has apparently become an operative for YSV against his better judgment.

It just don't make no sense

Quick! Someone zap the little grammar bug in this software!


Thanks to Super R for the sighting.