Some Funny Mistakes on Signs in English

This is a link to a blogpost at Miramar College's (San Diego, CA) English Center blog site from a workshop held there last year (Grammar Mistakes from Workshop at Miramar College). It contains some entertaining photos illustrating common mistakes in spelling which reflect poor English grammar.  Because spelling and pronunciation are not closely linked in English, it is easy to make these mistakes. A spellchecker won't necessarily catch these errors because the mistaken words are correctly spelled, but misused in context.

PQ CREEK XING

Have you ever seen a sign like this? If you horseback ride or hike or ride a trail bike, then you may be familiar with this type of hand-written sign, painted on or carved into wood and placed at the top of a stake in the ground. What does the sign say?

What does PQ CREEK XING TO NO. TRAIL mean?  What is BLACK MNT RD?  Are you confused? If you're out on this trail and don't understand the sign,  I hope you're with a local San Diegan who can "translate" or "decode" what it says for you. You may have to ask someone who seems to be familiar with the park.

If you go to the left, you will get to Peñasquitos Creek Crossing and be headed to the North Trail. If you go in the direction of the arrow pointing to the right, you will be headed toward Black Mountain Road.  Now do you see?