Welcome to the Grammar Minute, where we’re saving the English language sixty seconds at a time! I’m Lauren Smyth, and this is episode one of the Grammar Hall of Shame. If you follow me on Instagram, you may have noticed some posts with grammar rules alongside grammar mistakes. And that’s what we’re going to talk about today. A fantastic picture has been floating around the internet of a sign that says: “TABLES ARE FOR EATING CUSTOMERS ONLY.” If that conjures up a gruesome picture in your mind, you’re in good company. “Eating” here could function as either a verb or an adjective. With only context to make the meaning clear, the meaning … really isn’t clear. Your customers might be getting eaten, or they might be eating, and there’s no real way to tell. Another, similar problem came from a sign that said THIS DOOR IS ALARMED. Either the door has an alarm, or it’s frightened. The best way to be certain is to simply reword both signs.
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