this post was submitted on 22 May 2025
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Image TranscriptA 3x3 grid of images of signs.

Row 1: "Bees" Active In This "Area", Employee Must "Wash Hands", Entrance "E.R."

Row 2: "NEW" underwear 50p each, The "CLUNK" in the elevator... will not... .....harm you!!!, Beware of "Dog"

Row 3: "LIVE" Lobsters, "Women", "Restrooms" located on other side of building

v1als: unnecessary quotation mark appreciation board

prettypinkdork: There are few things as profoundly funny as unnecessary/ominous quotations.

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[–] Lucien@mander.xyz 21 points 1 month ago (4 children)

Quote marks used to be used for "emphasis", and some older people still use them that way. I had an aunt who would use quotes like this on signs at her fruit stand.

[–] shneancy@lemmy.world 18 points 1 month ago (1 children)

if someone tried selling me a "fruit salad" i'd be scared

[–] MNByChoice@midwest.social 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Why would one need to emphasize "fruit salad"? fruit salad is insane.

[–] Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 1 month ago

look at this guy not wanting their "salad tossed", well more for me!

[–] jjjalljs@ttrpg.network 15 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Is that true? Or just "true"? I couldn't find a credible source for that with a very short search.

[–] GabrielBell12fi@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

I know people who use "air quotes" to put "emphasis" on words if they are "trying" to make a "point"

But I don't know if that comes from people using quotes originally to do the same thing.

[–] BossDj@lemm.ee 1 points 1 month ago

It's true in a sense that you can find examples of big companies and chains using them in such a way, even in national advertising and on products.

It was never part of any written standards to be used that way. But this situation counts more as communicating than language, and communication is whatever the people want it to be.

I think it comes down to people in any of the situations to make these decisions were never academics.

[–] jaybone@lemmy.zip 9 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I’ve heard this before but I’m not entirely sure. Is it possible some old people just didn’t learn to write properly? Like when they used to write emails in all caps?

[–] Lucien@mander.xyz 4 points 1 month ago

One of the first results I found was this Jeep advertising sign from the 60s

[–] Phoenix3875@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

Neon sign, budget ver.