Oh those pesky apostrophes. They can trip up even the best word nerd.
Making sure they are used correctly is what an editor is for.
However, mega clothing chain Old Navy opted to approve one of the T-shirts in its Fall football line without making sure everything was correct on the front.
Among its designs for rabid fans of universities and colleges, the one for Wolverine fans has the statement “Lets Go” above a football and the “M” that is familiar as a representation for the University of Michigan.
However, for grammar nerds, the shirt is lacking a key ingredient between the t and the s in “Lets.” As it is printed now, “Lets” means allows. The critical addition of an apostrophe between the t and the s changes the word to an abbreviation of “Let us.”
It’s not the first time Old Navy has made some poor choices with its T-shirt collections. Three St. Patrick’s Day holiday themed versions were pulled after complaints that their drinking themes portrayed negative Irish stereotypes.
You just know the English professors at rival Michigan State laugh and point every time they see one of these Michigan shirts.
I wonder if the employee that approved the shirts got fired like the Director of the National Mint in Chile was fired after a coin was released with the nation spelled “Chiie” on it.
At least Old Navy didn’t have to scrap an entirely new logo for the chain like The Gap did.