signbrad
New Member
Yes, it can be amusing to hear people talk about the “correct” way to write a phone number. I have even been known to correct others on the placement of the hyphens used in US phone numbers. Most computer programs place them below vertical center. This is actually the default lower case position, which is understandable since most hyphenation in printing occurs between lower case letters. Back in the day, though, when typesetting was an actual trade in the US, good craftsmanship called for centering a hyphen vertically next to whatever character was beside it. The too-low hyphen is so common now, however, that people view it as normal.
Should “call” or “phone” prefix a phone number? Of course, it’s not necessary. When I do this it is usually part of an attempt at a retro look. Or if I am showing a non-US phone number for US viewers. In this country, we are so accustomed to seeing punctuation in phone numbers that sometimes we don't recognize a European phone number when we see one. But then I should speak for myself only. As a youngster, fresh out of high school, on a visit to Denmark, a likable girl wrote down her number for me. I said, “this is a telephone number?” There were no hyphens or dashes. Just numbers and spaces. She laughed and said, “You must realize that the rest of the world does not do everything your way. You Americans are SO provincial!” If she had only written “phone” or “call” in front of the number. Or even a capital T. I would have been saved the embarrassment. At least I never became the guy I knew in my Arkansas years who bragged that he had never been outside the state and rarely left the county. He viewed his provincialism as some kind of virtue. Mark Twain once said something to the effect that travel can help you be more open-minded and understanding of the cultures of other people, but the quote escapes me now. I agree with him, though.
On the other hand, sign painters have historically used great license with the design of punctuation marks—with, for example, apostrophes—doing things printers would never do. Apostrophes were often treated as creative playthings, design-wise, by some of the sign guys I knew. Of course, using an apostrophe incorrectly should be avoided. It should not be used to create plurals. Using an apostrophe where it does not belong, or viewing its use as a “judgment call,” can make an otherwise intelligent sign person look like a dufus. Even when writing acronyms or dates, the apostrophe should only be used when actually showing possession. For example, “they were CPAs,” not “they were CPA’s." Or, I listened to “music of the 1970s,” not “music of the 1970’s.” However, it is acceptable to say that “1973’s music is still popular.” Because it’s possessive, right? These are not style questions, in my opinion, but rules of punctuation. Some feel this is a rule that was once merely a style question, and that the accepted style has changed. Could be. I don’t know if this is true or not. But, as of now, the only instance I can think of for correctly adding an apostrophe to make a plural is in the case of pluralizing single letters. For example, “remember to dot your i’s” is the accepted form. Because if you say, “remember to dot your is,” it obviously means something else. Actually, it doesn’t mean anything.
My significant other is an English teacher. MY ex-gf was a writer. Do you know how many times I have been corrected? I wish I had a nickel for them all.
Brad
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