Grammar Suicide # 10

On February 4, 2009 · 14 Comments · In Grammar Suicide

Grammar suicide chronicles my daily encounters with everything grammatically suicidal. This is not meant to laugh onto Filipinos’ ingenuous English grammar usage but is, rather, meant to induce awareness about the common Pinoy-style deviations from the proper usage of the language. (Charing!)

grammar_onwards

I and my friends stopped strolling at the facade of Charles & Keith™ at Robinson’s Place Manila to discuss a seemingly problematic usage of the word “onwards” (see image above). I was quite hesitant to treat this a grammar-suicide-worthy entry but, I think, through this, professional grammarians and linguists and English geeks alike could state their claim about this (weh? haha). Onward/s is an adverb primarily used for stating directions and time. But could it be used for prices as well? It could have been “799 (and) above”. Technically, they share the same sense but it still bothers me. Haha. What do you think?

Related posts:

  1. Grammar Suicide # 12
  2. Grammar Suicide # 5
  3. Grammar Suicide # 9
  4. Grammar Suicide # 3
  5. Grammar Suicide # 8
 
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
  • http://hisnameisdencios.wordpress.com hisnameisdencios

    kung ako ang babasa nyan hindi ko magegets kasi ganyan din ako mag ingles – puro suwisayd ;-)

    aLps: Haha, ayos lang ‘yan. :>

  • http://ssdd.i.ph lio loco

    i think “onwards”, as it is used in the picture, is grammatically correct. yes, it is generally used as an adverb for stating directions and time but it could also be used to mean advancing on an onward trend or advancing ahead, thus 7.99 onwards. of course, “and above” is also correct and is, in fact, more popularly used here in the country. just my two-cents’-worth. lolz!

    I know! We got the point at least. Hehe.

  • http://elclaves.blogspot.com denis

    i think they had a struggle with the execution.

    I think they are trying to inject some sort of “concept” to the signage so that shall creatively deviate from the domain of grammar…

    but then again, there are people like u hehe

    Grammar will always be a struggle. :< Anyway, this might be acceptable, at least in Europe.

  • http://yeahred2.wordpress.com Yom

    I think I must agree. :)

    aLps: Hehe

  • http://barrycyrus.wordrpress.com Barry

    yer so observant! haha
    yeah, but yer right.

    onwards is for dates, or time aspects.

    aLps: Diba? Pero tama raw eh, at least for European countries. :>

  • FUJI

    “JULY 1999 onwards?” XD

    aLps: Haha!

  • http://abrel.blogspot.com abrel

    hi apls! Basing from the font used, I think we can interpret it as SALE-799. FROM END OF SEASON ONWARDS. If you saw this during christmas season, what they mean to say is from the end of christmas season onwards, the price is 799.

    There is indeed ambiguity in the statement. It may be for art sake.

    I hope this comment makes sense.

    add nga pala kita sa blogroll ko.

    aLps: That’s technically weird! Hehe. Anyhoo, linked you! :>

  • http://flamindevil.wordpress.com flamindevil

    hmm…sabagay may point ka dyan parekoy.

    dito nga sa malaysia,natawa rin ako.may nakapaskil sa labas ng kfc.may ad sila about hiring new staff. at ang last line ang pamatay:

    apply from within..haha

    sana apply inside na lang.sa grammar naman,imho,less words,less mistakes.

    aLps: Photo! :>

  • http://yhen1027.wordpress.com/ yhen

    i think its 799 and up… im really not sure about this… pero since, its a book, baka may reason bkit onwards ang gnmit… usually di ba gnun naman, kc 4sure they will not use it unles may ibg sbhn siya… ;-)

    aLps: It’s correct daw. European countries regard it error-less. :D

  • http://kwentongkengkay.com kengkay

    peotic licence ;D

    lipat lipat at binagbali baligtad na ang gamit ng mga salita para maging iba ang dating, hehehe

    aLps: At least, we got the point. Haha.

  • http://neuroticsister.wordpress.com/ neuroticsister

    ewan ko! hahaha basta ang alam ko, meron akong reflex action pag dating sa maling grammar… hahaha i think it’s because of the student paper, we always look for the mistakes in our articles to clear everything. ayun! sadly pati sa aking social life nagcocorrect ako ng grammar. haha

    aLps: Basta kung may mali, dapat itama kaagad. :D

  • http://www.bulitas.blogspot.com bulitas

    hindi kaya time yan? LOL
    7 am and 99 secs onwards. wtf.
    certified FAIL!!
    though pasok naman yung thought na pinaparating nila. sablay nga lang ang adverb.

    aLps: It is correct daw, at least in Europe.

  • gwen foster

    HAHAHA. AHAHAHHA. Shet wala akong masabi. HAHAHAHA =))

    aLps: Funny noh? :D

  • http://abrel.blogspot.com abre

    hi…hindi ata napublish yong comment ko bout this.
    basing from the font used kasi, it looks like this- SALE-799. END OF THE SEASON ONWARDS. Meaning, from the end of the season (christmas for example) onwards, the price is 799.

    But, I agree. There is indeed a presence of ambiguity.

Set your Twitter account name in your settings to use the TwitterBar Section.