This shirt has been sent to me from several people, including readers Melissa, Ariana and Ryan.
I was in disbelief when I first saw it. I still am, to a degree. How could this American Eagle shirt ever have been sold? How did it even get through quality assurance?
Take a look:
Love the one your with.
Allow me to repeat:
LOVE THE ONE YOUR WITH!!!!!!
This one actually made me upset. Is this the direction in which we’re trending? Should we expect to see more and more shirts like these in the future?
I hope not, but I wouldn’t be surpised.
American Eagle, you really should have known better. I can’t imagine how many mistakes were made at so many levels within the company for this shirt to have been put on shelves and sold.
29 responses so far ↓
Smalltowngirl // March 25, 2009 at 10:07 pm |
I recently had a student wear a rodeo shirt that was supposed to be funny because of the sexual innuendo, but I was more offended by the wrong use of your/you’re in four inch letters! (I really wish I could remember exactly what it said)
Cate // March 26, 2009 at 12:18 pm |
Oh my gosh, how did that not get corrected at some point? I agree with you; I’m actually upset that such a gross error could be overlooked at so many different levels. Absurd!
Lisa // March 26, 2009 at 1:07 pm |
If the user made flair on Facebook is any indicator, many of A.E.’s demographic won’t even notice. And that makes me sad.
ArmyWife // March 26, 2009 at 4:26 pm |
This is not the first incorrect you’re/your shirt AE has ever made. About 4 years ago I was admiring one on a table, contemplating purchase, when I noticed IT. The blaring grammar error. I wrote the company.
ccr in MA // March 26, 2009 at 5:29 pm |
Oh, I hate that. It’s just the sort of thing that drives me nuts, that someone made that mistake and No One Caught It!
dlipkin // March 26, 2009 at 11:10 pm |
At least it wasn’t American Apparel. That would have been a white person’s field day. Or nightmare. I need to check with the Stuff White People Like folks.
thewordjar // March 26, 2009 at 11:48 pm |
I am the Grammar Vandal’s indignant outrage.
That the shirt is being sold is upsetting enough, but equally upsetting is the fact that the people who are wearing it probably don’t even know *they’re* is a mistake on it.
Bitsy // March 27, 2009 at 5:58 pm |
I have a feeling they are either doing it on purpose or just don’t care. Either way it makes me sad.
J.G. // March 29, 2009 at 7:32 am |
I wonder if Stephen Stills knows about this?
fvarga // March 30, 2009 at 8:00 am |
“surpised” or “surprised”?
Just following the tag “Spelling Errors”…
Just Kidding!
Nice blog.
Hailey // March 30, 2009 at 8:29 pm |
that’s ridiculous. just because they cater to teens and young adults doesn’t mean they have to write like them =P
Dan // March 31, 2009 at 7:52 pm |
There will always be a market for good writers.
Fantastic Forrest // April 5, 2009 at 2:22 am |
Urgh. That grates on me so much. Thank you for your blog. It is a safe place to visit, where words are used, not abused.
Meg // April 6, 2009 at 1:34 am |
I just purchased it on their website and I have already placed my order when decided to take a closer look and saw the error. I was devastated.
Now I’m planning to either remove the print or just put something above it.
furpurrson // April 6, 2009 at 4:59 am |
Sloppy usage is becoming endemic. In the produce section of my local supermarket this weekend I saw several rows of cartons with a company slogan stamped on them: “never worry about it’s [sic!!!!] quality.”
AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGHHH!!!
Professor J // April 6, 2009 at 10:26 am |
Oh my god!
Jane Kennedy Sutton // April 6, 2009 at 2:32 pm |
The shirts are probably made overseas where English is not the primary language – which is still no excuse for someone not catching the goof before the shirts made it to the stores.
Jane Kennedy Sutton
http://janekennedysutton.blogspot.com/
Todd Young // April 8, 2009 at 2:55 pm |
They were bring ironic and making a social commentary, so just settle down.
The fact it WAS noticed and has people talking means it was successful in its purpose.
Consider your lives all the richer for the collective experience.
WhackyTee.com - Funny Shirts // April 8, 2009 at 9:25 pm |
What is the graphic supposed to be? I don’t get it!
Babylon4ever // April 10, 2009 at 2:28 pm |
My son brought a shirt home a few years ago from Kohl’s:
“Welcome to Looserville. Population YOU!”
He loved it so much, I didn’t take it back, but believe me, he now knows the difference between a loser and loose change.
Brionne // April 10, 2009 at 10:10 pm |
OMG I was so mad when i saw that today I refuse to shop there now. Dumbasses. I yelled really loud “No wonder everyone at my school is a moron. They all shop here! These people can’t even spell!” all the kids at my school shop there. I used to. HA! not anymore!
physic // April 15, 2009 at 4:33 pm |
hmmmm – I’m a bit of a fan of the proper use of English and mistakes like this are disturbing. But I also can’t help but reflect on the fact that languages DO evolve. It’s quite conceivable that the subtle differences between your and you’re will be dropped (and perhaps even be replaced by ‘ur’) and then maybe future generations of grammar spotters will have more of a carefree existence……..oh and I had to grin at ‘..I wouldn’t be surpised..’
Anonymous // April 19, 2009 at 3:23 pm |
Here’s an update:
http://i44.tinypic.com/afh7ab.jpg
Chris // April 20, 2009 at 12:26 pm |
They just forgot the d. It is ‘Love the one your width’.
Sean Samonas // April 22, 2009 at 12:46 pm |
My boss made the comment that maybe they did it to avoid copy right issues. Maybe they are being really clever and are like, “No, no…”love the one your with” and “Love the one you’re with” are two completely different sentences with two different meanings. Hell, ours doesn’t even make sense, it’s not referencing or copying anyone’s famous song lyrics.
I’d like to think they are that clever, but then I reminded him that it is American Eagle we are talking about.
Krista // April 24, 2009 at 3:16 pm |
I came in to work today and lo and behold, one of my co-workers was wearing this shirt!
Drew of http://englishtrainer.blogspot.com/search/label/confusing%20words%20and%20phrases // April 29, 2009 at 9:32 pm |
Hi! I think a lot of people nowadays commit mistakes like that because of some movies and songs. In my country, one of the biggest reasons people commit spelling mistakes like that is sending SMS messages/texting because we tend to spell the words in a shortcut manner. For instance, You’re or your becomes ‘UR’.
melaniemccoy // May 12, 2009 at 11:05 pm |
Oh my gosh, this specific grammar error is one of my biggest pet peeves, yet I never noticed it on the shirt until now. And I work at an American Eagle store, hahaha.
The Shocker // August 8, 2009 at 11:15 am |
I do believe that we are moving on to an era similar to the movie ‘Idiocracy’ where the differences between Your and You’re are becoming smaller. Soon it will be acceptable to use either for any purpose.