Funny,FailsMAR 29, 2026

51 Signs That Became So Much Funnier Thanks To Misused Quotation Marks (New Pics)

Mariia Tkachenko, Oleksandra Kyryliuk, Ieva P., Rugilė Žemaitytė and Karolina Kondratavičiūtė

Most often, quotation marks are used to show someone’s exact words. Sometimes, they also signal sarcasm or irony. In most cases, there is nothing especially unusual about this little punctuation mark.

But place quotation marks where they do not belong, and they can completely change the meaning of a sentence, often in a way that sounds weird, funny, or even slightly suspicious. Telling someone to enjoy their safe holidays is perfectly fine. Wishing them “safe” holidays, on the other hand, raises a few questions.

Below, we’ve rounded up some hilarious examples of signs that used quotation marks in ways they absolutely should not have. Scroll down to check them out.

#21 So... There's "Nothing" In This Cabinet?

Sign with suspicious quotation marks around the word nothing, making the storage rule sound hilariously doubtful on cabinet door.

HauntedFurniture

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20points

Then technology complicated things again. When typewriters and early computers arrived, curved quotation marks were simplified into two straight characters (' and "), because early keyboards and character sets could not support the full range of shapes.

The curved versions only came back with modern word processors, which can automatically choose the right opening or closing form.

#22 Ah, Yes. “Ice” For My “Iced” Drink. Definitely Not Anything Else…

Sign at Dunkin using quotation marks around iced and ice, creating a hilariously suspicious message about drinks and ingredients.

ThyKnightOfSporks

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19points

#23 Found This At The Secondary School I Had To Drop Out Of Due To Bullying

School sign with quotation marks around the word Good, creating a hilariously suspicious message.

dr4gon1154

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19points

#24 The Authorities Have Got Wise To Our "Dance Parties"

Sign with suspicious quotation marks around dance party, humorously implying no real dance event tonight in building.

HauntedFurniture

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18points

As you can tell, the quotation mark has come a long way. And most of the time it does its job perfectly and without any fuss.

It is only when someone uses it without quite knowing why that it starts causing trouble, turning perfectly ordinary words into something that sounds a little suspicious, and making everyone wonder just what kind of “fresh” bread they are being sold.