Poll: As one council bans them, have apostrophes had their day?
Council chiefs in the home of one of England's leading universities have come under fire for banning apostrophes from street names.
Apostrophes are now banned from new street names in Cambridge – amid fears they would be too confusing.
The decision to outlaw all punctuation from new road names has been branded "deplorable" and condemned as "pandering to the lowest denominator", especially in a city renowned for learning.
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Officers said they were following national guidance which warned apostrophes could lead to mistakes, particularly for emergency services.
The city council's policy says a road called St Paul's Court would appear in all documentation and nameplates as "St Pauls Court".
But Kathy Salaman, director of the Good Grammar Company, said it was a "dreadful" idea.
She said: "I know some people think apostrophes are superfluous but we really need them and I think it's the first step on a slippery slope.
"If councils are getting rid of them, what kind of message does that give out to students at schools?"
Existing street names are not affected by the policy.
What's the situation in Shropshire? Have you got any examples of bad or confusing grammar in street names and road signs? Send your photos to ketley.newsroom@shropshirestar.co.uk
