20 Signs That Had Hilariously Unnecessary "Quotation Marks" That Made Everything Sound Ominous

Signs are an important part of our society—they keep us organized, help us navigate our surroundings, and protect us from potential threats or dangers. And no, these aren't the signs we ask the universe to provide regarding what we should do with our lives; we are talking about tangible signs we see every day whenever we go out—the ones on the streets, in malls, stores, or any other place you can think of.

They also enable us to know certain things in advance, like when we pass by a quaint little store and read a sign just outside their door indicating that they sell coffee and cupcakes. A small sign indicating whether they are open or closed would also let us know if it's okay for us to go in or not.

That being said, signs are used to market services and products—but what some people who create these signs don't seem to realize is that they need to sound confident in order to sell. After all, good copy is essential these days; you wouldn't want to drive potential customers away when you aren't even sure of the quality of the service or product you are trying to advertise, right?

Have you ever come across a sign with a certain word or phrase placed inside quotation marks? They aren't necessarily signs of uncertainty, but quotation marks do create the impression that the writer is being sarcastic about what they are trying to convey.

Many people use quotation marks in their writing or make an air-quote gesture whenever they hint at something sarcastic, so it's somewhat odd to see it being done in signs that should be providing clarity instead of confusion. They all look a bit suspicious, too.

Just take a look at the following photos below and see for yourself!

1. An easy way to drive any passengers away:

2. What kind of "meat service" could that be?

3. Honestly, what is this supposed to mean?

Some of these signs really committed to the confusion.

4. Someone must have forced them to write the magic word, so they just followed begrudgingly. And it shows.

5. But what about fake ice cream?

6. It's great that they are being clear about who's working around here; otherwise, we might have thought they were aliens doing part-time work here on Earth.

This one sounds way more suspicious than it probably meant to.

7. It's scary what "cares" means on their end.

8. Is that actually "bread," or was it something else before it morphed into this?

9. What is their definition of "very best," anyway?

10. "On a stick" and "if we can"? Oh boy.

By this point, the quotation marks are doing all the heavy lifting.

This is the same kind of head-scratching as the visual anomalies that make your logic spin in the mud.

11. A great way to passive-aggressively greet your "father" with whom you are angry. LOL.

12. Ew, this makes us think of fake cheese coming from all sorts of disgusting places.

13. Hmm, it could be a cat!

14. With that sign, we wouldn't have the heart to trust them at all.

At this point, even the harmless signs start to feel a little shady.

15. Are those actual "crabs," or are they artificially made?

16. That "fresh" pizza sounds really sinister.

17. We don't even want to know what kind of lotion that is.

18. In other words: RUN.

19. This may be the first time we turn down a "beer."

20. Funnily enough, this sounds like stairs that will lead you toward impending doom.

Quotation marks can clarify a message, but these signs turned them into a comedy of suspicion.

Comment with your thoughts, or share this article for all your family and friends to see!

May your next sign be much less ominous.

Still baffled by “useful” listings? See marketplace finds that are impossible to explain, no quotation marks required.