What, as opposed to metaphorical use?
I also love how the text is left-aligned (ragged right, if you prefer to call it that) rather than centred. It gives the sign a certain poetical quality.
The Bluesky explosion and the Substack trap
2 days ago
5 comments:
Surely you mean "poetic quality".
Nope, I mean "poetical quality".
From the OED Online entry on 'poetical':
"Having the style or character proper to poetry; = POETIC adj. 3b.
In modern use sometimes depreciative."
Also see http://www.bartleby.com/212/0717.html
While I see your point, I have to say that the sign actually makes some sense to me. It appears to be on a door of some sort? I can see someone thinking, "Oh yes, I'm using that room; I'll be in and out of it ten times today, so I'll leave it unlocked." So the sign is trying to indicate, "No, unless you're actually going in and out of the room right now, lock the door."
RJ: Yes, having thought about it, I've come to much the same conclusion. I briefly considered "keep locked at all times" as an alternative but that suggests that entry is prohibited.
Maybe "immediate use" would be better? It might at least relieve some of the ragged right edge. :-)
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