Garden-Path Sentences

  • Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
  • The man who hunts ducks out on weekends.
  • The cotton clothing is usually made of grows in Mississippi.
  • Fat people eat accumulates.
  • The complex houses married and single students and their families.
  • I convinced her children are noisy.
  • The player kicked the ball kicked the ball.
  • Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.
  • Alice, while Bob had had "had", had had "had had". "Had had" had had a better effect on the teacher.
  • The horse raced past the barn fell.
  • Mary gave the child the dog bit a bandaid.
  • The dog that I had really loved bones.
  • All women who admire a man who paints like Monet.
  • We painted the wall with cracks.
  • Puns are a rare medium well done.
  • The word at the end of this sentence is missing.
  • Who did he tell you that to?
  • No evidence is good enough for creationists, but no evidence is good enough for creationists.

Other

You can read these as if they were real newspaper headlines (some may have been, but that's irrelevant).

  • Squad helps dog bite victim.
  • Helicopter powered by human flies.
  • Canadian pushes bottle up Germans.
  • Grandmother of eight makes hole in one.
  • Two convicts evade noose, jury hung.
  • Milk drinkers are turning to powder.
  • Two sisters reunite after eighteen years at checkout counter.
  • Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges.
  • Kids Make Nutritious Snacks.
  • Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half.
  • Hospitals are Sued by Seven Foot Doctors.
  • Farmer Bill Dies in House.
  • Juvenile Court Tries Shooting Defendant.
  • Kicking Baby Considered To Be Healthy.
  • Stolen Painting Found by Tree.

Faulty translations

Some of these may be spurious, but still...

  • The lift is being fixed for the day. During that time we regret that you will be unbearable.
  • Visitors are expected to complain at the office between the hours of 9 and 11 am daily.
  • The flattening of underwear with pleasure is the job of the chambermaid. - a hotel
  • You are welcome to visit the cemetary where famous Russian and Soviet composers, artists, and writers are buried daily except Thursday.
  • Drop your trousers here for best results. - a dry cleaner's
  • Our wines leave you nothing to hope for. - a restaurant
  • We take your bags and send them in all directions. - a ticket office
  • Ladies are requested not to have children in the bar. - a lounge
  • The manager has personally passed all the water served here. - a hotel
  • If you want just condition of warm in your room, please control yourself. - air conditioner instructions
  • When passenger of foot heave in sight, tootle the horn. Trumpet him melodiously at first, but if he still obstacles your passage then tootle him with vigor. - car rental brochure
  • Ladies may have a fit upstairs. - a tailor's
  • It is strictly forbidden on our Black Forest camping site that people of different sex, for instance, men and women, live together in one tent unless they are married with each other for that purpose. - a campground