English PSA

To whom it may concern:

“Up to” takes a finite argument and no modifiers. It is a limiting operator, instilling an upper maximum on the number that follows. If you can save “up to $100,” it means that savings cannot exceed $100.

“Save up to $500 or more” is illogical, because you state a maximum and then state it can be exceeded. It would be like “Speed Limit: 65+” It’s not a limit.

Vague quantities don’t make sense, either. This means you, AARP commercial. “Save up to thousands of dollars.” What does that mean?!

I see this written up to a lot of times a day, or more. It literally makes smoke come out of my ears, irregardless. Please, don’t do it.

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