Is "Stick no bills" correct English?

Question

'Stick no bills' sounds awkward.

Shouldn't it be something like 'Do not stick any bills'?

Kosmonaut · Accepted Answer

Both are correct English. I am sure that "stick no bills" was chosen because it is shorter and more to the point than "do not stick any bills", which is often done with signage. We also have "no smoking" instead of "do not smoke", and "no turn on red" instead of "do not turn on red", for example.

Correct answer by Kosmonaut on April 4, 2021

user95728 · Answer

I am very much used to seeing "post no bills" than "stick no bills", but "stick no bills" is also correct because "stick" is a command word.

viky · Answer

"Stick no bills" is parallel to "Smoke no cigarettes."

(Please correct me if I am wrong.)

Is "Stick no bills" correct English?

3 Answers

Add your own answers!

Ask a Question