3113: Fix This Sign

2025-07-09T20:37:25Z

2601:444:981:56A0:891E:3ADE:99D8:716A: Added simple transcription

{{comic
| number = 3113
| date = July 9, 2025
| title = Fix This Sign
| image = fix_this_sign_2x.png
| imagesize = 448x405px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = We're building on our earlier success getting web developers to pay to change the backslashes in our displayed payment URL to forward slashes.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created by a MISALIGNED COLUMN. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

The comic depicts a sign with a number of issues that most graphics designers would likely take issue with, such as bad kerning and alignment. Fortunately these graphics designers can donate money to have the sign's issues fixed.

Fix kerning: Kerning refers to the spacing between letters in a typeface. Kerning issues can result in letters text appearing too far apart, as if there were a space in between, or too close as if the letters were merged. In some instances combinations of letters can appear like other letters. A well known example of this is the r and n in kerning merging into "keming", which is depicted in the comic with the R and N close together, although in uppercase this merging doesn't happen.

Align columns: Here the dollar amount and the text itself are not aligned with the rest of the entries.

Fix text size: The size of this entry is smaller than the rest of the other entries. Like with the misaligned columns, such variances could be displeasing to the eye or too distracting, and may annoy graphics designers into donating just to get it fixed.

Fix typo: The title of the sign says "'''doanate''' to fix this sign!" Someone who is easily annoyed by random typos could be compelled to donate just to get the typo fixed.

Fix centering: Again the title of the sign of slightly off-center, being slightly to the right.

Fix rotation: The title of the sign is also tilted slightly, with the "doanate" being higher than the "sign".

The title text refers to another common annoyance seen in signs: the use of backslashes in URLs. URLs are defined to use forward slashes (/) rather than backslashes (\), which are instead used by Windows pathnames. Due to the common usage of both URLs and Windows pathnames it is not uncommon for someone to instinctively use backslashes in URLs, which isn't always supported (slashes in Windows paths however are supported via Win32 to NT path conversion).

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
A single panel containing a large, elevated sign with Ponytail in front of it.

The sign has a large title reading "Doanate to fix this sign!"
on the left, a faux QR code with a link https://[illegible].com
a list of donation requests is present on the right.
- $10 fix kerning
- $20 align columns
- $20 fix text size
- $50 fix typo
- $50 fix centering
- $100 fix rotation

Ponytail, looking at her phone: "Grrr..."

Text below panel: "My new company's business model is based on extorting graphic designers."

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>

explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

3113: Fix This Sign