Vigilantes correct punctuation on Ecuador graffiti

QUITO, Ecuador, March 6 (UPI) -- A group of grammar-minded graffiti vigilantes in Ecuador are using red paint and the cover of night to correct punctuation on the streets of the capital.

The members of Acción Ortográfica Quito -- which translates to "Quito Orthographic Action" -- have been patrolling the streets of Quito for the past three months and using homemade stencils to add correct accent marks and punctuation to orthographically challenged graffiti.

"We call what we do orthographic vandalism," a group member who goes by the nickname Diéresis told the Guardian. "Graffiti is an act of vandalism. By correcting it, we turn it into something ironic."

"Grammatical errors cause stress. We only make texts comprehensible that otherwise would not send any message whatsoever," he said. "While we are promoting the correct use of language, it is also an excuse for a bit of fun. The idea of making a passerby smile is rewarding."

The group members told Colors magazine they also have educational goals.

"It's a public service and a moral obligation," said a group member who declined to be identified, "We're against spelling vandalism and we won't break nor give up until we see a society free of spelling mistakes."

The group has also recently taken their efforts online, with pictures on their Twitter account correcting the punctuation in tweets by politicians including President Rafael Correa and the office of the Quito mayor.

.@CrudoEcuador ¿Sí han existido comediantes ingleses? ¿Seguro? #HéroesAnónimos #AcciónOrtográfica pic.twitter.com/9e47hTkNDw

— Acción Ortográfica Q (@AccionOQ) February 10, 2015

Hoy, con @PrensaQuito, corregimos una de tres publicaciones. #aQUITOdos también nos equivocamos. pic.twitter.com/JA5WAZ02eg

— Acción Ortográfica Q (@AccionOQ) February 11, 2015

"The only person really annoyed by our actions is the author of the first graffiti we corrected," Diéresis said. "We know this because we have friends in common."