You and Frank Bruni with your sleeping dogs. A real dog, i.e., a border collie, only mimics sleep, always on patrol for cats, squirrels, bunnies, and anything else that threatens to perk. Flannery is my cryptoconcubine.
My approach to "should've" or "should have" versus "should of" isn't about phonetics, it's that there are people who genuinely say "should of," because they think that's the correct phrasing. Those people, I let say it the way they want.
So perhaps I, too, am Flannery O'Connor.
It's a nice change from being Spartacus, at any rate.
Congratulations on a year of en–dashery! You ought to sell en dash alert tee-shirts with a footnote on them. And I ought to read the beautiful O'Connor story collection with the peacock cover that I have on my shelf, but I'm currently reading Body by Harry Crews, which stars an entire family who talks like The Misfit. He's not Flannery, but he was singular in his own right, and I'll give him a pass.
Not Flannery O'Connor, but as someone who grew up in the MIddle South, I often use should of and would of without any intention of rendering dialect in my writing.
As an English major in the 70’s,at a small Jesuit university, I took a two semester course I’ll call “ All things Flannery O’Connor. It was taught by a Jesuit priest born in England who revered the southern author. (?) All these decades later what sticks in my craw is the hayloft and that damn wooden leg. Guessing I’m not Flannery O’Connor.
Uh-oh, Mr. Dreyer’s being handsy.
“24 March 2025”—zat is right, Monsieur!
Upon reflection I damn well am Flannery O'Connor
So am I!
I always wanted to be—except for the lupus and tragic unrequited love.
“… false modesty ill becomes me,” he humbly boasts.
You and Frank Bruni with your sleeping dogs. A real dog, i.e., a border collie, only mimics sleep, always on patrol for cats, squirrels, bunnies, and anything else that threatens to perk. Flannery is my cryptoconcubine.
Your footnotes, all eleven, pleased me well.
Now there are thirteen!
My approach to "should've" or "should have" versus "should of" isn't about phonetics, it's that there are people who genuinely say "should of," because they think that's the correct phrasing. Those people, I let say it the way they want.
So perhaps I, too, am Flannery O'Connor.
It's a nice change from being Spartacus, at any rate.
Congratulations on a year of en–dashery! You ought to sell en dash alert tee-shirts with a footnote on them. And I ought to read the beautiful O'Connor story collection with the peacock cover that I have on my shelf, but I'm currently reading Body by Harry Crews, which stars an entire family who talks like The Misfit. He's not Flannery, but he was singular in his own right, and I'll give him a pass.
Mastery forgives all. And thank you, Thomas!
❤️
Not Flannery O'Connor, but as someone who grew up in the MIddle South, I often use should of and would of without any intention of rendering dialect in my writing.
As an English major in the 70’s,at a small Jesuit university, I took a two semester course I’ll call “ All things Flannery O’Connor. It was taught by a Jesuit priest born in England who revered the southern author. (?) All these decades later what sticks in my craw is the hayloft and that damn wooden leg. Guessing I’m not Flannery O’Connor.
Ultimately I think it's OK not to be Flannery O'Connor, unless one really feels the need to be Flannery O'Connor.
Have you read Ann Napolitano's novel A Good Hard Look? Fine fictionalized Flannery.
I have not! I do know her to be a fine writer!
Always, a good Flan is hard to find.
I am not Flannery O'Connor, but I nonetheless offer my congratulations on A Word About...'s (1, 1a, 1b) first anniversary.
Footnote 1: I should of done better with the possessive, but the ellipsis is unavoidable and ... fun.
Footnote 1a: Ellipsis, not ellipses, as I've mistakenly pronounced and written it all my days. Thank you, M-W.
Footnote 1b: The only reason I looked up ellipsis is because I'm writing a comment to THE Mr. Dreyer. Shoulda thanked you first.
Bonne anniversaire, as we say over here.
Merci!, as I say over here.