[Grammar] RE: Original Song Title Grammar

[monsterjazzlicks]

RE: Original Song Title Grammar

Hi folks,

I hope it is permissible for me to ask this specific question on the Using English forum.

I recently composed a piece of music and would like some assistance with finalizing the title, please. The title is rather tongue in cheek in that it is deliberately elongated, as well as being overly self-proclaimed:

'Paradigmatic Moment For Super Hip Mr [my full name]'​

Grammatically speaking, is the above correct, please?

(It is a composition in the jazz idiom, and is, obviously, dedicated to myself.)

Many thanks in advance for any kind assistance offered here.

Best,

 

[probus]

Re: Original Song Title Grammar

It sounds fine to me, though Bessie Smith and Louis Armstrong would doubtless be mystified.

 

[monsterjazzlicks]

Re: Original Song Title Grammar

It sounds fine to me, though Bessie Smith and Louis Armstrong would doubtless be mystified.

Thanks probus,

Yes, indeed!

Thank you for confirming the song title is an acceptable form.

Paul

 

[probus]

Re: Original Song Title Grammar

No need to clutter the forum with a thank you note Paul, but we all just love clicks on the Thank button.

 

[Skrej]

Re: Original Song Title Grammar

That being said, I don't think song titles (or any title for that matter) necessarily have to be grammatically correct, especially when they're intended as humorous or farcical.

As long as it's intentional and not just out of sheer ignorance or carelessness, there's usually some grammatical flexibility with things like titles and headlines.

 

[monsterjazzlicks]

Re: Original Song Title Grammar

That being said, I don't think song titles (or any title for that matter) necessarily have to be grammatically correct, especially when they're intended as humorous or farcical.

As long as it's intentional and not just out of sheer ignorance or carelessness, there's usually some grammatical flexibility with things like titles and headlines.

I don't think there is an overwhelming amount of song titles which are top-heavy in their usage of punctuation, at least. For example, colons, semi-colons, and forward (or backward) slashes.

 

[Tdol]

Re: Original Song Title Grammar

It works and kicks ass/arse (UK).

 

[monsterjazzlicks]

Re: Original Song Title Grammar

It works and kicks ass/arse (UK).

I'm afraid I'm not sure if you are referring to my song title or the (my) above post (#6), Tdol?

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Re: Original Song Title Grammar

Hi folks,

I hope I am permitted to ask this [STRIKE]specific[/STRIKE] question here.

Absolutely! Anything about English is fair game.

I recently composed a piece of music and would like help finalizing the title[STRIKE], please[/STRIKE]. The title is rather tongue-in-cheek in that it is deliberately long-winded/verbose, as well as being overly self-aggrandizing:

"Paradigmatic Moment For Super Hip Mr [my full name]"​

Grammatically speaking, is the above correct, please?

In American English, we would either put a period (full stop) after Mr (Mr.) or spell it out (Mister). Otherwise, it's grand.

(It is a jazz composition i[STRIKE]n the jazz idiom,[/STRIKE] and is, obviously, dedicated to me.)

Many thanks [STRIKE]in advance[/STRIKE] for any kind assistance offered here.

Best,

You're welcome!

 

[monsterjazzlicks]

Re: Original Song Title Grammar

In American English, we would either put a period (full stop) after Mr (Mr.) or spell it out (Mister). Otherwise, it's grand.

Charlie,

I was taught to omit a period after 'Mr' because the abbreviation does not exclude the final letter (ie. 'r'). A similar example would be doctor (ie. Dr).

In the case of, say, reverend, this would require a period because spelling truncates at the 'v' (ie. Rev.).

Paul

 

[GoesStation]

Re: Original Song Title Grammar

That's the British approach. Americans use the period to indicate that Mr., Dr., Prof., and so on are abbreviations.

 

[Rover_KE]

Re: Original Song Title Grammar

I was taught to omit a period after 'Mr' because the abbreviation does not exclude the final letter (ie. 'r'). A similar example would be doctor (ie. Dr).

Paul

That usage has been superseded, Paul.

In modern British English, no full stops (periods) are required after any abbreviations.

 

[5jj]

Re: Original Song Title Grammar

The only abbreviations in which I ever use periods are i.e. and e.g. I find that this makes them easier to read. This is a personal choice - I doubt if you'll find it it any style guide.

 

[probus]

Re: Original Song Title Grammar

Nowadays, when few people have studied Latin, the meanings of both i.e. and e.g. are unknown to many. For that reason I avoid them both and use English expressions instead.

 

[probus]

Re: Original Song Title Grammar

I'm afraid I'm not sure if you are referring to my song title or the (my) above post (#6), Tdol?

My money's on the song title.

If you hang around, Paul, you'll find that some of us enjoy word play.

 

[monsterjazzlicks]

Re: Original Song Title Grammar

The only abbreviations in which I ever use periods are i.e. and e.g. I find that this makes them easier to read. This is a personal choice - I doubt if you'll find it it any style guide.

I must admit, rightly or wrongly I have always expressed the abovementioned as: ie. and eg. (one period after the final letter).

 

[GoesStation]

Re: Original Song Title Grammar

I must admit, rightly or wrongly I have always expressed the abovementioned as: ie. and eg. (one period after the final letter).

I'm afraid that's always wrong. The expanded abbreviations are id est and exempli gratia, meaning "that is" and "for example" respectively. It doesn't make sense in either the British or the American convention to put a single period/full stop after the pair of letters.

 

[Tdol]

Re: Original Song Title Grammar

Charlie,

I was taught to omit a period after 'Mr' because the abbreviation does not exclude the final letter (ie. 'r'). A similar example would be doctor (ie. Dr).

In the case of, say, reverend, this would require a period because spelling truncates at the 'v' (ie. Rev.).

Paul

That's what I was taught. But, as Cole Porter said, Heaven knows, anything goes. ;-)