| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Sean 
"Necrosphenisciform anthropophagist."
New Zealand
|
 Posted - 02/03/2012 : 03:17:43
|
I'm a bit stuck here. I'm writing/fixing a dedication in my parents' memoirs and want to know what others think about its correctness. The book has one main author (my dad), a secondary author (my mum) and a bunch of others who've written sections. Only my father's name appears on the cover but both my parents' names appear on the inside title page.
The dedication reads something like:-
"To our grandchildren Jane and John and to my sister Sue"
(fake names etc). The thing that doesn't sound quite right is the blending of 'our' and 'my' in the same sentence. Essentially Dad's saying the first half for himself and Mum and the second half for himself.
But, something like "Our dinner is ready and my beer's getting warm" doesn't sound wrong. So perhaps the dedication is fine as it is? Opine, please.  |
Edited by - Sean on 02/03/2012 03:19:01 |
|
|
Chris C 
"Four words, never backwards."
|
Posted - 02/03/2012 : 10:42:51
|
How about "To our grandchildren Jane and John and to Mary's sister Sue"?
|
 |
|
|
demonic 
"Cinemaniac"
United Kingdom
|
Posted - 02/03/2012 : 12:31:56
|
| Given a sister-in-law can be called a sister in casual conversation I reckon it would be fine to run with "to our grandchildren Jane and John and our sister Sue" if you're worried about the my/our issue. |
|
|
|
bife
"Winners never quit ... fwfr ... "
Singapore
|
Posted - 03/03/2012 : 00:04:53
|
I'm not too sure I would worry about the 'correctness' - it's a dedication, so it's personal.
If it bothers you, you could leave out the relationships and go with "For John, Jane and Sue" - they know who they are |
|
|
|
MguyX
"X marks the spot"
United States
|
Posted - 04/03/2012 : 01:02:13
|
I say go with "To MguyX: keep on truckin, brother!" You can ALWAYS call black dudes "brother" (unless you're being robbed by one, the it just sounds dising5enuous).
So no one's bothered that your mum is not listed on the cover? If he's the primary author, then I say "my" is appropriate. Alternatively, they could
1. Add mum to the cover as well, and
2. Give mum a spot for her own dedication, or
3. Do one joint dedication, followed by additional, separate dedications, comme �a:
Dedication:
To our grandchildre, Helgadottir and Stan.
... and to John's sister Cleopatra Jones,
... and to Mary's BFF Esther. |
|
|
|
thefoxboy 
"Four your eyes only."
Eastern Suburbs, Melbourne, Australia
|
Posted - 05/03/2012 : 22:47:17
|
quote:
Originally posted by MguyX
I say go with "To MguyX: keep on truckin, brother!" You can ALWAYS call black dudes "brother" (unless you're being robbed by one, the it just sounds dising5enuous).
So no one's bothered that your mum is not listed on the cover? If he's the primary author, then I say "my" is appropriate. Alternatively, they could
1. Add mum to the cover as well, and
2. Give mum a spot for her own dedication, or
3. Do one joint dedication, followed by additional, separate dedications, comme �a:
Dedication:
To our grandchildre, Helgadottir and Stan.
... and to John's sister Cleopatra Jones,
... and to Mary's BFF Esther.
... and to Tosser Sean
I like that.
|
|
|
|
Sean
"Necrosphenisciform anthropophagist."
New Zealand
|
Posted - 05/03/2012 : 23:29:18
|
OK thanks for all the advice. I think I'll stick with it as is, as nobody seems to think there's anything very wrong with it.
Oh, and I'll add "and thefoxboy felches" and see if my parents notice.
|
|
|
|
thefoxboy
"Four your eyes only."
Eastern Suburbs, Melbourne, Australia
|
Posted - 08/03/2012 : 22:59:10
|
quote:
Originally posted by Sean
OK thanks for all the advice. I think I'll stick with it as is, as nobody seems to think there's anything very wrong with it.
Oh, and I'll add "and thefoxboy felches" and see if my parents notice.
I dislike that.
|
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
ATTN: English language nitpickers
