Thursday, October 16, 2008
A Correspondence Between Sisters
Dear English Major,
How do you pluralize the term "still life"? Still lives? Still lifes? Or do you just not pluralize it?
Sincerely,
Art Education Major
* * *
Dear Art Education Major,
"Still life" is actually short for "still life painting" (or drawing, or what have you--the point is, it's a descriptive phrase for a noun). To pluralize, you must then pluralize the noun. If you're talking about multiple media, you may want to use a broad term like "works". For example...
"Picasso made many still life works that mimic the tumultuous emotions following his traumatic break up with Andy Warhol's wife."
or
"Van Gogh's still life paintings leave many art connoisseurs scratching their bald heads in bewilderment, wondering what universal truth they're missing."
Of course, if you're writing more quizzes for your small children you may want to use less complex ideas and sentences.
Sincerely,
Communication Major
How do you pluralize the term "still life"? Still lives? Still lifes? Or do you just not pluralize it?
Sincerely,
Art Education Major
* * *
Dear Art Education Major,
"Still life" is actually short for "still life painting" (or drawing, or what have you--the point is, it's a descriptive phrase for a noun). To pluralize, you must then pluralize the noun. If you're talking about multiple media, you may want to use a broad term like "works". For example...
"Picasso made many still life works that mimic the tumultuous emotions following his traumatic break up with Andy Warhol's wife."
or
"Van Gogh's still life paintings leave many art connoisseurs scratching their bald heads in bewilderment, wondering what universal truth they're missing."
Of course, if you're writing more quizzes for your small children you may want to use less complex ideas and sentences.
Sincerely,
Communication Major
Jessica 11:01 PM