[Dixielandjazz] Correct spelling - Not Star Dust

[Bill Gunter]

Grammarians!

My Merriam-Webster online dictionary responds to the query thusly:

Main Entry: 'tain't
Pronunciation: 'tAnt
: it ain't

It is a contraction of two words (it & ain't). An apostrophe is used to show 
where letters have been omitted in a contraction.

One of the words (ain't) is already a contraction and has the required 
apostrophe. The letter I, having been dropped in the contraction should 
(notice I say "should" and not "must") logically use the apostrophe to 
indicate its omission.

Since the word is non-standard anyway, my judgment, as a grammarian, is that 
BOTH are correct,

1. 'tain't is correct by the rules of grammar and by usage

2. tain't is also correct by usage.

examples abound of both being used . . . for example, click on this:

http://www.heptune.com/taintnob.html

and this from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language:

'tain't
VARIANT FORMS: or tain't
nonstandard Contraction of it ain't.

Conclusion:  Ain't no correct spelling of the word. You may go with whatever 
moves you with impunity and be acceptible in the world of letters.

Respectfully submitted,

Bill ('Tain't Nobody's Business) Gunter
jazzboard at hotmail.com

ps - see also " 'tisn't."





>From: "Stan Brager" <sbrager at socal.rr.com>
>To: "Carol Emerich" <cemerich at woh.rr.com>,"Gerard Bielderman" 
><gerardbielderman at freeler.nl>,"dixieland jazz mail list" 
><dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
>Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Correct spelling - Not Star Dust
>Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2005 12:23:38 -0800
>
>I'm not a grammarian nor have I ever won a spelling bee, so I consulted 
>with
>three men who had the proper credentials. They each agreed and said, 
>"Tain't
>what you do".
>
>Stan
>Stan Brager
>
>The three men were Sy Oliver, Trummy Young, and Jimmie Lunceford as many of
>you know.
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Carol Emerich" <cemerich at woh.rr.com>
>To: "Gerard Bielderman" <gerardbielderman at freeler.nl>; "dixieland jazz mail
>list" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
>Sent: Monday, January 10, 2005 7:12 AM
>Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Correct spelling - Star Dust
>
>
> > Another long time lurker comes out of hiding.
> >
> > First recorded Oct 31 1927 on the Gennett label in Richmond, IN, it was
>Star
> > Dust.  Two words.  In 1929 when Mitchell Parish was hired to provide
>words,
> > it became a one word title, Stardust.  Complete information can be found
>in
> > the book "Jelly Roll, Bix and Hoagy:Gennett Studios and the Birth of
> > Recorded Jazz"  by Rick Kennedy.  Also there you will find lyrics 
>written
>by
> > Hoagy in 1928, but never recorded.
> >
> > Carol in Ohio
> > Member of the Starr-Gennett Foundation in Richmond IN
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Gerard Bielderman" <gerardbielderman at freeler.nl>
> > To: "DJM List" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
> > Sent: Monday, January 10, 2005 9:14 AM
> > Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Correct spelling
> >
> >
> > > Dear listmates,
> > >
> > > I wonder if you can tell me the correct writing for the following
>titles:
> > > Moon Glow    or    Moonglow
> > > Star Dust    or    Stardust.
> > > And what about titles beginning with:
> > > 'Tain't    or  T'ain't    or 't Ain't      ???
> > >
> > > Another "problem" for a discographer is: Should I copy the titles as
> > listed
> > > on the record label or sleeve, also when it's not correct or should I
> > always
> > > give the correct title used by the composer(s) (as far as known)?
> > >
> > > P.S. For those interested, I have a new e-mail address:
> > > gerard.bielderman at tiscali.nl
> > > but the old one is still valid.....
> > >
> > > Gerard Bielderman / Leie 18 / 8032 ZG  ZWOLLE / Netherlands
> > > Publisher of jazz discographies
> > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Dixielandjazz mailing list
> > > Dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
> > > http://ml.islandnet.com/mailman/listinfo/dixielandjazz
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Dixielandjazz mailing list
>Dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
>http://ml.islandnet.com/mailman/listinfo/dixielandjazz