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Stupid Grammar Question

post #1 of 13
3/11/05 at 6:16pm
Thread Starter 
Let's say you were writing something and you needed a title. Which would be correct?

Old Dead Things

or

Old, Dead Things

I don't think the comma is necessary, is it? I mean, I think it's technically correct, but it looks weird and it feels awkward. I keep going back and forth on this.

And on a purely aesthetic level (and knowing nothing about the story), which is a better horror title: Old Dead Things or The Old Ones?
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post #2 of 13
3/11/05 at 6:18pm
I think Old Dead Things is ok.

I like that as a title, it reminds of DIRTY PRETTY THINGS. And The Old Ones immediately makes me think it's Lovecraft, which would set me up for immediate disappointment upon finding a complete lack of Cthulhu.
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post #3 of 13
3/11/05 at 6:28pm
Thread Starter 
Oh yeah. There's Cthulhu-ish shit going down.

I like The Old Ones better myself, but I can't find a straight answer on whether or not Lovecraft's works are in the public domain. Apparently, there are disputes over his copyright estate, and I'm too broke to be sued at the moment. So I might have to go with the backup title.

Thanks, Charles.
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post #4 of 13
3/11/05 at 6:29pm
I think you're right that both are gramatically correct, but I like the feel of "Old Dead Things" better. Keep "The Old Ones" in reserve, though, as its also a good title.
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post #5 of 13
3/11/05 at 6:29pm
You can either use a comma or not. If it's a title, I personally wouldn't do it.

Commas are typically used to separate dependent clauses, adjective clusters and/or present participle phrases from independent clauses.

For more information, please visit your local library.
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post #6 of 13
3/11/05 at 6:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Slater
Oh yeah. There's Cthulhu-ish shit going down.

I like The Old Ones better myself, but I can't find a straight answer on whether or not Lovecraft's works are in the public domain. Apparently, there are disputes over his copyright estate, and I'm too broke to be sued at the moment. So I might have to go with the backup title.

Thanks, Charles.
I think The Old Ones is a good one if it is HP=related, and I doubt you'd get sued on it. I just looked in my omnibuses, and it seems most seem to be copyrighted to August Derleth, with a few to other folks. But yeah, the other title is the goods too.
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post #7 of 13
3/11/05 at 6:39pm
Another question, if you will. I keep seeing the phrase "no one" written as "no-one". I don't remember this ever being hyphenated. Am I retarded?
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post #8 of 13
3/11/05 at 6:40pm
Thread Starter 
Yeah, that's the name I kept finding too. I'll let my manager check on that, but I'm also cool with Old Dead Things. It beats my current champion: INSERT TITLE HERE.

Thanks, guys.
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post #9 of 13
3/11/05 at 6:48pm
It seems that Old Dead Things would be things that were old when they died, whereas Old, Dead things are things that are dead a long time?

And no-one is completely wrong.
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post #10 of 13
3/11/05 at 7:30pm
I think in general for titles you can make your own rules.
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post #11 of 13
3/11/05 at 9:39pm
Old Dead Things = Dead things that are actually old (most likely referring to things that have been dead a long time)

Old, Dead Things = Things that are both dead AND old. Could be the same as above, or could refer to something old that has died recently.

Examples:

My great-grandfather is an old dead guy; he died before I was born.

My grandfather is an old, dead guy; he died last week.

For a title, I'd use Old Dead Things. The comma just doesn't look right.

-AiV (who is a glorified copyeditor by profession)
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post #12 of 13
3/11/05 at 10:21pm
No-one is definitely incorrect. However, I'd gladly accept that over Harry's noone.
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post #13 of 13
3/13/05 at 11:50pm
I am positive that no one will be able to sue you over using the title The Old Ones because titles cannot be copyrighted. But some companies will still take you to court over it even though they will lose because they hope that they will be able to drown you in legal fees before the verdict is given.
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