** Reply to note from Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar <[log in to unmask]> Fri, 30 Mar 2001 08:54:27 -0700 When I was reading Bruce Despain's post, the phrase "nominative of direct address" popped into my head. So I did a quick Google search and found "Ladies and genlemen, start your engines" as a familiar example of such a constuction. Additionally, it still works in the following: "Start your engines, ladies and gentlemen." I guess I'll concur with TSE. I suspect the funny feeling Eliot's usage might cause comes from the logically odd notion of needing to directly address yourself. ________________________________________________ David E. Sawyer Coordinator, Dept. of English North Hennepin Community College 7411 85th Ave. N. Brooklyn Park, MN 55445-2299 Treasurer, NCTE Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar [H](612) 929-3713; [O](763) 424-0832 To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/