The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #157237   Message #3709935
Posted By: Joe Offer
19-May-15 - 06:12 AM
Thread Name: Grammar for Songwriters
Subject: RE: Grammar for Songwriters
More on use of British spelling - in the songbook, I used this principle: if the songwriter is American, use American spelling. In most other circumstances, use British spelling.

I tend to use capitalization sparingly, but songbook editor Peter Blood tends to capitalize a lot more. When in doubt, follow the editor.

As I've said, the excessive use of in' bugs me, so I tried to limit its use without eliminating the practice completely. Sometimes, it makes sense to use in' in printed lyrics, but usually not when it appears several times in a single verse. A singer might legitimately pronounce it in', but that doesn't mean it has to appear that way in the printed lyrics. Same with me used in place of my.

-Joe-