Benjamin Dreyer
@bcdreyer.social
America's Copy Editor®
author of the New York Times/IndieBound bestseller Dreyer's English and Stet! (the game!) • Random House copy chief/managing editor (ret.) • he/him/his
benjamindreyer.com
author of the New York Times/IndieBound bestseller Dreyer's English and Stet! (the game!) • Random House copy chief/managing editor (ret.) • he/him/his
benjamindreyer.com
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Benjamin Dreyer
@bcdreyer.social
· Nov 27
Greetings, new people here at House of Copyediting. Besides first-rate, IISSM, prose advice, you'll get:
• a random theater photo of the day, sometimes more than one
• birthday alerts for dead actresses, and occasionally live ones
• Sallie updates
And it's all free!
• a random theater photo of the day, sometimes more than one
• birthday alerts for dead actresses, and occasionally live ones
• Sallie updates
And it's all free!
If it was being presented as dialogue out of a US mouth, I’d certainly urge it.
Otherwise I might just point out the transatlantic difference and leave it to the author. It’s not as if both versions aren’t legitimately used in both places.
Otherwise I might just point out the transatlantic difference and leave it to the author. It’s not as if both versions aren’t legitimately used in both places.
February 14, 2026 at 2:07 AM
If it was being presented as dialogue out of a US mouth, I’d certainly urge it.
Otherwise I might just point out the transatlantic difference and leave it to the author. It’s not as if both versions aren’t legitimately used in both places.
Otherwise I might just point out the transatlantic difference and leave it to the author. It’s not as if both versions aren’t legitimately used in both places.
It came up a while ago.
February 14, 2026 at 1:50 AM
It came up a while ago.
I do not believe so, though I'm not going to swear to it.
(And so far no one's summoned it up, which is leaning me toward no.)
(And so far no one's summoned it up, which is leaning me toward no.)
February 14, 2026 at 1:50 AM
I do not believe so, though I'm not going to swear to it.
(And so far no one's summoned it up, which is leaning me toward no.)
(And so far no one's summoned it up, which is leaning me toward no.)
Speaking of The Most Happy Fella, I can find other references to gnrrr (more commonly, apparently, spelled gnurr), but none of them older than the musical.
🤷🏻♂️
🤷🏻♂️
WOULD YOU MIND SAYING "NEIMAN MARCUS"?
I guess "Teller I Love Her" from Urinetown would only count if it mentioned Bonwit, too...so I'll go with "Big D".
February 14, 2026 at 1:38 AM
Speaking of The Most Happy Fella, I can find other references to gnrrr (more commonly, apparently, spelled gnurr), but none of them older than the musical.
🤷🏻♂️
🤷🏻♂️
The last time "pestle and mortar" was dominant in the US was c. 1866!
February 14, 2026 at 1:23 AM
The last time "pestle and mortar" was dominant in the US was c. 1866!
I love that song insanely, though I take exception to Harold using the word "downstairs" in the line just previous.
February 14, 2026 at 1:18 AM
I love that song insanely, though I take exception to Harold using the word "downstairs" in the line just previous.
Andrea Marcovicci also sings a lovely version of this song.
(Among other people.)
(Among other people.)
Ok, I know one. "Ace in the Hole" from Let's Face It: "Sad times may follow your tracks/Bad times may bar you from Saks". (Never saw the musical, but I remember this from an Ella Fitzgerald album)
February 14, 2026 at 1:17 AM
Andrea Marcovicci also sings a lovely version of this song.
(Among other people.)
(Among other people.)
It's a hell of a song.
February 14, 2026 at 1:15 AM
It's a hell of a song.
A very strange thing was to see women I'd characterize as working-class schlepping clearly very old Harrods shopping bags around Manhattan.
I never figured that one out.
I never figured that one out.
February 14, 2026 at 1:15 AM
A very strange thing was to see women I'd characterize as working-class schlepping clearly very old Harrods shopping bags around Manhattan.
I never figured that one out.
I never figured that one out.
Not to be confused with Mothersill's seasick pills, which I was SHOCKED to learn are not Mother Sills' seasick pills.
February 14, 2026 at 1:13 AM
Not to be confused with Mothersill's seasick pills, which I was SHOCKED to learn are not Mother Sills' seasick pills.
By the way, I only got around very recently to finally looking up "Crazy Crystals," which, I learned, were a quick medicine sold by a popular Texas spa. Go know.
February 14, 2026 at 1:11 AM
By the way, I only got around very recently to finally looking up "Crazy Crystals," which, I learned, were a quick medicine sold by a popular Texas spa. Go know.
I'm thinking that a store that sells jewelry, stationery, ceramics, etc., qualifies as a department store. Sure, why not.
February 14, 2026 at 1:07 AM
I'm thinking that a store that sells jewelry, stationery, ceramics, etc., qualifies as a department store. Sure, why not.
Pssssst, Marry the Man Today.
February 14, 2026 at 12:58 AM
Pssssst, Marry the Man Today.
Oh, right, it's that dreary movie that does the department store thing.
February 14, 2026 at 12:57 AM
Oh, right, it's that dreary movie that does the department store thing.
How to Succeed works in a mention of Bergdorf Goodman!
February 14, 2026 at 12:55 AM
How to Succeed works in a mention of Bergdorf Goodman!
Doesn't part of Make a Wish occur in a Parisian department store?
February 14, 2026 at 12:53 AM
Doesn't part of Make a Wish occur in a Parisian department store?
I'm claiming:
[Redacted] may battle
With their tomahawks and axes
I'll join the cattle
In the big corral at Saks's!
Lorenz Hart, Babes in Arms
[Redacted] may battle
With their tomahawks and axes
I'll join the cattle
In the big corral at Saks's!
Lorenz Hart, Babes in Arms
bonus musical theater pop quiz of the day
Let's hear all the musical theater songs that name-check department stores.
I can think of four off the top of my head, but let's see what ya got.
Mahler's Bakery does not count!
Let's hear all the musical theater songs that name-check department stores.
I can think of four off the top of my head, but let's see what ya got.
Mahler's Bakery does not count!
February 14, 2026 at 12:50 AM
I'm claiming:
[Redacted] may battle
With their tomahawks and axes
I'll join the cattle
In the big corral at Saks's!
Lorenz Hart, Babes in Arms
[Redacted] may battle
With their tomahawks and axes
I'll join the cattle
In the big corral at Saks's!
Lorenz Hart, Babes in Arms
THERE WE GO.
Korvette's from On a Clear Day?
February 14, 2026 at 12:46 AM
THERE WE GO.