READERS’ WORDS

Albert Gifford was correct in taking Tesco to task for using a double superlative in their advertising. Shakespeare was guilty of the same sin in Julius

Caesar. Mark Antony, in his funeral speech, holds up Caesar’s mantle, points to the cut made by Brutus’s blade and says: “This was the most unkindest cut of all.” In fact, by adding “of all” he makes it a triple superlative.

— Gregor Woods Clever kid, clever advertisers. As for Brendan Behan, after being accused of being a writer with a drinking problem, he said he was actually a drinker with a writing problem. As for the kid, maybe he’ll grow up to be a copywriter or ad man. — Lungile Sojini I don’t know if it was Brendan Behan who listed the four stages of intoxication as being “jocose, bellicose, lachrymose and comatose”, but I’m fairly sure it was Behan who said, “For me one drink is too many and 1 000 are not enough”. — John Wilkinson In a recent Ford Ranger Odyssey competition advert, the “last” instalment of the competition was referred to when, as there are any number of future instalments, “previous” instalment was meant. — Errol Duffett I hear “it would of … ”; “he should of …” etc so often that I’m starting to wonder if I am wrong in thinking it should be “have”, not “of”. — Sharon Cox • E-mail words in need of protection to degroots@sundaytimes.co.za On Twitter @deGrootS1