Without Further Ado...Prunella's First Post

Without further ado, here's my first post (though first I'd like to thank Curly for launching us into our project so nicely!).

So here's my initial peeve: the use of "adieu" when the writer intends to convey "ado." As in: "Without further adieu...." I recently noticed this malapropism on a blog, and, well, I was peeved. Especially because said blog belongs to a writer/editor who exerts quite a bit of influence on aspiring writers. Out of curiosity I then searched the Internet for "without further adieu" and--steel yourselves--located over 150,000 hits. (My random sampling reveals that only a small fraction of these address the problem of the phrase; unfortunately, most are simply using it in ignorant bliss.)

Now, I do have more than a passing acquaintance with the French language, so I understand that in some extreme circumstances one might indeed wish to put an end to those interminable farewells and say, "Without further adieu...." (But even there, use the plural, people! Adieux, not adieu!)

If you're an English speaker, and a reasonably well-educated one, you may have heard of a play by someone named William Shakespeare. The play is titled Much Ado About Nothing. Not "Much Adieu About Nothing." Right? Is it all becoming clear now?

I'm so glad that's out of the way. Let's move on--without further ado.

--Prunella