Sir, - A New Year suggestion: avoid having to make a series of entries in your Corrections and Clarifications column by seeking a general absolution for the unpronounceable misspelling of the name Tadhg as Tadgh; forgetting that "cupla" is followed by the genitive plural - "the couple of words" is "an cupla focal" (not focail), a couple of things "cupla rud" (not rudai); incorrectly writing "the man whom, they said, killed the dog", instead of "who". . .; My excellent English teacher at CBS Drogheda, Brother James Burke, long since gone to his reward, while understanding the pressure to which one can be subject, would add a gentle reminder to write:
"for you and me" and "between you and me", rather than the pseudo-polite "you and I"; and "will be open only from midday" rather than "will only be open from midday".
I treasure the following Correction, which appeared in your issue of August 22nd, 1991:
"In yesterday's report of the Merriman Summer School, Prof Denis Donoghue was quoted as seeking an openness to the `otherness' of the self. This should have read the `otherness' of the Other."
Happy New Year! - Yours, etc., T. K. Whitaker,
Stillorgan Road, Dublin 4.