A Cappella — Setting a Few Things Straight
The word “a cappella” is an important word, but it’s often misunderstood, misspelled, and misrepresented.
First of all, let’s look at the spelling. What word has been spelled wrong more often than “a cappella?” It’s a travesty. And many times the offenders are people who definitely should know better.
Mainely A Cappella has a great resource on this issue. But in brief, here’s how to remember the correct spelling: two words, two p’s, two l’s.
A cappella.
Secondly, here is another grievous and misfortunate error that consistently plagues those of us involved in a cappella music (notice those last few words).
“Oh, you sing without music!”
No, no, a thousand times no! We sing without instrumentation!
A huge difference, let me assure you.
A cappella – two words, two p’s, two l’s. Singing without instruments.
8 Responses
September 19th, 2006 at 7:29 pm
Amen to that!!! Good post, senor.
September 20th, 2006 at 1:19 am
Thanks for setting people straight on two grievances of mine.
September 20th, 2006 at 2:15 am
That’s like saying that staying home with children (of any age and being numbered 1 or more)is not working!! Or a close facsimile.
September 24th, 2006 at 11:22 pm
Thanks for the spelling tip! The teacher in me loves those little memory aids.
September 26th, 2006 at 4:51 pm
Three a’s.
September 27th, 2006 at 9:38 am
Could you be any more right? Good post.
October 2nd, 2006 at 9:50 am
Good post Tom; only one little item of note.
“mainely” ???? how about “mainly” since spelling “a cappella” is important, perhaps we ought to be sure of all of our spelling is done correctly……hummmmm….just a thought.
October 2nd, 2006 at 2:48 pm
“Mainely A Cappella” is a business name, a play on the fact that they’re based in Maine. Although they have now officially changed the name of their online division to “A-Cappella.com”.