Tuesday, October 9, 2012

pre-Madonna/prima donna: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Tuesday, October 9, 2012

pre-Madonna/prima donna 
The leading soprano in an opera is the prima donna (Italian for “leading lady”). As an insult, “prima donna” implies that the person under discussion is egotistical, demanding, and doesn’t work well as part of a team.

Don’t write “pre-Madonna” unless you intend to discuss the era before the singer Madonna became popular.

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