okay, without looking it up...

[clauclauclaudia]

Does this usage of eponymous seem okay to you or not? Why?

[blah blah Chekhov on film] "Based on his eponymous 1891 novella, THE DUEL gives life to a classic Chekhovian tale...."

All right. Look it up if you want to, but let me know if you do.

I'm screening comments for a bit to get independent answers, but I'll unscreen them soonish. [Edit: slow unscreening now complete.]

Comments

[sarcasma.livejournal.com]

Enggggggg.
1. I'd probably use it that way.
2. Technically, Chekhov's eponymous novella would have to be named Chekhov. But that strict definition isn't really in practice. Still, the occasional reader might go "wait, what?" which is never what you want.
3. See #1.

[clauclauclaudia]

*tsk-tsk*

[sarcasma.livejournal.com]

LOL. :)

As soon as I read it I had an editing flashback. I know I have a lot of usage ticks, so I look things up CONSTANTLY. Fortunately, I'm aware of most of them, or at least, some part of my brain that is highly instinctive but also deeply versed in proper usage shouts WAIT NO LOOK OUT DANGER and I go get the books.

I admit to being surprised at how many of your readers immediately thought "What no WRONG" but I posit that your readers != average cross-section of random readers. So, the lesson is also "know your audience." :D

[clauclauclaudia]

Yay the brain warning. I have a similar "wait no" when touch-typing so that the errors that get through are largely thinkos instead of typos. :) That comes very close to muscle memory, actually.

And yes, I *heart* my flist.