Or is it strictly the other way around; be all end all. End all, be all seemed to be the first thing that came to my mind today, but be all, end all seems to be the more common usage.
Also, what is the proper way to write it? Comma mandatory?
Thanks.
bjk1961
Favorite Answer
You should not use it at all as it is trite and a cliche.
?
I've always heard it with an "and" in the middle - "the be all and end all". It's a quote from Macbeth rather than a grammatical construction and as such I'd say the order is important.
"If it were done, when 'tis done, then 'twere well
It were done quickly. If th' assassination
Could trammel up the consequence, and catch
With his surcease, success: that but this blow
Might be the be-all and the end-all—here,
But here, upon this bank and shoal of time,
We'd jump the life to come."
Barbara
I've always used it (and heard it) the other way around: the be-all and end-all
(meaning the essence, the quintessential 'whatever'). If you skip the 'and', it needs a comma.
quickiewle
I usually say ' be all, end all.' The use of a comma is, I think, preferable but the Punctuation Police won't show up at your door if you leave it out.
Anonymous
What's up, just wanted to say, I loved this discussion. Very inspiring replies