I remember the delight when I first encountered this device in Samuel Beckett's *Watt* where the attempt to 'eff the ineffable' seemed to be integral to Beckett's work, while at the very same moment he despaired of being able to communicate anything effectively. To eff or not?
I always wondered if there was also a reference to the 'F-word' here... Does anyone know when that became common usage?

Last edited by shelleyp; 05/05/2009 5:36 AM.