English (Specific Aspects)

The Elements of Style: The Original Edition

Dictionary of Problem Words and Expressions

Defines, explains, and illustrates more than 1500 of the most common mistakes in word use made in English. Includes a brief guide to more effective writing and speaking.

The Big Book of Beastly Mispronunciations: The Complete Opinionated Guide for the Careful Speaker

"When it comes to pronunciation," says Charles Harrington Elster, "there are two types of people: Those who don't give the subject a second thought and those who do. This book is for those who do." Those who don't will likely dismiss it as a conglomeration of minutiae (mi-N[Y]oo-shee-ee). Elster's Big Book of Beastly Mispronunciations combines and expands upon his two previous books on the subject, offering historical pronunciations, authoritative opinions (his own and others'), and meandering explanations. This book is more entertaining than a game of badminton (don't say, "BAD-mitten," which Elster considers sloppy) and more lasting than a daiquiri (that's "DY-kuh-ree"). And best of all, you'll tighten up that flaccid ("FLAK-sid") pronunciation. Kudos ("KOO-dahs") to Elster for setting us straight. For now, anyway--there's a neologism ("nee-AHL-uh-jiz'm") born every day. --Jane Steinberg

The definitive pronouncement on more than 1,500 of our most commonly mispronounced words.

From the language maven Charles Harrington Elster comes an authoritative and unapologetically opinionated look at American speech. As Elster points out, there is no sewer in connoisseur, no dip in diphthong, and no pronoun in pronunciation. The culmination of twenty years of observation and study, The Big Book of Beastly Mispronunciations is more than just a pronunciation guide. Elster discusses past and present usage, alternatives, analogies, and tendencies and offers plenty of advice, none of it objective. Whether you are adamant or ambivalent about the spoken word, Elster arms you with the information you need to decide what is acceptable for you.

The Big Book of Beastly Mispronunciations has now been expanded and revised and features nearly 200 new words, including:

al-Qaeda
bruschetta
commensurate
coup de grâce
curriculum vita
exacerbate
gigabyte
hara-kiri
machismo
Muslim
Niger
Pinochet
Pulitzer
sorbet
tinnitus
w (as in www-dot)

and many, many more.

Charles Harrington Elster is the pronunciation editor of Black's Law Dictionary and the author of various books about language, including Verbal Advantage, There's a Word for It, and What in the Word? He has been a guest columnist on language for the Boston Globe and the New York Times Magazine and a commentator on NPR and hundreds of radio shows around the country.

The Little Red Writing Book

Mastering the ins and outs of writing involves more than just learning the rules of grammar. The Little Red Writing Book provides readers with principles to ensure their writing is readable, concise, convincing, and grammatically correct. This clever guide is:

• Easy to read, with concise explanations and non-intimidating instruction
• Perfect for classrooms, English as a Second Language learners, and business people seeking to strengthen their writing skills
• Comprehensive, covering essential elements such as clearness, efficient style and structure, and readability
• An excellent skill-building tool for test-prep students preparing for the writing section of standardized exams

With The Little Red Writing Book, writers will never need to fear the big, bad world of writing again!

The American Heritage Thesaurus, First Edition

Finding the right words has never been easier...with the ultimate source for today's students, writers, readers, and communicators.

From the editors of America’s favorite dictionary comes the definitive reference for meeting today’s challenging communication demands. Remarkably easy to use and completely up-to-date, The American Heritage Thesaurus is an essential resource for finding the perfect word, enhancing your mastery of the English language, and expressing yourself with precision and efficiency. No other thesaurus on the market today offers a more superlative selection of synonyms, concise definitions, easy-to-follow cross-references, and depth of meaning for the modern-day user.

• More than 20,000 main entries and 150,000 synonyms
• A-to-Z dictionary format that eliminates lengthy index and appendix
• Comprehensive list of synonyms grouped by clear definitions—avoids the confusing hodgepodge of obscure and distantly related terms
• Cross-references among closely related entries to insure precision
• Thousands of completely updated slang and informal terms
• Pertinent quotations and examples that convey nuances in meaning among the most basic and important synonyms

An indispensable addition to the American Heritage family of language guides, destined to become a classic, The American Heritage Thesaurus is a book no home, school, or office should be without.

Divided by a Common Language: A Guide to British and American English

Puzzled by signs warning you to “mind the gap” in the London Underground? Wondering what will be on your plate if you order “toad in the hole” in a London café? In Divided by a Common Language, Christopher Davies explains these expressions and discusses the many differences in pronunciation, spelling, and vocabulary between British and American English. He compares the customs, manners, and practical details of daily life in the United Kingdom and the United States, and American readers will enjoy his account of American culture as seen through an Englishman’s eyes. Davies tops it off with an amusing list of expressions that sound innocent enough in one country but make quite the opposite impression in the other. Two large glossaries help travelers translate from one variety of English to the other, and additional lists explain the distinctive words of Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Divided by a Common Language is the ideal travel companion for both British visitors to the U.S. and American visitors to the U.K. It is also the perfect book for Britons interested in American culture and Americans enjoying British novels, movies, and television at home.

Choose the Right Word: Second Edition

This unique blend of thesaurus, dictionary, and manual of English usage defines, compares, and contrasts words of similar but not identical meaning--such as "infer" and "imply". More than 6,000 synonyms are included. "Recommended."-- Booklist.

The Large Print Roget's II Thesaurus, Revised Edition

The perfect companion to The Large Print American Heritage® Dictionary,
The Large Print Roget's II Thesaurus, Revised Edition, carries the seal of
approval of the National Association for Visually Handicapped. This easy-to-read thesaurus will help anyone searching for just the right word. It contains 6,500 synonyms and antonyms, grouped into paragraphs. Each paragraph explains the differences between synonyms and shows words in context. Special features include a list of collective nouns (such as flock), and a list of "collateral adjectives" (such as ursine) next to the noun they correspond to (such as bear). There is also a handy section defining prefixes and suffixes.

The Oxford Dictionary of Idioms (Oxford Paperback Reference)

Did you know that 'flavor of the month' originated in a marketing campaign in American ice-cream parlors in the 1940s, when a particular flavor would be specially promoted for a month at a time? And did you know that 'off the cuff' refers to the rather messy practice of writing impromptu notes on one's shirt cuff before speaking in public? These and many more idioms are explained and put into context in this second edition of the Oxford Dictionary of Idioms.

The volume takes a fresh look at the idiomatic phrases and sayings that make English the rich and intriguing language that it is. This major new edition contains entries for over 5000 idioms, including 350 entirely new entries and over 500 new quotations.

The text has been updated to include many new idioms using the findings of the Oxford English Reading Program, the biggest language research program in the world. The entries are supported by a wealth of illustrative quotations from a wide range of sources and periods and the text has been entirely redesigned so that it is both elegant and easy to use. Anyone interested in the colorful side of the English language will get hours of fun browsing this fascinating and informative volume.

The Joys of Engrish

Welcome to the world of Engrish-an alternate- reality version of the English language, which finds its greatest expression in Japanese advertising and product design. Based on the popular website Engrish.com, The Joys of Engrish is a full-color parade of images that highlight the most outrageous and riotous-yet oddly insightful-misuses of English.

Compiler Steve Caires created Engrish.com, which showcases the finest examples of the art, and has now become one of the most popular entertainment sites on the Web. What started out with a cult following is now a worldwide phenomenon generating Web traffic of five to six million visitors a year (and rising), plus a hugely successful line of merchandise.

As an Engrishman himself might say of the book, "Please make sure to enjoy your pleasant with vigor!"