What in the Word?: Wordplay, Word Lore, And Answers to the Peskiest Questions About Language - Brossura

Elster, Charles Harrington

Brossura

ISBN 10: 0156031973 ISBN 13: 9780156031974

Casa editrice: Mariner Books, 2005

Riassunto

Are you so sure about "assure," "ensure," and "insure" ? Can you determine whether a knob of butter is equivalent to a lump or a pat or a scosh? Can you say which word in the English language has the most definitions, or who put the H in Jesus H. Christ?

If you can't, be assured that Charles Harrington Elster, author of several well-loved works on language, can-and does in his latest book, a delightfully designed compendium of the most common, interesting, and entertaining conundrums in our language. Drawing upon esoteric sources and his own inimitable expertise, Elster uses a lively question-and-answer format to cover a variety of topics-word and phrase origins, slang, style, usage, punctuation, and pronunciation. Every chapter features original brainteasers, challenging puzzles, and a trove of literary trivia.

Su questo libro

Recensione:

PRAISE FOR THE BIG BOOK OF BEASTLY MISPRONUNCIATIONS

"Ek-STROR-di-ner-ee. The best survey of the spoken field in years."--William Safire, The New York Times Magazine

L'autore:

CHARLES HARRINGTON ELSTER is a writer, broadcaster, and logophile-a lover of words. He is the author of several books, including The Big Book of Beastly Mispronunciations, Verbal Advantage, and There's a Word for It. He is also a guest contributor to the "On Language" column of the New York Times Magazine. He lives in San Diego.

Su questa edizione

• Editore: Mariner Books
• Data di pubblicazione: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0156031973
• ISBN 13: 9780156031974
• Rilegatura: Copertina flessibile
• Numero di pagine: 286