Troublesome Words - Softcover

Bryson, Bill

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0141001356 ISBN 13: 9780141001357

Publisher: Penguin, 2002

Synopsis

With TROUBLESOME WORDS, journalist and bestselling travel-writer Bill Bryson gives us a clear, concise and entertaining guide to problems of English usage and spelling. Originally published as THE PENGUIN DICTIONARY OF TROUBLESOME WORDS, it has beenan indispensable companion to those who work with the written word for nearly twenty years. Now fully updated and revised, it is better than ever. So if you want to discover whether you should care about split infinitives, are cursed with an uncontrollable outbreak of commas or were wondering if that newsreader was right to say 'an historic day', this superb book is the place to find out.

About this title

Review:

It is nearly 20 years since Bill Bryson first penned his deliciously witty paean to precision Troublesome Words. Now he has revised it and 60 per cent of the content is new so it's well worth another browse and a place on the desk corner of anyone who likes words and who wants to get things right.

Once a sub-editor at The Times, Bryson is irresistibly drawn to knowing that "to flaunt" means to display ostentatiously but "to flout" means to treat with contempt. Or that a straitjacket may be straight but its name means that its occupant is confined and restricted--in straitened circumstances, perhaps. And can you explain the difference between a Creole and a Pidgin or between egoism and egotism? If not consult Bryson. Then you'll be able to. There's no pedantry or pomposity in Bryson's writing. But he argues: "Just as we all agree that clarity is better served if 'cup' represents a drinking vessel and 'cap' something you put on your head, so too I think the world is a fractionally better place if we agree to preserve a distinction between 'its' and 'it's', between 'I lay down the law' and 'I lie down to sleep', between 'imply' and 'infer' and countless others."

Bryson modestly jokes that this alphabetically arranged book could be subtitled "Even More Things in English Usage That the Author Wasn't Entirely Clear about Until Quite Recently". If only most of us were sure about a fraction of the things Bryson clearly understands very well we might all be more effective writers and speakers. --Susan Elkin

Review:

"A worthwhile addition to any writer's or editor's reference library."
--"Los Angeles Times
"

"[Bryson is] a world-class grammar maven." --Michael Upchurch, "Seattle Times"

"A usage book with a nice sense of differentiation."
--William Safire, "New York Times Magazine"
"Bryson's erudition is evident and refreshing . . . a straightforward, concise, utilitarian guide."
--"Publishers Weekly"

"A worthwhile addition to any writer's or editor's reference library."
--"Los Angeles Times
"

"[Bryson is] a world-class grammar maven." --Michael Upchurch, "Seattle Times"

"A usage book with a nice sense of differentiation."
--William Safire, "New York Times Magazine"
"Bryson's erudition is evident and refreshing . . . a straightforward, concise, utilitarian guide."
--"Publishers Weekly"

A worthwhile addition to any writer s or editor s reference library.
"Los Angeles Times
"

[Bryson is] a world-class grammar maven. Michael Upchurch, "Seattle Times"

A usage book with a nice sense of differentiation.
William Safire, "New York Times Magazine"
Bryson s erudition is evident and refreshing . . . a straightforward, concise, utilitarian guide.
"Publishers Weekly""

A worthwhile addition to any writer s or editor s reference library.
Los Angeles Times

[Bryson is] a world-class grammar maven. Michael Upchurch, Seattle Times

A usage book with a nice sense of differentiation.
William Safire, New York Times Magazine
Bryson s erudition is evident and refreshing . . . a straightforward, concise, utilitarian guide.
Publishers Weekly

"

"A worthwhile addition to any writer's or editor's reference library."
--Los Angeles Times

"[Bryson is] a world-class grammar maven." --Michael Upchurch, Seattle Times

"A usage book with a nice sense of differentiation."
--William Safire, New York Times Magazine
"Bryson's erudition is evident and refreshing . . . a straightforward, concise, utilitarian guide."
--Publishers Weekly

-A worthwhile addition to any writer's or editor's reference library.-
--Los Angeles Times

-[Bryson is] a world-class grammar maven.- --Michael Upchurch, Seattle Times

-A usage book with a nice sense of differentiation.-
--William Safire, New York Times Magazine
-Bryson's erudition is evident and refreshing . . . a straightforward, concise, utilitarian guide.-
--Publishers Weekly

About this edition

• Publisher: Penguin
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0141001356
• ISBN 13: 9780141001357
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 3
• Number of pages: 256