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Originally published as "The Penguin Dictionary For Writers & Editors", it has now been completely revised and updated by Bryson. Covering everything from spellings and usages, capitalisation, plurals, phrases, abbreviations and foreign places, and also the difference between American and UK words. An indispensable guide to those who work with words, and those who just want to get it right. 'Language lovers - of every stripe and creed - should raise three cheers' Erica Wagner, "The Times"
Synopsis
What is the difference between cant and jargon, or assume and presume? What is a fandango? How do you spell supersede? Is it hippy or hippie? This title includes a selection of spellings and usages, covering such head-scratchers as capitalization, plurals, abbreviations and foreign names and phrases.
Book Details
Publisher:
BLACK SWAN
Publication Date:
23-Apr-2009
ISBN:
9780552773539
Guardian review
Bryson's Dictionary for Writers and Editors
John Dugdale the guardian Fri 24 April 2009
Up-to-date enough to identify Morgan Tsvangirai as Zimbabwe's prime minister, this "concise guide to problems of English spelling and usage" has been thoroughly revised since its first appearance in 1991. Initially, Bryson's motivation seems to be a furious determination to expose error, exemplified by his splendidly grumpy insistence that "data is a plural, although this fact is widely disregarded". Yet this impression of the former Times subeditor scrawling "wrong!" all over his breakfast newspaper gradually fades in a book that is sane, lucid and unpedantic in its grammatical rulings. Throughout, Bryson is self-effacing, reining in the wit displayed in his travel writing, although he says the selection policy reflects his "interests, experiences and blind spots". The last appear to include much of popular culture, with no guidance, for instance, on spelling the Coen brothers, Mötley Crüe or Guus Hiddink. Perhaps footballers are missing because their careers are brief - but if so, why the comparative readiness to find room for female tennis players?
