Harper Dictionary of Contemporary Usage
Type
Book
Authors
Category
English Language
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Publication Year
1975
Publisher
Harper & Row, United States
Pages
731
Description
The Harper Dictionary of Contemporary Usage reveals the latest trends in our ever-changing language and gives expert guidance on how to speak and write with the fluency and confidence of one who knows he or she is right. It differen5tiates between words most commonly misused and answers questions about writing and speaking styles and usage, grammar, punctuation, idiomatic phrases, and countless problems that bedevil writers, speakers, and all of us. Here is the liveliest, most entertaining and informative guide available for anyone who writes, speaks, or reads the English language.
Written by William Morris, one of the country's best-known authorities on words, their origin and usage, and his wife, Mary Morris, his co-author on many successful books, this volume records the collaboration of a large panel of language experts selected for their ability to use the language carefully and effectively. Questionnaires on contemporary usage have been answered by 136 prominent writers, editors, public speakers, educators, and commentators. The opinions of these well-known panelists on scores of the knottiest questions of disputed usage are expressed both in percentages of approval and disapproval, and in their frank, often humorous and trenchant comments.
What is the difference between flout and flaunt, continual and continuous, sensual and sensuous? Is it I feel nauseous or I feel nauseated? Is Ms. acceptable today as a salutation for married as well as unmarried women? May you use critique, author, gift, debut as verbs? Should a distinction be made between disinterested and uninterested, between bimonthly and semimonthly? Do you know the meaning of such words as downers, uppers, bummer, stonewall, split? Is there a distinction between compare to and compare with?
Hundreds of questions never before answered in a usage guide were raised by readers of the Morrises' syndicated newspaper column - people from all walks of life, young and old, laymen and professionals. As a result, virtually every aspect of today's language is covered in the dictionary - idioms, slang, vogue words, and regionalisms, as well as the vast range of words used in formal speech and writing.
Harper Dictionary of Contemporary Usage is as fascinating to read as it is informative. The author's distinctive writing style, authoritative research background, and keen sense of humor are evident on every page. And the famous panelists' views reveal the freedom and richness our marvelous language provides.
William Morris, a famous authority on words, their origins, and usage, is Editor-in-Chief of The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. He and his wife, Mary Morris, are the authors of the multi-volume Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins and together they write an internationally syndicated newspaper column, "Words, Wit and Wisdom."
Taken from the back cover.
Written by William Morris, one of the country's best-known authorities on words, their origin and usage, and his wife, Mary Morris, his co-author on many successful books, this volume records the collaboration of a large panel of language experts selected for their ability to use the language carefully and effectively. Questionnaires on contemporary usage have been answered by 136 prominent writers, editors, public speakers, educators, and commentators. The opinions of these well-known panelists on scores of the knottiest questions of disputed usage are expressed both in percentages of approval and disapproval, and in their frank, often humorous and trenchant comments.
What is the difference between flout and flaunt, continual and continuous, sensual and sensuous? Is it I feel nauseous or I feel nauseated? Is Ms. acceptable today as a salutation for married as well as unmarried women? May you use critique, author, gift, debut as verbs? Should a distinction be made between disinterested and uninterested, between bimonthly and semimonthly? Do you know the meaning of such words as downers, uppers, bummer, stonewall, split? Is there a distinction between compare to and compare with?
Hundreds of questions never before answered in a usage guide were raised by readers of the Morrises' syndicated newspaper column - people from all walks of life, young and old, laymen and professionals. As a result, virtually every aspect of today's language is covered in the dictionary - idioms, slang, vogue words, and regionalisms, as well as the vast range of words used in formal speech and writing.
Harper Dictionary of Contemporary Usage is as fascinating to read as it is informative. The author's distinctive writing style, authoritative research background, and keen sense of humor are evident on every page. And the famous panelists' views reveal the freedom and richness our marvelous language provides.
William Morris, a famous authority on words, their origins, and usage, is Editor-in-Chief of The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. He and his wife, Mary Morris, are the authors of the multi-volume Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins and together they write an internationally syndicated newspaper column, "Words, Wit and Wisdom."
Taken from the back cover.
Number of Copies
1
