| What in the Word?: Wordplay, Word Lore, and Answers to Your Peskiest Questions about Language Contributor(s): Elster, Charles Harrington (Author) |
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ISBN: 0156031973 ISBN-13: 9780156031974 Publisher: Collins Reference OUR PRICE: $17.09 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: November 2005 Annotation: Drawing upon esoteric sources and his own expertise, Elster uses a Q&A 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. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Language Arts & Disciplines | Linguistics - Etymology - Language Arts & Disciplines | Spelling & Vocabulary - Language Arts & Disciplines | Grammar & Punctuation |
| Dewey: 422 |
| LCCN: 2005008899 |
| Series: Harvest Original |
| Physical Information: 0.72" H x 5.34" W x 8" (0.67 lbs) 304 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: 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. |
Contributor Bio(s): Elster, Charles Harrington: - 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. |