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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: Houghton Mifflin
OUR PRICE: $17.09  

Binding Type: Paperback - See All Available Formats & Editions
Published: November 2005
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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.

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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" L (0.67 lbs) 304 pages
Features: Bibliography, Ikids, Index, Price on Product, Table of Contents
Review Citations: Ingram Advance 11/01/2005 pg. 91
Booklist 11/01/2005 pg. 9
School Library Journal 01/01/2006 pg. 173
Shelf Awareness 01/01/0001
 
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.
 
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