Examining the mother tongue, this book explores the countless varieties of English and the perils of marketing brands with names like Pschitt and Super Piss. It also contains sections on the oddities of swearing and spelling, spoonerisms and Scrabble, and a consideration of what we mean by 'good English'.

A guide to perfect punctuation for those who care about precise writing.

This style manual offers practical advice on improving writing skills. This 'little' book can help students communicate more effectively, showing them how to enliven their sentences, put statements in the positive form and write in a clear and simple style.

This work charts the tale of a language that came from nowhere to conquer the world. It is an introduction for both student and general reader alike.

An entertaining, anecdotal look at the origins of language and ideas in the USA. Bryson explains why two bicycle repairmen from Ohio succeeded in mastering manned flight, why the assassination of President Garfield led to the invention of air conditioning, and many other improbable but true facts.

A reference work for those looking for help in order to write a letter, prepare a speech, solve a crossword, or write any manner of prose or poem. It includes various buzzwords and phrases, information about signs of the zodiac and the origins of familiar quotations.

The making of the Oxford English Dictionary was a monumental 50 year task requiring thousands of volunteers. One of the keenest volunteers was a W C Minor who astonished everyone by refusing to come to Oxford to receive his congratulations. In the end, James Murray, the OED's editor, went to Crowthorne in Berkshire to meet him.

Second Edition presenting an overhaul of its subject for a new generation of language-lovers.

The Meaning of Everything is the story behind the making of the first Oxford English Dictionary. In this account of the OED's creation, Winchester introduces a host of characters, from the murderer who contributed from his prison cell to the self-taught draper's son who guided the project towards fruition.

Presents a biography of the English language.

This revised edition of the world-famous Concise Oxford English Dictionary presents the most accurate picture of English today. It has been updated with hundreds of new words, and contains a brand-new browsable centre section featuring fascinating vocabulary as well as an 'English Uncovered' supplement.

An accepted authority on the evolution of the English language. This work traces the usage of words through 2.4 million quotations from a range of international English language sources. Accompanying each definition is a chronologically arranged group of quotations that trace the usage of words, and show the contexts in which they can be used.

An anthology of over 1000 genuine, original, untampered and undoctored blunders, bloomers, malapropisms, grammatical gaffes, inspired gibberish and classic student howlers, has been compiled with one aim in mind - to make the reader laugh and laugh again.

Takes into account the developments in linguistic scholarship.

The third edition of 'Fowler's Modern English Usage' 1996 provided a complete revision and an expansion of the original text, bringing the book fully up to date on all matters of grammar, usage, syntax and style. This is a reissue of the revised third edition of 1998, which includes a new Supplement and revised entries.

This superbly well-informed - and also wonderfully entertaining - history of the English language answers all these questions, showing how the many strands of English (Standard English, dialect and slang among them) developed to create the richly-varied language of today.

This new edition contains over 60,000 entries - covering business, computer, and scientific terms; colloquial, idiomatic, and current slang expressions; and much more. The updated information includes a revised biographical and geographical database with more than 2000 new entries.

A guide to problems of English usage and spelling. It is suitable as a companion for those who work with the written word.

Current usage of vocabulary and style is explained clearly and sections included cover: jargon, cliches, spelling and punctuation; ground rules of grammar; superfluous words, overuse or misuse; sexist language, the influence of science and technology, American English and exemplary clarity.