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.

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

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

Part of a series of cult word books devoted exclusively to the service of Superior People.

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.

A sharp-tongued, quick-witted dictionary with a difference from the much-loved, insolent and corageous Ambrose Bierce. An American classic.

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'.

To many, Scrabble is just a board game. For others it's an intellectual pilgrimage, a balancing act between language and mathematics. This book charts the history and theory of the game, alongside the authors own rise from living-room player to competitive shark.

The updated, revised edition of The Meaning of Liff , with illustrations from Private Eye cartoonist Bert Kitchen.

Drawing on the collective wisdom of over 154 languages, this book is arranged by theme to help you compare attitudes all over the world to such subjects as food, the human body and the battle of the sexes. It also includes a discussion of how many Eskimo' terms there are for snow, and an array of information exploring the strange world of words.

Laid out in an A-Z format with detailed cross references, and written in a style that is both authoritative and accessible, Word Origins is a valuable historical guide to the English language.

When Milo finds an enormous package in his bedroom, he's delighted to have something to relieve his boredom with school. And when he opens it to find -- as the label states -- One Genuine Turnpike Tollbooth, he gets right into his pedal car and sets off through the Tollbooth and away on a magical journey!

Told through a series of letters, this is set on the fictional island of Nollop, home to the great Nevin Nollop, inventor of the pangram 'The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog'. The islanders erect a statue to their hero, but one day the letter 'z' falls from the inscription. To the despair of the residents, the council interprets the falling tile as Nollop's message from beyond the grave ..

This reference is a collection of archaic and often fascinating words and phrases that offer a glimpse into the past. Readers can savour the oddities of old and unusual words as they gain an insight into a cross-section of history.

Includes words and phrases (Al-Qaeda, 9/11), characters, places (and monsters) from fantasy literature (including The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter ), political and sporting nicknames. This dictionary includes 'list entries' like misattributed quotations, first lines of novels, and the 'etymologies' of rock group names.

Liesel, a nine-year-old girl, is living with a foster family on Himmel Street. Her parents have been taken away to a concentration camp. Liesel steals books. This book is a story of: a girl; an accordionist; some fanatical Germans; a Jewish fist fighter; and quite a lot of thievery.

Offers 250 words from the founders of the world's No 1 word-lovers' Web site. This collection of English words is useful for writers, scholars, and crossword puzzlers. It is organized around weekly themes, and offers readers a different word for each day of the week in various categories.