What in the Word?: Wordplay, Word Lore, and Answers to Your Peskiest Questions about Language

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.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Mariner Books
Published: 11/01/2005
ISBN: 9780156031974
Pages: 286
Weight: 0.67lbs
Size: 8.00h x 5.34w x 0.72d

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