Free eBooks Common Errors In English Usage: Third Edition Available To Downloads
The third edition of Common Errors in English Usage has been revised and expanded by 20 percent. It remains a useful and fun guide to mixed-up, mangled expressions, foreign language faux pas, confusing terms, and commonly mispronounced words.
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: William, James & Company; 3 edition (October 15, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1590282639
ISBN-13: 978-1590282632
Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.8 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #78,239 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #30 in Books > Reference > Words, Language & Grammar > Phonetics & Phonics #200 in Books > Reference > Words, Language & Grammar > Grammar #894 in Books > Textbooks > Reference
I have seen a reviewer or two that seem to confuse this book with a stylistic or grammar manual for written English. That would be a mistake. This is a more practical (but nonetheless, correct) guide to English usage (which would include spoken English) and it should be taken as a complementary volume to the wider set of reading and writing companions out there. It was particularly valuable to me as I live within a bi-lingual household (my wife is Russian and the children speak Russian and Greek, as well as English) where I am essentially the one "in charge of English". Sometimes explaining why split infinitives or ending a sentence with a preposition are okay or why something else simply doesn't sound right is easier when you have a manual that supports the point. It is also nice to refresh one's own memory as bad habits do creep in from time to time.
Like the 2003 edition, it answers those "it's driving me crazy" language questions. You know: those on-the-fly nuanced things like effect/affect... cannot vs can not... dual/duel... because/since... etc. As a writer, I already know 97% of the answers (correct usage), but there are times this book is a Godsend! Worth the price for any reference library.
If either you love the foibles of the English language or are frustrated by its inconsistencies, you will appreciate this book. My wife, a former English professor, and I (a bumbling writer) have had lots of fun testing our knowledge against this fun-to-read reference book. It makes what could be a dry subject, a humorous and engaging learning experience.
These parts, or sections, make this a worthy purchase: Commonly Confused Expressions, Mangled Expressions, Problematic Prepositions, and Redundancies. The organized TOC and thorough index earn the highest mark for this third edition. Thank you!--GP
"It" being writing or speaking. And Paul Brians makes it fun. No easy task for someone writing about word usage. A worthy addition to the desk or bookshelf, where it will find frequent and happy use. And pay no attention to the three negative reviews. Their complaint is only that the book is about the use of the right word, and not about grammar, punctuation, or spelling. This complaint reminds me of the fellow who bought a camel and complained that it was not a sailboat. The complainers must not have read the "Look Inside" material from the book that is available on the website. If they had, they would have seen that the book is all about the choice of the right word. And the title of the book, Common Errors in English Usage, actually signals its content. The dictionary definition of "usage" tells us that it means the way in which a word or phrase is normally and correctly used. People simply should not buy a well-advertised and properly labeled camel and then complain that it is not a sailboat. It is not fair to the camel.
Interesting little book. Purchased it because I second-guess myself sometimes when I'm writing for work and need to make sure everything is absolutely correct. And I have it on my Kindle, which goes everywhere with me, so I can use it at work or at home.
Very succinct and witty. It contains a lot of comparisons of similar terms and phrases that are frequently confused and explanations of when to use them. I find it very useful. It would be great for someone whose knowledge of American idiom is just developing.
If you don't buy the book, visit his website! It is excellent, a fun read, and you might find yourself a couple of hours into it before long. Once you visit his site, you'll want the book for casual reading...I kid you not. Go ahead...visit the site right now while you are thinking about it!
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