Coming to Terms [Hardcover]

William Safire (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1994

William Safire, Pulitzer Prize-winning columist, former White House speechwriter, and novelist. His "On Language" column has appeared in the New York Times and more than 300 newspapers. This book contains dozens of Safire's most illuminating and witty columns.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this seventh collection of his playful, witty, instructive "On Language" syndicated columns, Safire again reprints letters from members of the Gotcha Gang and the Nitpickers' League, and other readers who have their own two cents to add. Among his concerns in this batch, Safire explains why he hasn't used the phrase gilding the lily for 40 years ("Eschew certitude," he warns in this connection). He comments on the trend toward mispronunciation, giving ek-setera and reckonize as examples; looks into the origins of such words as bimbo and roundheels ; examines such euphemisms for lover as significant other , special friend and main squeeze ; pays tribute to Yogi Berra's mastery of the "bonaprop"; and reports what happened when the management of a San Francisco hotel adopted Safire's recommendation of putting a dictionary in every room. For those who care about language, or who just want to have fun, Safire delivers.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal

YA-- The newest collection of the author's syndicated ``On Language'' columns is a complete delight. Letters from the Gotcha! Gang and the Nitpicker's League appear again and address their observations to U. Ofallpeople. Whether he is discussing the origin of a word, a malapropism, or commenting on duh-Dah-duh-Dah, Safire is right on target.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Random House Value Publishing (January 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0517114720
• ISBN-13: 978-0517114728
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,047,413 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

William Safire began his writing career as a reporter, became a speechwriter in the Nixon White House, and re-crossed the street to write an Op-Ed column in the New York Times for the next three decades. He also wrote the weekly "On Language" column in the New York Times Magazine. He was a winner of the Pulitzer Prize for commentary and the Medal of Freedom.