The Goof-Proofer [Paperback]

Stephen J. Manhard (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 84 pages
• Publisher: Collier Books (1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 002040610X
• ISBN-13: 978-0020406105
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,727,351 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Bye This Book and Speak Good English, May 29, 2007

By 

Edwin C. Pauzer (New York City) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Goof Proofer (Mass Market Paperback)

The Goof Proofer is one of those little gems that help even the most literate and articulate in the English language improve their skill in one of the wordiest languages on earth. It is comprised of forty-one major goofs that you will use to compose your words more appropriately.

You will learn when to use that vs. which, lie, vs. lay, when you may use can, and when you cannot use may I. It will help you go further rather than farther with your vocabulary. Whether it's between you and I or you and me, you can't go wrong.

So, I am implying that you may want to buy this book from which you may infer that I am recommending it. The book really helped me alot (?) a lot. It has affected the way I write, which has had a very good effect on my composition. You would do well to buy this for your own good. You will then be able to tell the difference between homophobes and homonymns.

What this book won't teach you is that you may never use a preposition to end a sentence with.

30 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Needs to be E X P A N D E D, January 14, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Goof-Proofer (Paperback)

Good, useful information, but when I contacted the publisher to see if there was a revised edition,
I hit a stone wall. No one wanted to admit that such a book existed; no one had any means of reaching the author.

I've penned in my own updates to Section VII. "Homonyms, Homophones, and Other Confusingly Similar Words":

caricature - distorted representation;

character - distinguishing feature

compatible - existing in harmony;

comparable - worthy of comparison;

comparative - pertaining to comparison

envelop - to enclose completely;

envelope - a wrapper, esp. the container for a letter

guarantee - an assurance of quality;

guaranty - a security pledged in a guarantee

relic - momento, something venerated (esp. a saint);

relict - something left unchanged in a process of change

therefor - in return for that;

therefore - consequently, for that reason

unfeasible - not practical;

infeasible - (there is no such word)

viscous - having a sticky consistency;

vicious - addicted to vice, malicious;

vicissitude - a change or succession

I'd definitely like to find a more up to date version!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Little Book, July 31, 2007

By 

Brandon Simpson "Small Town Press" - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Goof Proofer (Mass Market Paperback)

I had to use this book for Sepech 101 in college, but it's still useful in other classes, too.

Brandon Simpson