This practical guide gives you quick, easy-to-understand answers to the questions you face most often in your writing: How to punctuate a sentence; when to capitalize, italicize, or use quotation marks; how to form plurals, possessives, and compound words; when to use abbreviations; the right way to present numbers; how to handle common usage problems; and how to write footnotes, endnotes, and bibliographies.
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About the Author
The Merriam brothers desired a continuity of editorship that would link Noah Webster's efforts with their own editions, so they selected Chauncey A. Goodrich, Webster's son-in-law and literary heir, who had been trained in lexicography by Webster himself, to be their editor in chief. Webster's son William also served as an editor of that first Merriam-Webster dictionary, which was published on September 24, 1847.
Although Webster's work was honored, his big dictionaries had never sold well. The 1828 edition was priced at a whopping $20; in 13 years its 2,500 copies had not sold out. Similarly, the 1841 edition, only slightly more affordable at $15, moved slowly. Assuming that a lower price would increase sales, the Merriams introduced the 1847 edition at $6, and although Webster's heirs initially questioned this move, extraordinary sales that brought them $250,000 in royalties over the ensuing 25 years convinced them that the Merriams' decision had been abundantly sound.
The first Merriam-Webster dictionary was greeted with wide acclaim. President James K. Polk, General Zachary Taylor (hero of the Mexican War and later president himself), 31 U.S. senators, and other prominent people hailed it unreservedly. In 1850 its acceptance as a resource for students began when Massachusetts ordered a copy for every school and New York placed a similar order for 10,000 copies to be used in schools throughout the state. Eventually school use would spread throughout the country. In becoming America's most trusted authority on the English language, Merriam-Webster dictionaries had taken on a role of public responsibility demanded of few other publishing companies.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Write with Confidence!,
By JRK "jkunz" (N.H.) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Merriam-Webster's Guide to Punctuation and Style (Mass Market Paperback)
This book is a great reference for those just learning English or native English speakers who occasionally need to check on the exact use of an ampersand, comma or semicolon. The reference is divided in to the following sections: punctuation, capitals/italics/question marks, plurals/possessives/compounds, abbreviations, numbers, grammar/composition, and problems in word usage. I commonly find myself using this reference when typing professional letters, writing stories, or whenever I get confused on the exact use of a particular element of punctuation or style. It's a small book but contains tons of content and enough examples to compliment each section.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Tightly packed like a book on commas and semicolons and more should be!,
By Valda Wells "inspirational instigator and ico... (New York City, United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Merriam-Webster's Guide to Punctuation and Style (Mass Market Paperback)
The complexity of the subject(s) makes for a bit of confusion, but it is all in here. My copy is already dog-eared after only a couple of days in my possession and pretty constant use. It is much easier to use than the huge volumes of similar advice that once stood on their own tables at the local library. Already I have bookmarks throughout it.
15 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
all you need,
By
This review is from: Merriam-Webster's Guide to Punctuation and Style (Mass Market Paperback)
This guide is not cute, sexy or fun. However, it has all the style and grammar guide you need. It doesn't try to amuse so its free to give you the rules and useful examples of them in practice. The price is excellent as well. I keep one copy next to me whenever I write.
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