Miss Thistlebottom's Hobgoblins: The Careful Writer's Guide to the Taboos, Bugbears, and Outmoded Rules of English Usage [Paperback]

Theodore M. Bernstein (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1933572000 | ISBN-13: 978-1933572000 | Publication Date: February 24, 2006 | Edition: Revised

The old adage, rules are made to be broken has never been as well defended as in MISS THISTLEBOTTOM'S HOBGOBLINS. Throughout the book, Bernstein asserts that we have been indoctrinated with English usage rules that lack flexibility and evoke fear, confusion and frustration in writers. There are times when splitting an infinitive or ending a sentence with a preposition makes sense. Through a series of one-sided correspondences with Bertha Thistlebottom, an archetypal grade school English teacher, Bernstein addresses the community of rule mongering sticklers who have tried to squeeze the English language into a set of inflexible rules and outmoded definitions that only serve to stifle its growth and paralyze writers. In addition to his letters to Miss Thistlebottom, there are scores of entries where Bernstein debunks the rules of yesteryear with wit and intelligence and illustrates how to write effectively--without the worry of hobgoblins.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Theodore M. Bernstein was the editorial director of the New York Times Book Division, taught journalism at Columbia’s School of Journalism for 25 years and served as a consultant on usage for the Random House and American Heritage dictionaries.

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Centro Books; Revised edition (February 24, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1933572000
• ISBN-13: 978-1933572000
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 6.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #419,940 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good content, but watch out for production errors, January 17, 2010

By 

R. Gwillim Law Jr. - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Miss Thistlebottom's Hobgoblins: The Careful Writer's Guide to the Taboos, Bugbears, and Outmoded Rules of English Usage (Paperback)

I second the other reviewers in their praise for Bernstein's usage and style advice. I think that purchasers should be warned about production errors, though.

This book was originally published in 1971 by Farrar, Strauss & Giroux. The paperback version currently in print comes from Centro Books and bears the date 2006. The 2006 edition contains quite a few typos, about one every ten pages. I can't believe that the 1971 edition was that sloppily edited. I suspect that the new publisher scanned a copy of the old book into its computer, and then was a bit careless about checking the accuracy of the scan. For example, in a two-column list of absolute participles, the left-hand column has "beginn" and the right-hand column next to it has "ingowing". They should have said "beginning" and "owing".

These typos don't usually interfere with understanding the material. They're just an ongoing annoyance in a book that ought to manifest the highest standards of correctness.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars On the mark as usual, January 26, 2006

By 

Mona Albano "Documentation Consultant" (Toronto, ON Canada) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Miss Thistlebottom's Hobgoblins: The Careful Writer's Guide to the Taboos, Bugbears, and Outmoded Rules of English Usage (Hardcover)

One by one, Bernstein goes through the rules given to many people "in Eighth Grade" and demolishes them: "Never split an nfinitive," "Never end a sentence with a preposition," and so on. He also lists a great many words and phrases and disucsses their points of usage. His categories are "Witchcraft in Words," "Syntax Scarecrows," "Imps of Idioms," and "Spooks of Style." He discusses each case with both light humour precision of meaning.

Theodore M. Bernstein not only reviews shibboleths of English usage but also includes a response from his fictional Grade 8 teacher, Miss Thistlebottom, writing more in sorrow than in anger.

The encyclopedic "The Careful Writer" is my favourite of Bernstein's books, but this one is certainly worth reading.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Useful and Funny, August 16, 2004

By 

Karen Okeefe "Grammar Nerd" (Dayton Ohio) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Miss Thistlebottom's Hobgoblins: The Careful Writer's Guide to the Taboos, Bugbears and Outmoded Rules of English Usage (Paperback)

In Mrs. Thistlebottom's Hobgoblins, the author explores common misconceptions people have about English grammar rules. The title is a metaphor for all the English teachers who have taught their students that it is wrong to split an infinitive or end a sentence with a preposition. The author explores such myths in detail and explains how they came to be as well as why they are incorrect. The book is well-written, witty and informative.