The Oxford Dictionary of American Usage and Style [Paperback]

Bryan A. Garner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 13, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0195135083 | ISBN-13: 978-0195135084

What's the singular of paparazzi? Is graffiti singular or plural? What about kudos? Should I say empathic or empathetic? Is it a couple of dozen or a couple dozen? What's the correct pronunciation of concierge? Or schism? Or flaccid?

In this book of crisp, precise, and often witty pronouncements on modern American English, Bryan Garner decisively answers these and thousands of other questions that bedevil those who care about the language. Garner draws on massive evidence to support his judgments, citing thousands of examples--good, bad, and ugly--from sources such as The New York Times , The Wall Street Journal, and Newsweek.

No one can browse through the book without sharing the authors spirited awareness of how words work and his relish for exposing the affectations that bloat our language. And even if you don't have the time for browsing, but simply want a quick answer to an editorial riddle, this book is your best bet.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Excellent. Garner extends the reach of the prescriptive Fowler and the descriptive Merriam-Webster."--William Safire, The New York Times

"The most succinct and sensible advice on American usage to come down the pike in a long while."--The San Diego Union-Tribune

"Although Garner's manual is full and learned, his entries are quick and get to the point, easy to understand and nicely cross-referenced. He is also fun to read. A number of good books on usage have come out over the years, but Ive been unable to say of any of them, 'This is the one'--until now."--Austin American-Statesman (Texas)

"More consistently entertaining and approachable than the more formal Merriam Webster and New Fowler's."--The Baltimore Sun

"A superlative book."--Arizona Republic

About the Author

Bryan A. Garner, a noted lawyer and lexicographer, has written extensively on the English language and the language of law. His earlier books include A Dictionary of Modern Legal Usage, The Elements of Legal Style, and The Winning Brief. He is Editor-in-Chief of Black's Law Dictionary and President of LawProse, Inc., a Dallas-based company that provides continuing-legal-education seminars to lawyers nationwide.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (January 13, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195135083
• ISBN-13: 978-0195135084
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #142,318 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #47 in Books > Education & Reference > Catalogs & Directories > Directories

More About the Author

Bryan Garner is the award-winning author or editor of more than 20 books. He is a prolific lecturer, having taught more than 2,500 writing workshops since the 1991 founding of his company, LawProse, Inc. His works include Garner on Language and Writing and Making Your Case: The Art of Persuading Judges, co-written with Justice Antonin Scalia. Garner has served as editor-in-chief of Black's Law Dictionary since 1995, and he is the author of the grammar-and-usage chapter in the venerable Chicago Manual of Style.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sound advice, good principles, fun reading, December 20, 2002

By 

Jmark2001 (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Oxford Dictionary of American Usage and Style (Paperback)

Fowler's guide is too British. Merriam-Webster's guide is much too descriptive and seeks the low ground too often. Garner strikes just the right balance between descriptive (what most people actually say in common practice) and prescriptive (what good usage should be). The result is that his guidance is high toned without being stuffy. He also gives excellent counsel on proper pronunciation of words that confuse many. This is also fun to read!

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Garner is a national treasure., April 6, 2000

By 

Richard L. King - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Oxford Dictionary of American Usage and Style (Paperback)

This book, which is a concise edition of the Oxford Dictionary of American Usage, is highly accessible. Smaller in size than its parent, this dictionary retains the wit and character of the longer work, which has been highly acclaimed, yet does so in a portable format. This dictionary should be particularly useful to students and others needing a guide to current usage in a portable format.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to use, never fussy, balances what's right with what's effective, December 18, 2005

By 

Alfred E. Guy Jr. "onela22" (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Oxford Dictionary of American Usage and Style (Paperback)

If you're ever afraid that you've mistaken "it's" and "its," or if the sight of everyone reading "Eats, Shoots, and Leaves" makes you terrified to write a note, you'll want a copy of this book on your desk. Although a good usage manual depends on the reader having some sense of style (enough to look up uncertain techniques or phrases), too many treat you either like a child or an English teacher, scolding you or explaining their advice in impenetrable jargon. (Many such books don't seem to have taken their own advice about simplicity and clarity.) "The Oxford Dictionary of American Usage" is the exception, a book about language that's well-written and inviting, one that doesn't make you feel like you're back in your grandmother's parlor having every sentence corrected. As one of the other reviewers notes, the range of sources and examples is phenomenal--one way you can double-check your phrasing is to see if you'd want to sound like the writers in Garner's citations. But I'm even more impressed with the simple organization and headings. I sometimes have trouble finding advice in a writer's reference because I can't recall the technical term for what I'm trying to do, but entries in Garner's book are easy to find and richly cross-referenced. Most important, Garner's ear for English is impeccable, and you'll want it listening (as it were) over your shoulder. He acknowledges long-held rules but--where applicable--demonstrates their obsolescence; he also recognizes new usages and gives fair warning of the connotations you risk if you use them before they've become standard.