The American Heritage Book of English Usage: A Practical and Authoritative Guide to Contemporary English (Paperback)

~ Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

For the first time, the editors of the acclaimed American Heritage(R) Dictionary have applied their efforts to word usage as its own subject. The result is this practical guide that includes chapters on grammar, style, diction, gender, social groups, pronunciation, word formation, science terms, and a subject and a word index.

About the Author

The Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries and of other reference titles published by Houghton Mifflin Company are trained lexicographers with a varied array of interests and expertise. Most of the editors hold graduate degrees and have studied at least one foreign language. Several have degrees in linguistics or in the history of the English language. Others have degrees in science or sometimes other disciplines. All the editors familiarize themselves with the vocabulary in specific subject areas, collect materials on new developments and usage, and work in association with consultants to ensure that the content of our publications is as accurate and as up-to-date as possible.

Product Details

• Paperback: 290 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (September 9, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395767857
• ISBN-13: 978-0395767856
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #552,809 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Thin Volume Fills Gaps, December 18, 2002

By	David Leslie (Kochi, Kochi Japan) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Though not as extensive - or as scholarly - as Merriam Webster's "English Usage Dictionary," this little book has often helped me explain thorny contemporary usage problems to my advanced ESL students. For example, a student came to me with the lyrics "Hadn't a been for..." and asked me to explain the usage of "hadn't have." None of my other books addressed this issue. (If you're not sure, see page 39.)

5 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good grammer book, December 5, 2000

By A Customer

This is a good grammer book for anyone who like to read or write in english. There are rules which should be followed. However, this one don't work good for students.