A Word A Day: A Romp Through Some of the Most Unusual and Intriguing Words in English (Paperback)

by Anu Garg (Author), Stuti Garg (Author) "It's a blessing to have a child at home..." (more)
Key Phrases: verb intr, folk etymology, full monty, Middle English, Late Latin, Old French (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"A delightful, quirky collection." -- The New York Times, November 28, 2002

"Extraordinary words." -- Chicago Tribune, November 24, 2002

"Indefatigably jaunty hilarity." -- The Observer (UK), January 19, 2003

"Part reference work, part entertainment, English teachers, Scrabble addicts, solvers of crossword puzzles, and other bibliophages will enjoy this book." -- Times Literary Supplement (UK), January 21, 2003

"Triggers the kind of passionate reaction that actors, authors and memoirists would die for." -- USA Today, January 1, 2003

“…Uncommon English words to enrich your vocabulary…” (India Today, 7 July 2003)

Review
"Anu and Stuti Gargs many readers await their A Word A Day rations hungrily. Now at last here's a feast for them and other verbivores. Eat up!" —Barbara Wallraff, senior editor at The Atlantic Monthly and authors of Word Court

"AWADies will be familiar with Anu and Stuti Gargs refreshing approach to words: words are fun and they have fascinating histories. The people who use them have curious stories to tell too, and this collection incorporates some of the correspondence received by the editors at the AWAD site, from advice on how to outsmart your opponent in a duel (or even a truel), to a cluster of your favorite mondegreens." —John Simpson, Chief Editor, Oxford English Dictionary

"A banquet of words! Feast and be nourished!" —Richard Lederer, author of The Miracle of Language

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (October 11, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471230324
• ISBN-13: 978-0471230328
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #293,061 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A warning about the length..., January 26, 2003

By A Customer

The reviewers I read echo my thoughts about this book -- I liked it a lot -- but they fail to warn how short it really is. There are 55 chapters, but most are 3 pages long, generously spaced, and the third page often has half or more of it as trailing blank space so the next chapter can start a new page. You can read it cover to cover in one sitting, so it's not much bang for the buck.

Buy the book, though. The quotations alone are worth the price, and Anu deserves some return for the AWAD website that he has provided free of charge for nearly 10 years. But the book would have been a much better value if it had been twice the length, which it could easily have been, given Anu's virtuosity.

52 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Word A Day is a gift of love from the Garg family, November 14, 2002

By	David Thomson "Second Rate Eric Hoffer Imitator" (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Anu Garg dreams of a "society (that) will replace guns with dictionaries." This utopian hope is unfortunately not likely to ever occur. Nonetheless, the author of this "romp through some of the most unusual and intriguing words in English" is doing his utmost to make the world a better place. Many loyal subscribers have long been receiving his free daily "Wordsmith" e-mail that serves to expand our knowledge and understanding of the English language. Garg takes us along on a journey to explore a myriad collection of words that aid us in communicating with each other. Ever wondered what one should call a group of Pheasants? What about annus mirabilis? Anu Garg will gladly tell you. He will also explain the meaning of a clochard or a massif.

The English language is constantly evolving. Those who lived in the Middle Ages would be bewildered by the common tongue of today. Our democratic culture guarantees that English will never ossify and be under the control of an elite oligarchy. We will keep on adding more words and reinterpreting some in new ways previously thought not acceptable. Thus, Anu Garg will never be able to rest knowing that his task is finished. He has a job for life. The author thankfully possesses more than sufficient talent to handle these responsibilities. Almost certainly Garg's delightful wife Stuti and their wonderful five year old daughter Ananya will continue to offer their assistance. This is a fantastic book that should definitely grace your personal bookshelf. Moreover, it also makes a splendid gift for just about any occasion.

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars makes a great gift for word lovers, November 25, 2002

By	Yvonne Caruthers (Arlington, VA United States) - See all my reviews

I'm a loyal fan of AWAD, so I knew what to expect from this book and wasn't disappointed. Each chapter has several odd words, with their histories and examples of how they can be used. But for me, the best part of Anu's writing is the selection of quotes that appear at the bottom of each page in small print. Anu Garg has more fun with words than just about anyone around. You can't read him for very long without picking up his enthusiasm. I hope all AWAD readers will get a copy of this as a gift for others--spread the word!