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Right, Wrong, and Risky: A Dictionary of Today's American English Usage (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "If you fail words, they will fail you..." (more)
Key Phrases: Los Angeles Times, Associated Press, The Columbia Guide (more...)

4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Full-time writer and former professor of communications Davidson offers a dictionary that "views the real world of today's American English, identifying usage questions that are debatable, citing conflicting answers, and offering risk-free solutions for each conflict." Presented in straight alphabetical order, all of the standard usage questions are covered, including a or an; comprise or constitute; and data is or data are.What makes this dictionary so useful for a general audience (and readable for browsers) is the vast array of contemporary examples of usage, ranging from New Yorker cartoons to storefront signs. In addition, Davidson addresses many common punctuation pitfalls, including the current ubiquitous abuse of the apostrophe. Browsers will enjoy the colorful, interesting backstories on the origins of terms such as ground zero, on the sudden warming to the phrase girl talk, and on the widely misunderstood use of the word Neanderthal. And students struggling with language issues will especially appreciate Davidson's up-to-date, exceptionally clear explanations of common trouble spots. Joanne Wilkinson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Belongs on the desk of every writer, every editor, every teacher, every speaker and everybody else who cares about. -- Marvin Petal, former European Manager, McGraw-Hill World News

Wonderful. -- Ray Bradbury

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Product Details

Hardcover: 544 pages
Publisher: W. W. Norton (December 12, 2005)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0393061191
ISBN-13: 978-0393061192
Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7 x 1.7 inches
Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #360,699 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
Popular in these categories: (What's this?)
#31 in Books > Reference > Dictionaries & Thesauruses > English (American)
#65 in Books > Reference > Dictionaries & Thesauruses > Synonyms & Antonyms

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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Surprise Me!

Inside This Book (learn more)

First Sentence:
If you fail words, they will fail you. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Los Angeles Times, Associated Press, The Columbia Guide, United States, Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage, British English, Follett's Modern American Usage, Garner's Modern American Usage, Harper Dictionary of Contemporary Usage, The New Fowler's Modern English Usage, Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, Webster's New World College Dictionary, New Yorker, The Economist, Bernstein's Careful Writer, Fowler's Dictionary of Modern English Usage, Old French, World Report, President Clinton, Webster's New World Dictionary, The New Oxford American Dictionary, Middle English, Risk Zone, Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, The New York Review of Books

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	89% buy the item featured on this page: Right, Wrong, and Risky: A Dictionary of Today's American English Usage 4.3 out of 5 stars (3) $19.77
	3% buy Bryson's Dictionary of Troublesome Words: A Writer's Guide to Getting It Right 4.1 out of 5 stars (25) $10.36
	3% buy Common Errors in English Usage 2nd Edition 4.6 out of 5 stars (32) $12.24
	3% buy The Wrong Word Dictionary 4.9 out of 5 stars (17)

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3 Reviews

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4.3 out of 5 stars (3 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Brillant Yet Flawed, December 3, 2005

By	T. Collins (Trumbull, CT) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I just bought this book today and was absolutley delighted to see such an up-to-date reference book on American usage. I have been waiting for a comphrensive yet readable book on this subject, and Mr. Davidson's book fills the bill fairly well. The entries are alphabetically arranged, with very entertaining and informative prescriptions on what's right and incorrect. On the more controversial entries he even suggests a "risk-free" alternative to keep the prospective writer/editor out of possible hot water. A nice touch! Most aspects of usage and style are covered. From the usual collection of confusing and misspelled words, to excellent discussions about fused gerunds, redundant phrases, and other matters likely to trip up people who want to write clearly and correctly for their readers. The excellent bibliography is exhasutive and lists all the books that have been published on this topic since the early 90s (and earlier!).

On the negative side, I was very disapppointed that there was no index for the individual entries. This proved to be especially troubling, since not all entries are listed where they should be. For example, in looking up the word "yet", I found it not under the y's, but under the b's with the entry "but, however, nevertheless, nonetheless, still, still and all, or yet?" An index would have been helpful to point me directly to the page on which this item was discussed.

Lastly, I was surprised there was no reference to the recent Cambridge Guide to English Usage (2004) by Pam Peters who is also at Macquarie University. The two books together should answer any usage question for years to come.

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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Who Can Do Without?, January 27, 2007

By	Dale Leslie ""Credit Makes Enemies, Let's... (Ann Arbor, MI USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I can't think of anyone who uses the spoken or written word who wouldn't be intrigued by this book. Oh, how we misuse our English language with word useage that we are unsure of or mangle. Although not meant as such, I bought this book as a reference gift for my Crossword Puzzle obsessed son. It is amazing the amount of research and scholarship that is invested in this book. Look up the definition of the word "peruse." My guess is you haven't been using it correctly. Welcome to the club.

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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must for anyone who writes...anything!, December 7, 2006

By	J. LoBasso (Orange County) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you write letters, books, emails or just quick notes to the kids, you need this book. I have been honing my writing skills for years and found a plethora of information that I can use everyday. This book showed me how far I still have to go.

I'm buying four copies for Christmas gifts, I'm sure they'll be well received.

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