Buy used:
$6.53
$3.99 delivery July 5 - 11. Details
Or fastest delivery July 2 - 8. Details
Used: Very Good | Details
Sold by HPB-Emerald
Condition: Used: Very Good
Comment: Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

William Safire
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Take My Word for It (More on Language from William Safire) Paperback – January 1, 1987

by William Safire (Author)
5.0 5.0 out of 5 stars 2 ratings
See all formats and editions
Provides witty, erudite, and down-to-earth commentary on language and usage
Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    357 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Henry Holt & Co
  4. Publication date
    January 1, 1987
  5. ISBN-10
    9780805006063
  6. ISBN-13
    978-0805006063
  7. See all details
Next slide of product details
The Amazon Book Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this new collection drawn from his "On Language" column for the New York Times, Safire entertainingly discusses the proper use of which and that, the pronunciation of junta and many other issues of language. PW called this "a must-read for anyone interested in the dynamic growth of English and its sour notes."
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0805006060
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Henry Holt & Co; First Owl Book Editi edition (January 1, 1987)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 357 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780805006063
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0805006063
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.16 pounds
  • Customer Reviews:
    5.0 5.0 out of 5 stars 2 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
William Safire

William Safire

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

William Safire began his writing career as a reporter, became a speechwriter in the Nixon White House, and re-crossed the street to write an Op-Ed column in the New York Times for the next three decades. He also wrote the weekly "On Language" column in the New York Times Magazine. He was a winner of the Pulitzer Prize for commentary and the Medal of Freedom.

Customer reviews

5 out of 5 stars
5 out of 5
We don’t use a simple average to calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star. Our system gives more weight to certain factors—including how recent the review is and if the reviewer bought it on Amazon. Learn more
2 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Eric Mayforth
5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Collection for Word Lovers
Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2016
Verified Purchase
For decades, the "On Language" column ran in The New York Times, and William Safire was one of its chief contributors. "Take My Word for It" is a collection of Safire's appearances in "On Language" from the 1980s.

Safire's background was in politics, and some columns here look at public affairs and economics, but there are also columns on vanity license plates, middle initials, euphemisms, and dozens of other wide-ranging topics. Also included are responses from readers, a few famous but mostly ordinary citizens, from all around the country and all over the world.

Especially fascinating are the instances in which Safire traces words to the times and places where they first appeared. Some words change meaning over time, and the author looks at several of those cases. Regional differences in speech are a topic of almost endless interest, and there are columns here on the differences in how some words are used in various regions of America.

This volume teaches as well as entertains, pointing out areas in which words that are similar to each other but with different shades of meaning are misused and corrects the reader concerning commonly misunderstood words such as "fulsome." Punctuation rules and pronunciation are also touched on.

"Take My Word for It" is a superb collection of columns by one of the greatest wordsmiths of his generation and would be a great read for any language enthusiast.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
eileen c
5.0 out of 5 stars Pure Safire!
Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2013
Verified Purchase
This is Safire, what we've come to know and what keeps us coming back for more! If you've read "On Language", don't miss this one.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report