Word Watch: A Writer's Guide to the Slippery, Sneaky and Otherwise Tricky
Patricia McLinn
Patricia McLinn, publisher
Nonfiction, Writing
**** (Good)
DESCRIPTION: English is, as the poets say, a tricky tongue, full of words that confound even native speakers. If you think it's easy deciding whether to use "fewer"
or "lesser," or think "inflammable" is the opposite of "flammable," you have another think coming.
What's that? It's "thing," not "think," you say? Not according to the dictionary, or the experts. McLinn explores the ins and outs of words that trip up even seasoned novelists.
A Kindle-exclusive title.
REVIEW: Compiled from a monthly column published in writers' periodicals, Word Watch wittily explores oft-misused and outright abused words. Even if you think
you know the English language pretty well, you're sure to learn something new here, unless you work for Webster... and even the dictionaries, apparently, argue over proper
usage and terminology. Once in a while, McLinn gets a little too clever for her own good, but overall she does an admirable job sorting out the tangled mess that is modern
English. A quick, informative, and fun read for writers and readers alike!
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