"A kinder, funner usage guide to the ever-changing English language and a useful tool for both the grammar stickler and the more colloquial user of English, from linguist and veteran professor Anne Curzan. Our use of language naturally evolves and is a living, breathing thing that reflects who we are. Says Who? offers clear, nuanced guidance that goes beyond "right" and "wrong" to empower us to make informed language choices. Never snooty or scoldy...

The English language is spoken by more than a billion people throughout the world. But where did English come from? And how has it evolved into the language used today? In this Very Short Introduction Simon Horobin investigates how we have arrived at the English we know today, and celebrates the way new speakers and new uses mean that it continues to adapt. Engaging with contemporary concerns about correctness, Horobin considers whether such changes...

"Whether you consider yourself a stickler, a nitpicker, or a rule-breaker in the know, Bad English [may] enlighten, enrage, and perhaps even inspire. Filled with historic and contemporary examples, the book chronicles the long and entertaining history of language mistakes, and features some of our most common words and phrases" --

Increase your confidence in talking with native English speakers with this book. Inside you will find more than 1,500 commonly used words you hear at work, at school, and on the street. This new edition also includes a unit on the latest vocabulary in such areas as technology, communications, and the media.

A New York Times bestseller—"Part ode, part how-to guide to the art of the well-constructed sentence" (NPR).
Some appreciate fine art; others appreciate fine wines. Stanley Fish appreciates fine sentences. The New York Times columnist and world-class professor has long been an aficionado of language. Like a seasoned sportscaster, Fish marvels at the adeptness of finely crafted sentences and breaks them down into digestible...

The word bitch conjures many images for many people, but it is most often meant to describe an unpleasant woman. Even before its usage to mean a female canine, bitch didn't refer to gender at all-it originated as a gender-neutral word meaning genitalia. A perfectly innocuous word devolving into a female insult is the case for tons more terms, including hussy-which simply meant housewife-or slut, which meant an untidy person and was also used to describe...

"A fresh and democratic take on language by a gifted teacher." -Mary Norris "[Jovin] never hectors, never finger-points; she enlightens and illuminates. This is lovely work." -Benjamin Dreyer An unconventional guide to the English language drawn from the cross-country adventures of an itinerant grammarian. When Ellen Jovin first walked outside her Manhattan apartment building and set up a folding table with a GRAMMAR TABLE sign, it took about thirty...

Learn how to read and speak English with this easy-to-use workbook. Dozens of manageable, bite-sized lessons take you through the basics of the English language. Three-page units cover each subject, which can be completed in just 20 minutes. Each lesson covers a single grammar concept and is supported by many clear examples. The book includes tons of exercises help you practice your new language skills. Plus, you'll also have access to streaming audio...

The easy-to-use reference book gives you: the 501 most common English verbs, alphabetically arranged, and conjugated in all tenses and moods; principal parts listed for all 501 verbs; auxiliary verbs--have, be, do--and their uses; newly revised section on phrasal verbs; an additional 550 problem verbs and their principal parts; 501 verb drills and exercises. The bonus CD-ROM gives you: practice exercises in verb conjugation with answers; a review...

The go-to sentence-building guide now includes a brand-new, fully comprehensive review chapter! You've learned the fundamentals of English grammar, like spelling, word meanings, and parts of speech. Now it's time to take the next step and put them all together to communicate complete ideas. Practice Makes Perfect English Sentence Builder, Second Edition guides you through the process of putting the "parts" of English together correctly, from connecting...