What in the Word? - Wordplay, Word Lore, and Answers to Your Peskiest Questions about Language (Paperback)

Are you so sure about "assure," "ensure," and "insure" ? Can you determine whether a knob of butter is equivalent to a lump or a pat or a scosh? Can you say which word in the English language has the most definitions, or who put the H in Jesus H. Christ?
If you can't, be assured that Charles Harrington Elster, author of several well-loved works on language, can-and does in his latest book, a delightfully designed compendium of the most common, interesting, and entertaining conundrums in our language. Drawing upon esoteric sources and his own inimitable expertise, Elster uses a lively question-and-answer format to cover a variety of topics-word and phrase origins, slang, style, usage, punctuation, and pronunciation. Every chapter features original brainteasers, challenging puzzles, and a trove of literary trivia.

General

Imprint:	Collins Reference
Country of origin:	United States
Series:	Harvest Original
Release date:	November 2005
First published:	October 2005
Authors:	Charles Harrington Elster
Dimensions:	203 x 136 x 18mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback - Trade
Pages:	304
ISBN-13:	978-0-15-603197-4
Categories:	Books > Language & Literature > Language & linguistics > Historical & comparative linguistics > General
LSN:	0-15-603197-3
Barcode:	9780156031974

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