The Right Word!

by Venolia, Jan

• ISBN13: 9781580085076
• ISBN10: 1580085075
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2003-07-29
• Publisher: Ten Speed Press

Summary

Every writer needs help with words: choosing them, using them, spelling them correctly. When is optimal or optimum the better choice? Why use germane when relevant is, well, more relevant? Created for just such tortuous (torturous?) situations, this handy guide provides an A-to-Z listing of troublesome, confusing words, accompanied by clear examples and explanations to help avoid common mistakes. With a discussion on getting the most out of words, a helpful resource section, humorous illustrations, and clever bits of wordplay, this compact reference is an indispensable resource.The latest addition to Jan Venolia'?s Right! series, which has sold more than 600,000 copies.With the growing influence of email and other instant communication on the English language, a modern reference is more important than ever.Small and portable, this book is easier to carry and to use than some of the larger, bulkier reference works.The cover design for WRITE RIGHT! and REWRITE RIGHT! was selected to display in the AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts) 50 Books / 50 Covers Exhibition in 2001. The designer for this series (including The Right Word!) is Paul Kepple, director, Headcase Design, Philadelphia, PA.

Author Biography

JAN VENOLIA has been helping people improve their writing for more than 30 years. A veteran writer and editor, Jan lends her expertise to workshops and conferences. She lives in Gualala, California.

Table of Contents

A Few Words about Words	ix
Our Linguistic Legacy	1	(16)
Rooting Around	2	(6)
Honey, Somebody Shrunk the Kids' Vocabulary	8	(2)
Searching for the Right Word	10	(3)
Toxic English: A Self-Defense Manual for Consumers and Citizens	13	(2)
English on the Internet	15	(2)
Tricky Words and Handy Phrases	17	(136)
How to Use This Section	18	(2)
Tricky Words from A to Z	20	(127)
What Do They Mean When They Say . . .?	147	(4)
Figures of Speech	151	(2)
Additional Resources	153	(4)
Books	153	(2)
Periodicals	155	(1)
Websites	156	(1)
Acknowledgments	157	(1)
Index	158