Robert Hartwell Fiske's Dictionary of Unendurable English: A Compendium of Mistakes in Grammar, Usage, and Spelling with Commentary on Lexicographers

By Robert Hartwell Fiske

Book Overview

Fiske aims to eliminate laxity in language by way of this witty and engaging reference. He also illustrates why dictionaries don't always provide the correct meaning or usage of a word. With concise... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1451651325
• ISBN13: 9781451651324
• Release Date: November 2011
• Publisher: Scribner Book Company
• Length: 480 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.0" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

A dictionary of dictionaries and much more,

The first forward by John Simon describes the difference between an English-speaking gentleman in an English-speaking snot. Whatever you do, be forewarned, if you read the second forward by Clark Elder Morrow, you will end up burning the Oxford English Dictionary (QED) for its many severe offenses to English itself. Oh no. If you think the Oxford English Dictionary, which includes no knowns like using a heart-shaped symbol in place of 'love,' was just the tip of the iceberg, then that was just the tip of the iceberg. After you read the prologue, you will wonder if there are any real dictionaries left in life that have not been corrupted; not corrupted like using alternative expressions and places of words, but corrupted on every level, from condoning misspellings, condoning mispronunciation of words, and much more. The balance of the book takes a dictionary form from A-to-Z. The version I hold in my hand has alphabetic tabs in the margins, making it easier to find where the A’s stop and the B’s start. Each entry takes as much space and wording is needed to complete in detail what a word or sentence means. It is refreshing not to have an overwhelming number of abbreviations that you have to look up when trying to figure out what the word means. This is one of those books that you need to read from A-to-Z as there are many entries that you need and had no idea that you needed. I still had to use Grammarly for this review.