Roget's Thesaurus of Phrases

by Barbara Ann Kipfer

Book Overview

This one-of-a-kind reference offers 10,000 multi-word entries and multi-word synonyms to help writers and students avoid repetitions and cliches to make their writing more precise. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1567315704
• ISBN13: 9781567315707
• Release Date: February 2003
• Publisher: MJF Books
• Length: 373 Pages

Customer Reviews

book sale review

This item was in even better condition than advertised and was mailed in a very timely fashion.

Interesting resource, limited value

If you're looking for something to peruse on a lazy Sunday afternoon, and you're a lover of words, this is a terrific book. But as other reviewers have noted, it has limited usage value. This isn't likely to help you improve your writing, but it is likely to help you enjoy language.

Very Useful, But a Bit Clumsy

Have you ever been writing and desperately needed another idea for a two-word or longer phrase? Have you consulted your thesaurus and found nothing that matched? If so, this clever thesaurus of phrases is for you.Some of the thesaurus phrases are fairly technical or formal; for example, Einstein's Theory of Relativity can also be described as the "principle of equivalence" and Darwin's natural selection can be called the "law of the jungle." However, most of the phrases are more colloquial in nature; for example, look up "down-and-out" and you'll find clever substitutes, such as "in the poorhouse" and "on the skids." In addition, a short "phrase maker" section is included at the end of the thesaurus, which provides words that can be paired together. For example, look up "information" and the phrase maker suggests "confidential" or "classified" as modifiers.This thesaurus is likely to be useful for most any writer, whether your writing is creative or more technical. The only debit is that phrases are not cross-listed, so "in the poorhouse" is not an entry; one has to divine the correct listing for the book to be useful. This problem, however, is a minor inconvenience compared to the likely use writers of all sorts will derive. Highly recommended.

Excellent Resource, Great for Unclogging the Brain

I can pick this book up and thumb through it and literally unplog any bloch which is threatening to clog up my writing process. Gratefully, resource books such as this come along which speak to my "wanting to be only the most organized, beautifully spoen" indifividual.As a writer, it helps me narrow down and focus the word selection when I am frequently getting tangled up in the words and prases when it oulc be said so easily.Some of the phrases I enjoyed and was surprised to find: "The Bird" meaning "the finger".... and Method acting meaning "character acting, play acting, playacting."In the back there is a secontion called "Phrase Maker" which is really very cool. I suggest you spend some time there: after all you may be able to think up something brand new, something you might never have thought of before.

Refererence Book Devoted Entirely To Synonyms of Phrases

Have you ever tried to locate a reference book devoted entirely to the synonyms of phrases? For example, you wish to avoid an over used expression such as "over one's head" and replace it with one word. Most thesauri would not be of much help, as they are primarily devoted to offering synonyms for single words. Furthermore, all of the headwords in most of these thesauri are single words.Incidentally, how about using one of the following serve as a replacement: baffling, bewildering, beyond comprehension, beyond one, complex, complicated, deep, hard to understand, incomprehensible, profound, unfathomable?Dr. Barbara Ann Kipfer has now filled this void with the first of its kind reference book devoted entirely to the synonyms of phrases, a thesaurus of phrases.Kipfer's credentials are impeccable! She is Head Lexicographer for Cymfony, a leader in information extraction, text mining, and question and answering. Author of over twenty books, Kipfer is a renowned expert in the field of lexicography-the study and practice of the principles of dictionary writing and compiling.As mentioned in the introduction to the book, Roget's Thesaurus Of Phrases, it is a book for the twenty-first century. Try looking up something on the Internet where the terms you are using are not the most appropriate. After several attempts you give up in complete frustration. Perhaps, the problem was not using the most effective phrase? Experienced Internet users realize that you must use keywords and phrases in order to retrieve the information needed.Here is where Kipfer thesaurus will come in handy.Another area where the thesaurus will be put to good use is replacing collocations-words that are commonly used together-with another way to express them.How would you replace "lone wolf"? Reference to Kipfer's book will point out that you may want to use anyone of the following: hermit, independent, individualist, lone hand, loner, nonconformist, odd man out, outsider, pariah, rogue elephant, separatist, solitary.One of the keys to effective writing is being able to use simple and clear language.Whatever you have to say, say it simply and directly. Fortunately for many of us, Kipfer has seen the need for a thesaurus of phrases that will help us express ourselves in a way that will make every word count. This ultimately will lead us to powerfully deliver our message. As the author asserts in the introduction: "everyone has experienced the frustration of not being able to rephrase something or find the word or phrase they want. Another phrasing or the right word can enable you to do so much more."This review first appeared on the reviewer's own site:BOOKPLEASURES.COM