The Cambridge Guide to English Usage

By Pam Peters

Book Overview

American and British English in the twenty-first century are still divided by a common language. Now in its second edition, this highly readable guide provides an authoritative reference to English usage, covering the differences, and some emerging similarities, between British, American and international English. It has been thoroughly updated and expanded to document hundreds of variable points of usage for the benefit of British and American readers, and for those seeking international forms of English for written communication, as first- or second-language users. It discusses the current status of each usage item with quantitative evidence from the NOW (News on the Web) corpus and contemporary research. Lively examples of usage are provided to capture aspects of twenty-first century culture world-wide. It also discusses issues in the use of personal names and ethnic naming practices, as well as sexist and homophobic words, and person-centred words for those living with a disability.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1316617041
• ISBN13: 9781316617045
• Release Date: July 2026
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Length: 620 Pages

Customer Reviews

handy sandwich-break read

At first I was surprised and a little disappointed by the format - it is arranged like a dictionary. I was expecting something that could be read through progressively. However, after getting over that, I enjoy the book. It is full of mini-articles that make interesting reading whenever there's a few minutes to spare over coffee or lunch. Naturally it can also be resorted to as a reference, though I could imagine that to be a hit or miss affair until you get used to its quirky look-up style, with entries on suffixes or parts of words. Sometimes I think that in the 21st century we should retreat a little to the looser rules of earlier centuries. Do we really have to agonize so much over how best to spell import-words like felafel or taboulie? One nice thing about the book, however, is its consideration of international trends in English and its attempt to bridge between them.

Lots of hard work put together

Although this might not be the most comprehensive language reference I've ever read, it adds new views and ingredients for my lesson plans. Recommended to people who are serious about English and its usage. A sure library item for writing teachers.