Common Errors in English Usage
by Paul Brians
List Price:
Our Price: $9.85
You Save: $5.15 (34%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $1.25 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Paul BriansEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2003-03
ISBN: 1887902899
Number of pages: 256
Publisher: William James & Company
Book Reviews of Common Errors in English Usage
Book Review: Practice Makes Perfect
Summary: 5 Stars
Should that be "Practise" or did I use the right spelling?
In the United Kingdom, "practice" is the noun, "practise" the verb; but in the U.S. the spelling "practice" is commonly used for both, though the distinction is sometimes observed. ~ pg. 161
The entries in Paul Brians' "Common Errors in English Usage" are organized alphabetically and provide hours of amusement for anyone who loves language. This book brought back memories of childhood, in those moments where the use of "borrowed" and "lend" were taught at school. Then there is the every present annoyance of "its/it's." Who has not made a mistake while spelling lightening and lightning?
Humor abounds as in the picture of man and bear with the caption: "For a moment he was confused - was he being attacked by a bear presently or currently?"
Some of the most intriguing entries include:
envious/jealous
Mauve
immaculate conception/virgin birth
disburse/disperse
jealous/envious
hysterical/hilarious
who/whom
that/which
You can be jealous of your boyfriend's attraction to other women, but you're envious of your boyfriend's CD collection. ~ pg. 74
This book discusses redundancies, like "DVD disk," but doesn't discuss the difference between CDs and CD's. One is of course possessive while the other is plural.
If I said chai tea, would that be a redundancy? Actually, redundancy also means being unemployed. I still like saying chai tea, but this book says it is pointless and it is also called masala chai. As this tea grows every more popular, I'm sure the way we ask for tea will correct itself.
Why would anyone use sacred instead of scared? This book also deals with common typos. You have to love uses like "same difference." Why do they say "There is no such word as "verbage" when I do find this word in an online dictionary as "jargon." Of course, an urban dictionary may send some people into a state of shock. The author cautions against using nonstandard and obsolete words and says that just because a word is in a dictionary, doesn't mean it is being "endorsed."
If you tend to think up a lot of your own words or like to be playful then some of the entries will make you feel a little rebellious. For those who are longing to perfect their writing, this book can be invaluable. Well, as they say practice makes perfect although my first indication is to type "practise."
"Colour vs. Color" is a far less common usage problem, although I must say that as a child, I was smacked on the hands with a ruler for that one. I had apparently learned the word "color" before moving overseas.
This book would make a perfect present for anyone interested in language, will provide lots of laughs and will bring back memories from childhood. Frankly, I found this to be a fun book. OK, so now I can't use "Frankly" anymore. This book says that I have just abused the English language.
Sentences beginning with this word are properly admissions of something shocking or unflattering to the speaker; but when a public spokesperson for a business or government is speaking, it almost always precedes a self-serving statement. ~ pg. 88
If you have ever lived overseas or have tried to use foreign words, this book unveils faux pas and British/U.S. Spellings.
~The Rebecca Review
Summary of Common Errors in English Usage
Mixed-up, mangled expressions; foreign-language faux pas; confused and confusing terms; commonly mispronounced words - they're all explained in this useful guide.English as a Foreign Language Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in English as a Foreign Language Books
Oxford English-Greek Learner's Dictionaryby D. N. Stavropoulos
Oxford University Press, USA; Published: 2008-02-18; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $24.73
Price in other shops:
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionaryby Albert Sydney Hornby, Sally Wehmeier
Oxford University Press Elt; Published: 2005-03-03; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $202.42
The Poems of Gerard Manley Hopkins (Oxford Paperbacks)by G. M. Hopkins
Oxford University Press, USA; Published: 1976-03-18; Paperback; Book
Best price: $28.50
Building Skills for the Toefl Test (Bste)by Carol King, Nancy Stanley
Addison-Wesley; Published: 1999-06; Paperback; Book
Best price: $316.74
The Mayor of Casterbridge: Level 5: 5,000 Word Vocabulary (Oxford Progressive English Readers)by Thomas Hardy
Oxford University Press; Published: 1993-12; Paperback; Book
Best price: $270.40
Side by Side: Student Book 3, Third Editionby Steven J. Molinsky, Bill Bliss, Bliss, Molinsky
Pearson ESL; Published: 2001-09-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $15.00
Price in other shops:
Student Text, Vol. A: Understanding and Using English Grammar (Blue), Third Editionby Betty Schrampfer Azar
Pearson ESL; Published: 1998-09-14; Paperback; Book
Best price: $16.71
Price in other shops:
Express Ways: English for Communication (Advanced) (Express Ways-Book Iia (Advanced)) (Bk. 3A)by Steven J. Molinsky, Bill Bliss
Prentice Hall; Published: 1986-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $16.10
Price in other shops:
House Made of Dawnby N. Scott Momaday, Momaday
McGraw-Hill Europe; Published: 2007-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.93
Price in other shops:
Art of Public Speakingby Stephen E Lucas
Mcgraw Hill Higher Education; Published: 2009-01-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $39.95
Similar Books and other products
The Subversive Copy Editor: Advice from Chicago (or, How to Negotiate Good Relationships with Your Writers, Your Colleagues, and Yourself) (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing)by Carol Fisher Saller
University Of Chicago Press; Published: 2009-03-16; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.47
Price in other shops:
A Dash of Style: The Art and Mastery of Punctuationby Noah Lukeman
W. W. Norton & Company; Published: 2007-04-17; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.48
Price in other shops:
Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuationby Lynne Truss
Gotham; Published: 2004-04; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $4.10
Price in other shops:
The Only Grammar Book You'll Ever Need: A One-Stop Source for Every Writing Assignmentby Susan Thurman, Larry Shea
Adams Media; Published: 2003-05-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.73
Price in other shops:
Copyediting and Proofreading For Dummiesby Suzanne Gilad
For Dummies; Published: 2007-05-07; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.12
Price in other shops:
The Wrong Word Dictionaryby Dave Dowling
Castle Books; Published: 2010-06-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $6.91
Price in other shops:
The Most Common Mistakes in English Usage (Schaum's Paperbacks)by Thomas Berry
McGraw-Hill; Published: 1971-06-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.79
Price in other shops:
100 Words Almost Everyone Confuses and MisusesHoughton Mifflin Harcourt; Published: 2004-09-10; Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.86
Price in other shops:
Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing (Quick & Dirty Tips)by Mignon Fogarty
Holt Paperbacks; Published: 2008-07-08; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.48
Price in other shops:
Common Errors in English Usage 2nd Editionby Paul Brians
William, James & Company; Published: 2008-11-17; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.84
Price in other shops: