What in the Word?: Wordplay, Word Lore, and Answers to Your Peskiest Questions about Language

Are you so sure about "assure," "ensure," and "insure"? Can you determine whether a knob of butter is equivalent to a lump or a pat or a scosh? Can you say which word in the English language has the most definitions, or who put the H in Jesus H. Christ?

If you can't, be assured that Charles Harrington Elster, author of several well-loved works on language, can--and does in his latest book, a delightfully designed compendium of the most common, interesting, and entertaining conundrums in our language. Drawing upon esoteric sources and his own inimitable expertise, Elster uses a lively question-and-answer format to cover a variety of topics--word and phrase origins, slang, style, usage, punctuation, and pronunciation. Every chapter features original brainteasers, challenging puzzles, and a trove of literary trivia.

Author: Charles Harrington Elster
Publisher: Collins Reference
Published: 11/01/2005
Pages: 304
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.67lbs
Size: 8.00h x 5.34w x 0.72d
ISBN: 9780156031974

Review Citation(s):
Ingram Advance 11/01/2005 pg. 91
Booklist 11/01/2005 pg. 9
School Library Journal 01/01/2006 pg. 173
Shelf Awareness 01/01/0001

About the Author
Elster, Charles Harrington: - CHARLES HARRINGTON ELSTER is a writer, broadcaster, and logophile-a lover of words. He is the author of several books, including The Big Book of Beastly Mispronunciations, Verbal Advantage, and There's a Word for It. He is also a guest contributor to the On Language column of the New York Times Magazine. He lives in San Diego.