On LanguageWritten by a New York Times columnist renowned for his crotchety wit, this tome enlightens readers concerning proper usage, correct pronunciation, the roots of daily discourse, and the vacuous lingo in which "subsume" is co-opting "co-opt", word-burning stoves become "energy systems", and stores that sell eyeglasses squint out at the public as "vision centers". The author is aided in his campaign for precision and clarity in language by a legion of word buffs, language lovers, and learned eccentrics. |
From inside the book
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Page 54
... term that is enjoying a rebirth : " copacetic . " It means " fine ; no complaints ; hunky - dory ; cool . " There is a touch of restraint in the word : When everything is copacetic , all is sailing smoothly , but it's not " excellent ...
... term that is enjoying a rebirth : " copacetic . " It means " fine ; no complaints ; hunky - dory ; cool . " There is a touch of restraint in the word : When everything is copacetic , all is sailing smoothly , but it's not " excellent ...
Page 75
... term describes the wide world of television journalism which is developing a lexicon of its own : Voice Wrap : The use of a newscaster's voice to introduce and to close a piece of film or tape . Marine terminology is pressed into ...
... term describes the wide world of television journalism which is developing a lexicon of its own : Voice Wrap : The use of a newscaster's voice to introduce and to close a piece of film or tape . Marine terminology is pressed into ...
Page 116
... term “ crash ” in 60's slang to mean “ to arrive uninvited and plunge deeply into sleep , " as in a " crash pad . " Actually , the word " uninvited " could be deleted from the definition . Arriving anywhere uninvited ( particularly a ...
... term “ crash ” in 60's slang to mean “ to arrive uninvited and plunge deeply into sleep , " as in a " crash pad . " Actually , the word " uninvited " could be deleted from the definition . Arriving anywhere uninvited ( particularly a ...
Contents
Belt the kids 5 alphabet | 13 |
awriiight 24 boggling the mind 30 coming on 47 copacetic 54 | 54 |
haters 22 bi the bi 29 boggling the mind 30 center on 35 clearly | 96 |
Copyright | |
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adjective adverb advertising American anymore asked back-formed called Carter coffee column comes confusion connotation copacetic correct crash Dear Bill describe desk Dictionary editor English euphemism example expression favorite fungible girl gorilla head Henry Kissinger Hobson's choice hyphen idea Jerry Brown Jersey Dear language Latin letter lexicographers lingo linguistic magazine meaning meant metaphor Mexican standoff Mondegreens National never noun origin parameters person Peter Tamony phrase piece play plural political President pronounced quadrivium radio readers reason recently redundant refer replaced reports rooted S. J. Perelman sense sentence Sincerely slang slogan someone sound speaker speech spelling spit sting Straight Arrow suggested synecdoche television term thing thought tion Tisha b'Av turned usage verb vogue vogue words Washington Webster's White House William Safire wiseguy word writes wrote Yiddish York Dear