What In The Word? Wordplay, Word Lore, And Answers To Your Peskiest Questions About Language (Harvest Original) (Harvest Original)

Author: Charles Harrington Elster

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.

ISBN: 9780156031974
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Harvest Books
Publication Date: 11/1/2005
Links: Amazon, Library of Congress,