Word Abuse: How the Words We Use Use Us

by Donna Woolfolk Corss

Review by Publishers Weekly "Credit Word Abuse with a lively anecdotal approach, sharp perceptions, a sense of comedy. As she discusses jargon, the cliché', the euphemism, emotional word color, the 'new verbal morality' (dirty words) and other perils, Cross makes some telling points in her jaunty opus. "

Genres: Language, Nonfiction

232 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1979

Reviews

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cross was teaching at Syracuse University at the time I read this book. Wish I could have taken a class from her! She points out how words can be used, especially in advertising, to deceive and manipulate. Interesting stuff.

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately, the book has become dated with age. It was written in the 1970's and it shows. The ideas that were new at the time are now cliche.

[Kristin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Much of these ideas are old hat these days. For my purposes, the screed against 1960s education for ruining language is great stuff.