The Right Word!: How to Say What You Really Mean

by Jan Venolia

Every writer needs help with choosing them, using them, spelling them correctly. When is optimal or optimum the better choice? Why use germane when relevant is, well, more relevant? Created for just such tortuous (torturous?) situations, this handy guide provides an A-to-Z listing of troublesome, confusing words, accompanied by clear examples and explanations to help avoid common mistakes. With a discussion on getting the most out of words, a helpful resource section, humorous illustrations, and clever bits of wordplay, this compact reference is an indispensable resource.

   • The latest addition to Jan Venolia's Right! series, which has sold more than 600,000 copies.

   • With the growing influence of email and other instant communication on the English language, a modern reference is more important than ever.

   • Small and portable, this book is easier to carry and to use than some of the larger, bulkier reference works.

   • The cover design for WRITE RIGHT! and REWRITE RIGHT! was selected to display in the AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts) 50 Books / 50 Covers Exhibition in 2001. The designer for this series (including The Right Word!) is Paul Kepple, director, Headcase Design, Philadelphia, PA.

Genres: Writing, Reference, Nonfiction, Self Help

176 pages, Paperback

First published July 29, 2003

Reviews

[Gmaharriet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this immensely. My vocabulary of words I use everyday is not very large, but my recognition vocabulary...the words I understand when I see them in print...I've always believed to be more than adequate. I did know most of the words in this book, but I still found some big surprises about nuances and a few words that I didn't know at all.

This is going to become one of my "go-to" reference books, along with my dictionary and thesaurus.

[Teresa Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reference and everyday reminder of proper use of words.

Every high school and college student should have this book.
I loved being reminded of the confusion of our language and so often misused words.

[Bridget Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this lady, I want to own her books.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and infomative book on how and when certain words should be used.