Bryson's Dictionary of Troublesome Words: A Writer's Guide to Getting It Right in Language & Grammar

Jul 26, 2007 Summer rated it it was amazing

Shelves: five-star-favs, non-fic

I really enjoyed this, but then I do sometimes read the dictionary for fun. I found Bryson’s expectations of correct usage to be insightful and realistic. I appreciate his examples of incorrect usage.

An example of something I have applied to my own writing is the entry for include. He writes, "include indicates that what is to follow is only part of a greater whole. To use it when you are describing a totality is sloppy, as here: “The 630 job losses include 300 in Redcar and 330 in Port Talbot” ...more

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Apr 30, 2010 Charles rated it it was amazing

Shelves: nonfic-writing

Excellent book. There was much here I just didn't know, and a lot of other material that I might once have known but had forgotten. I actually read through the entire thing, although it would be a great browsing book for anyone who wants to write or who just loves langauge. I got several blog posts out of the interesting material I found within. ...more

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Jun 14, 2011 Natalie rated it did not like it

Just recently got this in the mail and strategically timing it so that I will be reading this while on a camping trip.

I cannot wait!

UPDATE 7-27: this is literally a dictionary with commentary. I browsed through the entire thing, and there's no real prosey discussions. I hate to say it but this is a "bathroom book," only.

Sigh. Disappointing for hard core Bryson fans. It doesn't come anywhere close to Thunderbolt Kid or a Walk in the Woods. DOUBLE sigh. ...more

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