An edition of Word by word (2017)

Word by word

the secret life of dictionaries

First edition.
  • 4.1 (8 ratings) ·
  • 14 Want to read
  • 9 Have read
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  • 4.1 (8 ratings) ·
  • 14 Want to read
  • 9 Have read

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Last edited by Drini
April 1, 2024 | History
An edition of Word by word (2017)

Word by word

the secret life of dictionaries

First edition.
  • 4.1 (8 ratings) ·
  • 14 Want to read
  • 9 Have read

"Brimming with intelligence and personality, a vastly entertaining account of how dictionaries are made - a must read for word mavens. Have you ever tried to define the word "is?" Do you have strong feelings about the word (and, yes, it is a word) "irregardless?" Did you know that OMG was first used in 1917, in a letter to Winston Churchill? These are the questions that keep lexicographers up at night. While most of us might take dictionaries for granted, the process of writing dictionaries is in fact as lively and dynamic as language itself. With sharp wit and irreverence, Kory Stamper cracks open the complex, obsessive world of lexicography, from the agonizing decisions about what and how to define, to the knotty questions of usage in an ever-changing language. She explains why the small words are the most difficult to define, how it can take nine months to define a single word, and how our biases about language and pronunciation can have tremendous social influence. Throughout Stamper brings to life the hallowed halls (and highly idiosyncratic cubicles) of Merriam-Webster, a surprisingly rich world inhabited by quirky and erudite individuals who quietly shape the way we communicate. A sure delight for all lovers of words, Harmless Drudges will also improve readers' grasp and use of the English language"--

Publish Date
Language
English
Pages
296

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Edition Availability
Cover of: Word by Word
Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries
2018, Random House Publishing Group
in English
Cover of: Word by word
Word by word: the secret life of dictionaries
2017
in English - First edition.
Cover of: Word by Word
Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries
2017, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
in English

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Book Details


Edition Notes

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Classifications

Dewey Decimal Class
413.028
Library of Congress
P327 .S695 2017, P327.S695 2017

The Physical Object

Pagination
xiii, 296 pages
Number of pages
296

ID Numbers

Open Library
OL27230148M
ISBN 10
110187094X
ISBN 13
9781101870945
LCCN
2016024253
OCLC/WorldCat
956775014
Amazon ID (ASIN)
B01HA4P9VI

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History

Download catalog record: RDF / JSON / OPDS | Wikipedia citation
April 1, 2024 Edited by Drini //covers.openlibrary.org/b/id/14605137-S.jpg
December 7, 2022 Edited by ImportBot import existing book
October 11, 2020 Edited by ImportBot import existing book
August 5, 2020 Edited by ImportBot import existing book
July 19, 2019 Created by MARC Bot Imported from marc_openlibraries_sanfranciscopubliclibrary MARC record