Right, Wrong, and Risky: A Dictionary of Today's American English Usage | 
 enlarge | Author: Mark Davidson
Publisher: W. W. Norton
Category: Book
List Price: $29.95
Buy New: $13.99
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Rating:  3 reviews
Sales Rank: 539992
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 544
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.3
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 7 x 1.7
ISBN: 0393061191
Dewey Decimal Number: 423.1
EAN: 9780393061192
ASIN: 0393061191
Publication Date: December 12, 2005
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Condition: Excellent clean unmarred copy. Ships daily.
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Product Description
BFor anyone challenged by the changes and controversies in the world's most widely used language: Standard American English./BBRBRIRight, Wrong, and Risky/I provides simple, direct answers to questions about word choice, spelling, grammar, and punctuation#151;in straightforward alphabetical order. The answers are supported by thousands of up-to-date published usage examples. And the reader is told not just that particular usages are right or wrong, but why.BRBRIn addition, IRight, Wrong, and Risky/I warns the reader about risky words like cleave and suspicious, and the many risky situations in which usage authorities disagree about what is and is not acceptable in Standard American English. For every such quandary, this book provides a risk-free solution.Browsers will learn why we tell stage performers to break a leg, why it's not really an insult to call someone a philistine or even a Neanderthal, and why it's wise never to use the word fortuitous or say the word Iforte/I aloud.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Who Can Do Without? January 27, 2007
Dale Leslie (Ann Arbor, MI USA)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
I can't think of anyone who uses the spoken or written word who wouldn't be intrigued by this book. Oh, how we misuse our English language with word useage that we are unsure of or mangle. Although not meant as such, I bought this book as a reference gift for my Crossword Puzzle obsessed son. It is amazing the amount of research and scholarship that is invested in this book. Look up the definition of the word "peruse." My guess is you haven't been using it correctly. Welcome to the club.
A must for anyone who writes...anything! December 8, 2006
J. LoBasso (Orange County)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
If you write letters, books, emails or just quick notes to the kids, you need this book. I have been honing my writing skills for years and found a plethora of information that I can use everyday. This book showed me how far I still have to go. br / br /I'm buying four copies for Christmas gifts, I'm sure they'll be well received.
 Brillant Yet Flawed December 4, 2005
Robert Long (Trumbull, CT)
43 out of 44 found this review helpful
I just bought this book today and was absolutley delighted to see such an up-to-date reference book on American usage. I have been waiting for a comphrensive yet readable book on this subject, and Mr. Davidson's book fills the bill fairly well. The entries are alphabetically arranged, with very entertaining and informative prescriptions on what's right and incorrect. On the more controversial entries he even suggests a "risk-free" alternative to keep the prospective writer/editor out of possible hot water. A nice touch! Most aspects of usage and style are covered. From the usual collection of confusing and misspelled words, to excellent discussions about fused gerunds, redundant phrases, and other matters likely to trip up people who want to write clearly and correctly for their readers. The excellent bibliography is exhasutive and lists all the books that have been published on this topic since the early 90s (and earlier!). br / br /On the negative side, I was very disapppointed that there was no index for the individual entries. This proved to be especially troubling, since not all entries are listed where they should be. For example, in looking up the word "yet", I found it not under the y's, but under the b's with the entry "but, however, nevertheless, nonetheless, still, still and all, or yet?" An index would have been helpful to point me directly to the page on which this item was discussed. br / br /Lastly, I was surprised there was no reference to the recent Cambridge Guide to English Usage (2004) by Pam Peters who is also at Macquarie University. The two books together should answer any usage question for years to come.
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