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This work provides the basic information about grammar and punctuation that people need on a day-to-day basis. Arranged A to Z, it contains entries for standard grammatical terms as well as dealing with specific questions of usage.
This handy guide provides the basic information about grammar and punctuation that people need on a daily basis. Arranged in an easy-to-use two-colour A-Z format, the book contains entries for standard grammatical terms and deals with specific questions of usage such as the difference between 'may' and 'might' or 'that' and 'which'.
Adding endings and remembering when 'I' comes before 'E' are just some of the aspects of spelling that confront us with endless pitfalls. This easy-to-use A-Z guide does what no spellchecker can do: it offers both spellings for tricky words and rules that will help you develop good spelling.
Is it correct to pronounce "mischievous" as a three-syllable word (miss-chi-vuhss) or a four -syllable word (miss-chee-vi-uhss)? If it is right to use "alumni" as the plural of "alumnus," why is it wrong to use "octopi" as the plural of "octopus"? Should we write "12 am" or "12 a.m."? What is the difference between "principle" and "principal"? Is it "just desserts" or "just deserts"? If you don't know the answer to these questions, if you need a quick and effective guide to correct English, then Oxford A-Z of English Usage is just what you are looking for, containing a gold mine of useful advice on a wide array of common writing and speaking problems. Based on Oxford's world-renowned dictionary research program and packed with vivid examples of real usage (and misusage) from contemporary sources, this guide provides essential information on the kinds of issues writers face every day. Readers will find more than 600 entries arranged in alphabetical order, shedding light on common issues of uncertainty and confusion (affect / effect; compliment / complement; loath / loathe), on questions of punctuation and pronunciation, on grammatical terms, and much more. In addition, there are more than 20 special feature articles on specific topics such as abbreviation, euphemism, hyphenation, and folk etymology (where we learn that though more than half the examples in print use "just desserts," the proper word is "deserts," meaning reward, not "arid land"). With a clear and attractive two-color page design, Oxford A-Z of English Usage gives the reader quick and easy answers to their most common questions, with clear and coherent explanations and sample sentences. It will prove the first port of call for any reader seeking easy-to-understand, reliable help with English usage.
Readers and writers of all levels will find the Oxford A-Z of English Usage essential. Based on Oxford's world-leading dictionary research programmes and contemporary language monitoring, and giving examples of real usage, this book provides the essential information about usage and correct English that is needed in practical, everyday situations. Arranged in A-Z sequence, it contains over 680 entries on issues of spelling, grammar, meaning and PC language that confuse people (e.g. licence / license; learning difficulties / mental handicap; fewer / less). In addition, there are more than 20 special feature articles on specific topics such as hyphenation or the use of Latin plurals, as well as commonly confused terms like Britain, Great Britain, the British Isles, England. With a fresh page design, the Oxford A-Z of English Usage gives the reader immediate and easy access to answers, by means of clear and coherent explanations and illustrations. It will prove the first port of call for any reader seeking clear, authoritative help with usage questions.
This accessible and unique approach to grammar comes in two parts: the first section consists of a practical guide on how to understand and use grammar successfully, and the second is an extensive A-Z glossary of grammatical terms. Ideal for both language students and anyone wanting to improve their use of English, it demystifies and explains these terms, while giving expert advice on how to construct sentences. * Chapters on sentences and clauses, nouns and pronouns, verbs, clause patterns, adverbials, multiple sentences, and more * Factboxes and writing tips give examples and clear explanations of problem topics such as adverb formation and the use of 'I and me' or 'so and such' * Diagrams break down passages of text, giving clear explanations on their sentence construction * Glossary terms include conjunction, future perfect 'tense', interrogative clause, is/are, passive voice, simple aspect, split infinitive, uncountable noun
The Oxford Dictionary of English Grammar is a straightforward and accessible A-Z guide to the diverse and often complex terminology of English grammar. It contains over 1,600 entries with clear and concise definitions, enhanced by numerous example sentences, as well as relevant quotations from the scholarly literature of the field. This second edition is written and edited by Professor Bas Aarts of University College London, writer of the acclaimed Oxford Modern English Grammar. It has been fully revised and updated, with particular attention paid to refreshing the example sentences included within the text. There are over 150 new entries that cover current terminology which has arisen since the publication of the first edition, and there are also new entries on the most important English grammars published since the start of the 20th century. Hundreds of new cross-references enhance the user-friendly nature of the text, and the list of works cited has been thoroughly updated to reflect the current state of the field. A short appendix of web links has been added. All in all, this Dictionary is an invaluable guide to English grammar for all students and teachers of the subject, as well as all those with an informed interest in the English language.
English grammar has changed a great deal since the beginning of the Twentieth Century, and it is a subject that can provide a complex minefield of uncertainties within the language. This accessible and comprehensive dictionary comes to the aid of both the general reader and the student or teacher, offering straightforward and immediate A-Z access to 1,000 grammatical terms and their meanings. All the currently accepted terms of grammar are included, as well as older, traditional names, controversial new coinages, and items from the study of other languages. Concise definitions of the wider subject of linguistics, including phonetics and transformational grammar, are accompanied by examples of language in use, and frequent quotations from existing works on grammar.
