With TROUBLESOME WORDS, journalist and bestselling travel-writer Bill Bryson gives us a clear, concise and entertaining guide to problems of English usage and spelling. Originally published as THE PENGUIN DICTIONARY OF TROUBLESOME WORDS, it has beenan indispensable companion to those who work with the written word for nearly twenty years. Now fully updated and revised, it is better than ever. So if you want to discover whether you should care about split infinitives, are cursed with an uncontrollable outbreak of commas or were wondering if that newsreader was right to say 'an historic day', this superb book is the place to find out.
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It is nearly 20 years since Bill Bryson first penned his deliciously witty paean to precision Troublesome Words. Now he has revised it and 60 per cent of the content is new so it's well worth another browse and a place on the desk corner of anyone who likes words and who wants to get things right.
Once a sub-editor at The Times, Bryson is irresistibly drawn to knowing that "to flaunt" means to display ostentatiously but "to flout" means to treat with contempt. Or that a straitjacket may be straight but its name means that its occupant is confined and restricted--in straitened circumstances, perhaps. And can you explain the difference between a Creole and a Pidgin or between egoism and egotism? If not consult Bryson. Then you'll be able to. There's no pedantry or pomposity in Bryson's writing. But he argues: "Just as we all agree that clarity is better served if 'cup' represents a drinking vessel and 'cap' something you put on your head, so too I think the world is a fractionally better place if we agree to preserve a distinction between 'its' and 'it's', between 'I lay down the law' and 'I lie down to sleep', between 'imply' and 'infer' and countless others."
Bryson modestly jokes that this alphabetically arranged book could be subtitled "Even More Things in English Usage That the Author Wasn't Entirely Clear about Until Quite Recently". If only most of us were sure about a fraction of the things Bryson clearly understands very well we might all be more effective writers and speakers. --Susan Elkin
About the Author
Bill Bryson was born in 1951 in Iowa but lived in the UK for many years working as a sub-editor before becoming an international bestselling writer with books such as THE LOST CONTINENT and NOTES FROM A SMALL ISLAND. He now lives in New England withhis wife and four children.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
85 of 85 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Do you put 'spoonsful' or 'spoonfuls' of sugar into tea? Do you know the difference between defining and non-defining clauses and between 'androgynous' and 'androgenous'? Can you tell irony from sarcasm and 'prophecy' from 'prophesy'? If you can, then you don't need this book. But you'd probably want to read it anyway. To all intents and purposes, Troublesome Words is the same as the earlier Dictionary of Troublesome Words, with a makeover to make it look new (rather like this review, in fact).
The great triumph of Troublesome Words is that it's arranged like a dictionary but is interesting enough to read cover to cover as though it were a novel. It projects a sense of personality (Bryson's) and his values: companies' eccentric and convention-defying names - with backward facing letters, for example - should never be allowed to become 'a distraction in print'. It bears the hallmark of Bryson's distinctive style: conversational, witty and digressive. All it lacks is a narrative.
Although essentially a work of reference, Brysonisms lighten the way. The entry for 'that' and 'which', for instance, advises brushing up on those clauses, defining and non- . 'Learning these distinctions is not, it must be said, anyone's idea of a good time, but it is one technical aspect of grammar that every professional user of English should understand because it is at the root of an assortment of grammatical errors.' And woe betide anyone who spells 'barbecue' with a 'q' and hyphens because they are clearly 'not ready for unsupervised employment'.
Other books of this type are more famous, authoritative and formidable - those by Fowler and Partridge in particular. But this one is actually entertaining as well as instructive, and is also considerably more recent (and therefore more in touch with contemporary usage). It has my vote, anyway.
The great triumph of Troublesome Words is that it's arranged like a dictionary but is interesting enough to read cover to cover as though it were a novel. It projects a sense of personality (Bryson's) and his values: companies' eccentric and convention-defying names - with backward facing letters, for example - should never be allowed to become 'a distraction in print'. It bears the hallmark of Bryson's distinctive style: conversational, witty and digressive. All it lacks is a narrative.
Although essentially a work of reference, Brysonisms lighten the way. The entry for 'that' and 'which', for instance, advises brushing up on those clauses, defining and non- . 'Learning these distinctions is not, it must be said, anyone's idea of a good time, but it is one technical aspect of grammar that every professional user of English should understand because it is at the root of an assortment of grammatical errors.' And woe betide anyone who spells 'barbecue' with a 'q' and hyphens because they are clearly 'not ready for unsupervised employment'.
Other books of this type are more famous, authoritative and formidable - those by Fowler and Partridge in particular. But this one is actually entertaining as well as instructive, and is also considerably more recent (and therefore more in touch with contemporary usage). It has my vote, anyway.
78 of 79 people found the following review helpful
By T
Format:Paperback
I found this book very approachable and would recommend it to anyone who wants to learn a little bit more about the English language but doesn't have the time or inclination to plough through the more traditional style of language book.
It is organised alphabetically making it easy to dip into but is also fine to read straight through.
It is organised alphabetically making it easy to dip into but is also fine to read straight through.
Examples are provided of the wrong way of doing things as well as the correct way which makes it easier to remember.
There are lots of examples of bad grammar taken from National newspapers to show you that even the professionals don't get it right. This gives the book a less formal approach, than say Fowler, and doesn't make you feel inferior just because you didn't know what a dangling modifier was.
Bill Bryson has selected a good range with examples of confusing spellings, punctuation, and grammar that will serve as an excellent starting point for anyone who wishes to take certain sections further.
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Well, one thinks they know most things in grammar, but one nearly always gets caught out. I didn't realise graffiti is plural and that the singular is graffito. Remember in future to say "There were graffiti........
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
OK - but not Bill Bryson's best by a long way!
More like a dictionary, instead of Bill's usual entertaining & amusing books. Ok I suppose, but you could just pick up a dictionary instead.
Published 4 months ago by Maureen
4.0 out of 5 stars
Linguist's delight
If you're in awe of the English language as I am, you'll revel in every line of this book. Bryson is a master of the undisclosed and the unexpected
Published 4 months ago by Darja Lancial
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very helpful indeed
Excellent language tool. Very easy to read too, which means it can be kept on a bedside table for late-night browsing :).
Published 5 months ago by Ure Ther
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hand me the bible I have a word needing a good slaying
Think Bryson, think somewhat slow moving American travelogue. Do not think school marm with a twitching whip of syntax correction. Read more
Published 10 months ago by "Belgo Geordie"
5.0 out of 5 stars
Do you know when to use 'further'...and 'farther'?
Every author needs this. This is now my bible. I have a ratty copy that I've had for years that my wife keeps threatening to throw out.
Published 14 months ago by Jon Breakfield
5.0 out of 5 stars
Troublesome Words
I have read all Bill Brysons books and this one is up to his usual standards.
His knowledge of the English language and grammar is wonderful. Read more
His knowledge of the English language and grammar is wonderful. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Pejay
4.0 out of 5 stars
Thanks, Mr Bryson
How refreshing to know that there are still those who care about the way in which English is written! Read more
Published 15 months ago by Mr. Nigel Harvey
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing!
This is a great book and Bill Bryson is an amazing author. I love all of his books and after reading this one was happy to put another one to my collection. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Emzi
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bryson's Troublesome!
This is not Fowler's "Modern English Usage" (1926) and it is written by an American, one of that country separated from us by a common language according to Churchill, George... Read more
Published 21 months ago by RR Waller
5.0 out of 5 stars
tickles the palette !
I loved this book! it should be every teenagers (and adults)! Bible, as soon as you start to read it, it wets the appetite for more, words and their many and varied meanings make... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Mw R. Moore
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