Bryson's Dictionary of Troublesome Words

June 3, 2002
Bestselling author Bryson's latest book is really his first: this guide to usage, spelling and grammar was first published in 1983 when Bryson (In a Sunburned Country,
etc.) was an unknown copyeditor at the London Times,
and has now been revised and updated for use in the U.S. Alphabetically arranged entries include commonly misspelled and misused words. He also includes common problems with grammar, as well as an appendix on punctuation. Bryson often cites the 1983 edition of H.W. Fowler's A Dictionary of Modern English Usage
as an authority, though he also makes a handful of references to recent texts, such as the Encarta World English Dictionary
and Atlantic Monthly
columnist Barbara Wallraff's "Word Court." Despite the revisions, the book often betrays its origins as a British text, as in citing words in common usage throughout the U.K. and British Commonwealth, but rarely used by American writers, such as Taoiseach,
the Prime Minister of Ireland or City of London vs. city of London. In addition, Bryson avoids taking on computer lingo, such as distinguishing between the Internet and the World Wide Web. Despite these shortcomings, Bryson's erudition is evident and refreshing. His passage on split infinitives, for example, asserts that it is "a rhetorical fault—a question of style—and not a grammatical one." Readers looking for the author's trademark humor will not find it here. Instead they will find a straightforward, concise, utilitarian guide, albeit one listing Bryson's "suggestions, observations, and even treasured prejudices" on newspaper writing—primarily in Britain, circa 1983.

April 15, 2002
Before he wrote best sellers like A Walk in the Woods, Bryson was a copy editor at the London Times. The book that actually launched his career was the dictionary that grew out of that experience here updated and revised for a U.S. audience.

Copyright 2002 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2002
This is a new edition of a book previously titled "The Penguin Dictionary of Troublesome Words" (1983), now out of print. Primarily known for his hilarious travel writing, Bryson once worked as a copy editor at the "London Times." There he was daily faced with vexing language problems but found traditional reference works to be of no use because they often assumed readers were familiar with the intricacies of grammar. Sensing a need for a simple, concise guide to the more problematic aspects of the English language, he has compiled this alphabetical list of words and phrases that are often misused, accompanied by straightforward, often funny explanations of their correct usage. Just to keep things interesting, he quotes errors made by major publications, such as the" New Yorker" and the "Washington Post." Admittedly narrow in range, this pithy guide will work fine in conjunction with a full-blown style manual. Want to read the latest condemnations of the word "hopefully"? Should you use "more than "or "over"? Professional wordsmiths will want to know. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2002, American Library Association.)