Synopses & Reviews
From the author of the bestselling I Used to Know That comes a veracious cornucopia of 500 of the best, trickiest, and oft-misused words in the English language that will have you confabulating with the literary cognoscenti in no time Ever wanted to ameliorate your atavistic lexicon, engage in a little intellectual badinage, or been discombobulated by tricky diction? 500 Words You Should Know has you covered. This book will inspire readers to use uncommon words in their correct context, to utilize the English language to its full potential, and to test themselves on the words they think they already know. This is a book for the appreciator of correct usage, and contains words you thought you knew (decimate, caveat, nemesis), words you should know (euphemism, diatribe, tautology), and just a few that you might want to know (peripatetic, shibboleth, callipygian). Arranged thematically, each word is dissected, with a brief explanation of etymology, historical, and modern usage, allowing you to fully understand and effectively employ the word in its proper context.
Review
"This 'essential cornucopia' aims to inspire you to use uncommon words in their original context, in order to utilize the English language to it's full potential, and to test yourself on words you think you already know." —Bookseller
Synopsis
The world's most important language has a number of difficult areas and pitfalls, and almost everyone has some area to improve upn, whether it's how to spell "millennium" or how to pronounce "schedule" the British way. Her Ladyship's guide quickly takes readers through the major problem areas, covering common mistakes in grammar (that will belie a lowly upbringing), common misspellings and misused words, and the all-important choice of words and phrases to use in posh society, with a fool-proof pronunciation guide.
About the Author
Caroline Taggart is the author of the bestselling I Used to Know That, The Classics: All You Need to Know, An Apple a Day, and several other books. A veteran of publishing for nearly 30 years, she has edited innumerable books across categories.