Usage and Abusage: A Guide to Good English

by Eric Partridge

Usage and abusage takes a long, hard look at the use – and constant misuse – of english declaring war on bad grammar, woolliness of expression and poor choice of vocabulary, this essential guide sets out both to highlight problems and pitfalls and to offer constructive advice on the proper use of english

Genres: Reference, Writing, Language, Nonfiction, Linguistics, Classics

401 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1942

Reviews

[Krystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my favourite book to refer to when musing over the slow death of the English language. It references so many phrases that are confused in modern times, and even completely redundant in today's society. It's an apt title, because it makes you realise just how much language has come to be abused on a daily basis.

Obviously a lot of my vocabulary has developed and grown from my love of books, and a love of classics in particular has left me a familiarity with words and phrases that give me a red squiggly underline, should I choose to type them. For example, I've always used 'amongst', but these days it's considered a redundant synonym for 'among'. I was starting to think I'd actually invented the word in my own mind before I thought to look it up in this beauty of a reference book.

My point is, it makes me sad for the English language, but it is also a handy guide for those of us who have trouble letting go. I will cling to these words and phrases for as long as possible, so I'm grateful to have this little guide to back me up.

[Darcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dry, witty, amusing, and just a touchy of smarmy. I read this when I was a true grammar prescriptivist and loved it but now having studied linguistics I enjoy it as a means to laugh at the sticklers' approach to language and how limiting and ludicrous it is. Enjoyable either way!

[Richard Marney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a reference book to sit along side your dictionary or thesaurus on the bookshelf. The author identifies word groupings where common mistakes of usage are present in day-to-day speaking and/or writing, and describes the subtle differences to ensure correct usage. Helpful!!😀

I raced through it today, marking a selection of words where I will return to improve my grasp of correct usage.

[Calum · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is alright i suppose. I expected more.
It's in a way subjective and ambiguous at times. The detail often is so minute and fine that i would have to wait for a life time to find a literary predicament in which the some knowledge within this book could then be applied.
That said, it is intriguing and i don't mind reading it every now and then just for something different.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very amusing but highly informative.

[Simon Vita · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great reference book. I use it almost daily in my work as an editor.

[Richard Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Put this with Fowler, Kingsley Amis and Lynne Truss, who could not know the essentials of decent English? Writing it is of course another matter.

[Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essential addition to reference portion of my bookshelf.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for school work...

[Milan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of things people generally tend to get wrong in English. Very informative and useful reference book. And it's fun to read too.