Usage and Abusage: A Guide to Good English

by Eric Partridge, Janet Whitcut (Contributor)

Which is preferred-nom de plume, pseudonym, or pen name? What are neologisms, disguised conjunctions, and fused participles? More generally, where does usage end and abusage begin? Language enters into almost every part of human life and yet it is all-too-often misused: directness and clarity disappear in a whirl of cliches, euphemisms, and wooliness of expression.

Usage and Abusage, like Eric Partridge's other highly regarded books on the English Language, is a classic that has stood up well to the passage of time. But language does evolve over the years, and new problems (such as the use of "hopefully") and current topics (such as 'sexism") have engendered a whole new vocabulary, which cannot be omitted from any book discussing the English of the 1990s.

In this new edition, Janit Whitcut has revised Partridge's popular reference book to reflect the language of well-informed writers, readers, and speakers today. In addition, she has added a section to the book entitled Vogue Words, which includes words such as "crash," "symbiotic," and "viable" that have acquired a power and an influence beyond those that they originally possessed. Usage and Abusage wittily attacks linguistic abusage of all kinds and offers constructive advice on the proper use of English.

The late ERIC PARTRIDGE was the author of many classic books on the English language. JANET WHITCUT has contributed to many publications including The International Encyclopedia of Lexicography and The Oxford Thesaurus.

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

389 pages, Hardcover

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.