
A handy reference for anyone who wants to keep their English clear and polished, this desk‑book gathers the most frequent slips, misused words, and awkward expressions that creep into everyday speech. Drawing on the author’s long experience with dictionaries and language instruction, it points out where colloquialisms and slang undermine precise communication, offering succinct corrections that are easy to remember.
The guide balances respect for the language’s natural flexibility with a firm sense of what constitutes good usage. It includes short notes on idioms that sound logical but are technically incorrect, and highlights subtle grammatical shifts that can change the strength of an idea. Whether you’re a student polishing an essay, a teacher reinforcing classroom lessons, or simply a lover of tidy prose, this book provides clear, practical advice to help you navigate the pitfalls of modern English.
Full title
A Desk-Book of Errors in English Including Notes on Colloquialisms and Slang to be Avoided in Conversation
Language
en
Duration
~5 hours (312K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Henry Flower and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Release date
2015-05-09
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1864–1938
A lifelong word expert, he helped shape the great Funk & Wagnalls dictionaries and spent decades answering readers’ questions about usage, spelling, and pronunciation. His books turn the rules of English into something practical, lively, and surprisingly approachable.
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