Overview
Since first appearing in 1998, Garner's Modern American Usage has established itself as the preeminent guide to the effective use of the English language. Brimming with witty, erudite essays on troublesome words and phrases, this book authoritatively shows how to avoid the countless pitfalls that await unwary writers and speakers whether the issues relate to grammar, punctuation, word choice, or pronunciation.
Now in the third edition, readers will find the "Garner's Language-Change Index," which registers where each disputed usage in modern English falls on a five-stage continuum from nonacceptability (to the language community as a whole) to acceptability, giving the book a consistent standard throughout. Garner's Modern American Usage, 3e is the first usage guide ever to incorporate such a language-change index, and the judgments are based both on Garner's own original research in linguistic corpora and on his analysis of hundreds of earlier studies. Another first in this edition is the panel of critical readers: 120-plus commentators who have helped Garner reassess and update the text, so that every page has been improved.
"This wonderfully written work aims to help people use language so they will use the right words to say what they mean. Garner relies on modern sources rather than historical precedent to determine the current, correct usage. He even advises writers about which words to avoid altogether. Each of the approximately 7,000 entries provides a definition, discusses the usage of the word, provides illustrative quotations, and gives citations to the references and quotations. This is an entertaining, witty, and unpretentious resource that will always come in handy in the public or academic library."----"Outstanding reference sources 2000", American Libraries, May 2000. Comp. by the Reference Sources Committee, RUSA, ALA.
Synopsis
In this update of A Dictionary of Modern American Usage (1998), a contributor to The Chicago Manual of Style (2003) offers entries that discuss either a particular word or phrase, or larger issues of usage and style. The prefaces to both editions are included as well as a quick guide to 100 common editorial comments, a glossary, and a chronology of books on usage since the 18th century. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
October 10, 2003 - The Wall Street Journal
His book is comprehensive and a browser's delight. The long entry on "hoist(ed) with one's own petar(d)" reveals three common variants. The one on E.E. Cummings should close the lower-case debate for good. And there are more than 9,000 entries and essays on basic or baffling matters like diminutives, expletives, and metaphors--everything from abbreviations to my favorite, zeugma. Thus do I tip my hand and my hat.
Editorials
From Barnes & Noble
A classic in the making, this usage guide gives friendly, useful advice for anyone who needs to write. Garner, author of A Dictionary of Modern Legal Usage and editor of Black's Law Dictionary -- the standard in its field, strikes a balance between overly strict and outdated grammar rules and the often sloppy and confusing writing that abounds today. A must for your home reference collection, Garner's guidelines let you write clear, educated prose.From the Publisher
"Clearly one of the best works on the topic" --Booklist starred review
"Whether taking those first steps on the road to good writing--namely, the avoidance of bad writing--or tending to further details of clarity, style, and organization, the writer-editor, like any artisan, needs guidance from a master. Such guidance is just what Garner's Modern American Usage provides, and lots of it." --Five Towns Jewish Times
"Garner makes grammar fun, and readers will not only find elucidation but also moments of pure delight while browsing these pages. As always, the entries are not only filled with clear lessons about language usage, trends, and problems inherent in misuse, but they are also peppered with cleverly chosen examples of both usage and misusage. [Garner's] book is the best of its kind in that it simply reports the facts in an engaging way; language evolves and usage changes. An invaluable ready-reference tool." School Library Journal
"Garner's book is by far the best on contemporary usage. For language lovers or for those attempting to find out how words are being used today, Garner's Modern American Usage is an indispensable tool." --Technical Communication
School Library Journal
Gr 9 Up—Garner makes grammar fun, and readers will not only find elucidation but also moments of pure delight while browsing these pages. This edition includes more than 10,500 entries (an increase of approximately 1500 over the 2003 volume). There are preface statements from all three editions as well as new, worthwhile introductory essays: "Making Peace in the Language Wars" and "Ongoing Struggles of Garlic-Hangers" (a consideration of the descriptive vs. proscriptive debate). As always, the entries are not only filled with clear lessons about language usage, trends, and problems inherent in misuse, but they are also peppered with cleverly chosen examples of both usage and misusage. Entries run anywhere from a line or two about spelling ("espresso" not "expresso") to a full column (see "effete") or more (see "irregular verbs" and the table following). Added to this edition is a language-change index that rates where a disputed usage falls on a scale of 1-5 (with 1 being "widely rejected" and 5 being "universally accepted") so that readers can gauge the correctness of a phrase such as "Hopefully, it won't rain tomorrow." Garner isn't a snob, though. His book is the best of its kind in that it simply reports the facts in an engaging way; language evolves and usage changes. The book ends with a 46-page glossary of grammatical, rhetorical, and other language-related terms, and a 10-page time line of books on usage. An invaluable ready-reference tool.—Herman Sutter, Saint Agnes Academy, Houston, TXLibrary Journal
This jewel of a reference, now in its second edition, answers just about any question you may have about the usage of American English....Arranged alphabetically, the hefty yet concise tome is also filled with cross references and a quick guide on the inside cover that allows readers to jump to the necessary page without having to leaf through. Yet paging through is a treat because you never know what you will learn next....Essential for wordsmiths, librarians, and literary types of all persuasions.—November 15, 2003
The Wall Street Journal
His book is comprehensive and a browser's delight. The long entry on "hoist(ed) with one's own petar(d)" reveals three common variants. The one on E.E. Cummings should close the lower-case debate for good. And there are more than 9,000 entries and essays on basic or baffling matters like diminutives, expletives, and metaphors--everything from abbreviations to my favorite, zeugma. Thus do I tip my hand and my hat.—October 10, 2003
Parade Magazine
OK, all you grammarians out there--here's a book to make sure you're saying it right. A Dictionary of Modern American Usage, by Bryan Garner is a lively 700-page compendium of good grammar tempered (but not tainted) by common practice.Parade Magazine