Bad English
Subtitle: a history of linguistic aggravation
By: Ammon Shea
Edition: First edition.
Published: 2014
Language: eng
Number of pages: 255
ISBN-13: 9780399165573; 9780399165580
Subjects: Vocabulary; Dictionaries; Errors of usage; English language; Invective; Usage; Slang; Obscene words
Description: "The author of Reading the OED presents an eye-opening look at language 'mistakes' and how they came to be accepted as correct--or not. English is a glorious mess of a language, cobbled together from a wide variety of sources and syntaxes, and changing over time with popular usage. Many of the words and usages we embrace as standard and correct today were at first considered slang, impolite, or just plain wrong. Whether you consider yourself a stickler, a nitpicker, or a rule-breaker in the know, Bad English is sure to enlighten, enrage, and perhaps even inspire. Filled with historic and contemporary examples, the book chronicles the long and entertaining history of language mistakes, and features some of our most common words and phrases, including: Decimate; Hopefully; Enormity; That/which; Enervate/energize; Bemuse/amuse; Literally/figuratively; Ain't; Irregardless; Socialist; OMG; Stupider. Lively, surprising, funny, and delightfully readable, this is a book that will settle arguments among word lovers--and it's sure to start a few, too"--
Notes: "A Perigee Book."

Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Arguing semantics; title: Words that are not words; title: Verbing nouns; title: sins of grammar; title: The continuing deterioration of the language; title: Defending English; title: 221 words that were once frowned upon.