Another in the series.

This one was interesting more to see things I hadn't quite pieced together as being problematic. I only had three things that stood out to me and now I've got them down. But I loved the time spent wandering through it. Looking at where words came from and some of the quotes of people using the words, or misusing the words previously. ( )

I thought this short book (it only covers a 100 words after all) might be educational but dry and not very enjoyable. I was pleasantly surprised!

Each word is defined and for each definition the word is used in a sentence - one of the cool things is that the example sentences are often from great works of literature we all know, like Shakespeare's plays, Dracula, Little Women, Jane Eyre, Middlemarch, The Age of Innocence, etc. Then there are usage notes explaining the problems with the word and also sometimes commentary on what percentage of the Usage Panel agrees on the usage of the word in this way, and how that percentage has changed over time.

I felt comfortable with the great majority of the words (i.e., right or wrong, I don't think I'm one of the 'almost everyone' in the title), but I still learned some things.

Enjoyable little book that I would recommend to those who like to read about etymology. ( )

"This commonsense guide to some of the most troublesome bugbears, pet peeves,
and faux pas of written and spoken English features advice from the renowned
American Heritage usage program. The information you need to tell right from
wrong - or true errors from matters of taste - is explained in clear language
with plenty of useful examples. Whether you're looking for authoritative
guidance on proper usage or ammunition to counter a misguided critic, this book
is a hand resource for anyone who cares about our language." --back cover