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This book is a career-capping anthology of essays that inspire, enlighten, and tickle the funny bone.
Richard Lederer is Learning and Language Dressed Up to Have Fun, and Lederer’s Language & Laughter is his funniest book ever.
Illuminating stories about the histories and mysteries of everyday words and phrases.
A treasure chest of amazing facts, curiosities, and quizzes about your favorite authors and their works.
Richard Lederer shares wit and wisdom, information and inspiration about the incredible journey to maturity.
Celebrating Your Feline Friend
Celebrating Your Best Friend
A Tribute to Teachers celebrates the most unheralded, exhausting, income-challenged, and ultimately rewarding of all professions.
Richard Lederer and Stan Kegel tell the fascinating stories of the origins and customs of our major holidays, including Easter, Passover, Cinco de Mayo, Independence Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
The book is chock-full of puns, jokes, riddles, games, poems, stories, history, lore, and more than 50 cartoons!
The perfect book for everyone who enjoys Christmas!
Word Wizard Richard Lederer offers his insight into the most bedazzling, beguiling, and bewitching words in the English language.
A sublime adventure in recreational linguistics that brings order to our English language.
In this career-capping anthology the reader will find essays that enlighten, inspire, and tickle the funny bone.
In this wide-ranging collection, Richard Lederer offers his reflections on the English language, along with his tales of a life in letters.
The ultimate joy ride through English
Educational word games about the origins of words and common expressions
A joyous hymn of praise to the English language.
The Big Book of Word Play Crosswords is a rousing collection of 100 original puzzles put together by best-selling language author Richard Lederer and award-winning crossword constructor Gayle Dean.
A collection of accidental assaults on the English language.
Richard Lederer finally is able to reveal the naughty side of wordplay.
A punderful celebration of song.
Best-selling author and world-class punster Richard Lederer presents the scariest and silliest spectacle of monsters ever gathered together in a single book.
A rare book of language fun and skill for children 9-13.
Children 9-13 are invited to step right up to a whirling, twirling, swirling three-ring circus of letter play.
Super Funny Animal Jokes is designed for readers 8-11 years young, who love animals and humor.
Wild & Wacky Animal Jokes is designed for readers 8-11 years young, who love animals and humor.
Hilarious jokes about animals, from aardvark to zebra, for children 8-12.
Hilarious jokes about animals, from aardvark to zebra, for children 8-12.
Animal Cracker Uppers Jr. is designed for readers 7-8 years young, who love animals and humor.
The guide to real-life writing, grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
A practical guide for the grammatically challenged.
This is a fun-damental guide to the craft and art of punctuating precisely and profoundly.
After a half century of sparking readers to appreciate the glories of the English language and laugh at its oddities, beloved language maven Richard Lederer serves up a veritable banquet of words. This book is a career-capping anthology of essays that inspire, enlighten, and tickle the funny bone.
From his hymns of praise to English to his rib-tickling bloopers and puns, these verbal performances are among the brightest gems of a storied career — certain to delight language lovers and Lederer fans everywhere.
Brett Radlicki’s gallery of illustrations adds to the luminous joy and rollicking fun of A Feast of Words. This is the perfect book for family, friends, and yourself — everyone smitten by the magic of language.
Known as “Attila the Pun” and “The First Name in Popular Linguistics,” Richard Lederer is Learning and Language Dressed Up to Have Fun, and Lederer’s Language & Laughter is his funniest book ever. In its pages, he takes you on a joyride through our glorious, uproarious, notorious, victorious English language.
Chock full of jokes, wordplay, bloopers, puns, crazy English, funny names, grammar stammers, and hilarious holiday humor, this book will brighten your days and make you laugh again and again. A belly-shaking guffaw stimulates circulation, tones the muscles, energizes the lungs, excites endorphins, adds T cells to the immune system, reduces pain, inflammation, and muscle tension, and provides superb aerobic exercise. They who laugh, last.
-Hardcover Edition-
To the man or woman who knows its origin, each word presents a picture, no matter how ordinary it may appear. Best-selling language author Richard Lederer passionately and humorously presents illuminating stories about the histories and mysteries of everyday words and phrases. In this hardcover book, Dr. Lederer illuminates the history and mystery of everyday words and expressions, organizing these etymologies into 13 thematic clusters, including body parts; wild kingdom; entertainment; land, sea, air, and beyond; politics; sports; science; and religion.
A treasure chest of amazing facts, curiosities, and quizzes about your favorite authors and their works. Looking back to the Bible, classical mythology, and William Shakespeare and moving up to a library of contemporary writers, Richard Lederer’s Ultimate Book of Literary Trivia promises bright days of entertainment and enlightenment for the passionate book lover.
What fictional detective survived an attempted murder by his creator?
Whose gravestone bears the inscription “The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated”?
Who was the single mother, living on state benefits, whose series of fantastic novels made her the richest writer in England?
Dr. Lederer has written more than 60 books about language, history, and humor.
Richard Lederer shares wit and wisdom, information and inspiration about the incredible journey to maturity. The touching stories, fascinating facts, and rollicking humor will stir your soul, stimulate your mind, and tickle your funny bone. The pages are set in 14-point type.
A blend of touching stories, fascinating facts, and rollicking humor is presented in this entertaining look at the jaunt towards senior citizenship. Guaranteed to stir souls, stimulate minds, and tickle funny bones, the chapters include “Why It’s Great to Be Chronologically Endowed,” “Grandkids Say the Darnedest Things,” “The Lighter Side of Aging,” and “Jest for the Health of It.” Advice on enjoying one’s golden years is featured, from how to accumulate happiness and social wisdom to the delights of retirement. With puns, jokes, riddles, and puzzles illuminating important aspects on the aging process, this uproarious guide also lists outstanding achievements by “chronologically gifted” leaders, artists, writers, and athletes.
The Gift of Age is one of Dr. Lederer’s best-selling that is not about language. Jim McLean’s sprightly illustrations add joy to this book.
Celebrating Your Feline Friend
In these pages cat lovers can celebrate the special bond they share with their beloved companions. A heartwarming collection of fascinating facts, touching stories, history, science, and hilarious jokes about our feline friends.
Cat lovers everywhere, we invite you to come and celebrate the special bond we share with one of our most beloved companions! Join bestselling author Richard Lederer for a heartwarming collection of fascinating facts, touching stories, witty word games, and more — all complemented by hilarious drawings. Settle in with your favorite feline, as you read wit and wisdom like…
Why Cats Are Better Than Dogs
Famous Cats and Cat Lovers
A Cat’s Guide to Humans
10 Clues That Your Cat Has Hacked into Your E-mail Password
Celebrating Your Best Friend
In these pages dog lovers can celebrate the special bond they share with their beloved companions. A heartwarming collection of fascinating facts, touching stories, history, science, and hilarious jokes about our best friends.
Dogs have been man’s best friend for thousands of years, securing our hearts with their unwavering loyalty and boundless love. Join bestselling author Richard Lederer for a fun-filled collection of rollicking humor, witty word games, touching stories, and more — all complemented by hilarious drawings. Celebrate the company of your furry pal as you delight in such wit and wisdom as…
All I Need to Know I Learned from My Dog
Ten Commandments for Dog Owners
A Dozen Distinguished Dogs
The Difference Between Dogs and Cats
Cheering on the true heroes of the classroom, Richard Lederer sings a chorus of praise for those who change our lives one day and one lesson at a time. Readers will meet great teachers throughout history, as well as educators captured in literature, film, and comic strips. A must for teachers and those who love them.
Offering compelling proof that teachers really do make a difference in the English, math, history, and science classrooms, A Tribute to Teachers celebrates the most unheralded, exhausting, income-challenged, and ultimately rewarding of all professions.
Richard Lederer and Stan Kegel tell the fascinating stories of the origins and customs of our major holidays, including Easter, Passover, Cinco de Mayo, Independence Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Both authors have been elected International Punster of the Year, so, of course, they also provide side-splitting jokes and riddles about each holiday. Works for children and grown-ups.
Sidesplitting jokes, puns, and puzzles are unleashed in this festive collection of quips for all of the major U.S. holidays. Each celebrated day from New Year’s to Christmas is afforded a separate chapter, organized in calendar order. Class clowns and junior high school comedians will uncover a bevy of vocabulary-enhancing humor and wholesome witticisms, such as Where was the Declaration of Independence signed? At the bottom. Enhanced by lively illustrations, each section also offers fun and fascinating origin stories and customs, making this a mirthful introduction to understanding modern-day celebrations.
A Treasury of Halloween Humor is chock-full of puns, jokes, riddles, games, poems, stories, history, lore, and more than 50 cartoons.
Richard’s signature mix of learning dressed up to have fun makes this the perfect book for everyone who enjoys Halloween!
What do you call an empty hot dog?
A hollow weenie.
From best-selling language writer and International Punster of the Year Richard Lederer comes this hilarious book about our spookiest holiday. On October 31, we carve faces on pumpkins, put on scary costumes, go out trick-or-treating, and devour mouth-watering, calorie-laden goodies, which always go to waist.
A ghost and a witch with a broom
And a ghoul and a bat in a room
Stayed up very late
So that they could debate
About who should be frightened of whom!
A gallery of Jim0 McLean’s sprightly drawings adds to the rollicking fun of A Treasury of Halloween Humor.
This is the perfect book for mummies, deadies, and children, and yourself — everyone who enjoys Halloween humor!
Dr. Lederer has written more than 60 books about language, history, and humor.
A Treasury of Christmas Humor is chock-full of puns, jokes, riddles, games, poems, stories, history, lore, and more than 50 cartoons!
Richard’s signature mix of learning dressed up to have fun makes this the perfect book for everyone who enjoys Christmas!
What do cats say to each other at Christmas?
“Have a Furry Meowy Christmas!”
What do dogs say to each other at Christmas?
“Yappy Howl-a-Days!”
How do sheep greet each other at Christmas?
“Season’s Bleetings and Fleece Navidad! Fleece on earth, good wool to sheep!”
If athletes get athlete’s foot, what do astronauts get?
Missile toe.
From best-selling language writer and International Punster of the Year Richard Lederer comes this hilarious book about our most joyous holiday, illuminated by candles and graced by decorations, Christmas trees, poinsettias, traditional songs and carols, family feasts, the exchange of presents and greeting cards, and the donning of ugly sweaters.
Inside A Treasury of Christmas Humor you’ll find your favorite Christmas characters, including Santa Claus, Frosty the Snowman, elves, and all the reindeer, including red-nosed Rudolph.
Jim McLean’s sprightly drawings add to the rollicking fun of A Treasury of Christmas Humor.
This is the perfect book for family, friends, and yourself — everyone who loves Christmas fun!
In Amazing Words, Word Wizard Richard Lederer offers his insight into the most bedazzling, beguiling, and bewitching words in the English language. With enchanting, enthralling, and entrancing etymologies, puns, and letter patterns of more than a thousand everyday words, readers will delight in the love of words that Dr. Lederer has poured into each entry.
With fascinating etymologies and letter patterns for more than 1,000 everyday words, best-selling language writer Richard Lederer shines light on the most bedazzling, beguiling, and bewitching words in the English language.
Chock-full of transfixing word histories, magical letter play, and hilarious puns, Amazing Words is an essential book for word lovers and verbivores. Dr. Lederer is the author of more than 60 books about language, history, and humor.
Challenging Words is a sublime adventure in recreational linguistics that brings order to our English language. Be prepared for a wordy workout consisting of aerobics of the mind and push-ups of the brain.
This is not a book for everyone. But if you are heels-over-head nuts about language and have a passion for snatching significance from the mass data swirling around us, you will share in its pages some sublime adventures in re-creation-al linguistics.
In the process of rising to the various challenges in these pages, your axons, dendrites, ganglia, and synapses will get quite a workout as you engage in a series of push-ups of the mind and aerobics of the brain.
Throughout his word-happy, wordstruck, wordaholic career, Dr. Richard Lederer has epitomized “learning dressed up to have fun.” His mission is to impose order on chaos and sprinkle fairy dust on the mundane. Enter this great banquet hall of words, and you will savor the abundant harvest of our bountiful, multifoliate English language.
Just about everybody has a name. In The Joy of Names, his master guide to names, best-selling language author Richard Lederer illuminates all you need to know about first names, baby names, last names, nicknames, cruel and unusual names, movie stars’ names, presidents’ names, eponymous names, names from myths, authors’ pseudonyms, and other fascinating facts about names.
Richard Lederer, known as “Learning Dressed Up to Have Fun,” makes these topics delightfully accessible. The illustrations by Todd Smith help bring the information to vibrant life.
After a multi-decade career of stimulating readers to appreciate and laugh at the glories and oddities of our English language, beloved language maven Richard Lederer has collected his very best and most popular pieces in Word Wizard. In this anthology, the reader will find essays that enlighten, inspire, and tickle the funny bone.
From his hilarious bloopers to his hymns of praise to the English language, these essays are the brightest gems of a storied career. Word Wizard includes a new introduction, prefaces for each essay, sprightly verse, and material never before published in Leader’s language books. With classic chapters such as “The World According to Student Bloopers,” “English Is a Crazy Language,” and “The Case for Short Words,” and shiny new essays such as “The Way We Word” and “Add Wealth to Your Vocabulary,” Word Wizard is sure to delight language lovers and Lederer fans everywhere.
In this wide-ranging collection, Richard Lederer offers his reflections on the English language, along with his tales of a life in letters. The more than 30 chapters include Dr. Lederer’s best columns from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Best-selling language writer Richard Lederer offers readers more of the irrepressible word play his fans can’t get enough of, along with his observations on a life in letters. From teaching English to Russian fifth graders to a zany dinner for punsters and from etymology to slang to dialect to fadspeak, these essays are learning and language dressed up to have fun, as only Dr. Lederer does it. He is the author of more than 60 books about language, history, and humor.
Crazy English is the ultimate joy ride through the English language, a beguiling harmony of laughter and learning.
In what other language, asks Lederer, do people drive on a parkway and park in a driveway, and your nose can run and your feet can smell? Lederer frolics through the logic-boggling byways of our language, discovering the names for phobias you didn’t know you could have, the longest words in our dictionaries, and the shortest sentence containing every letter in the alphabet. You’ll take a bird’s-eye view of our beastly language, feast on a banquet of mushrooming food metaphors, and meet the self-reflecting Doctor Rotcod, destined to speak only in palindromes.
Dr. Lederer has written more than 60 books about language, history, and humor.
The Play of Words features educational word games about the origins of words and common expressions. Great fun for the student at school and the family at home. A great way to learn and to have fun with the mother tongue. Perfect for language lovers.
Learn the origins of popular phrases in the English language through this exciting book of games perfect for language lovers.
Do you know the connection between the expression “a harrowing experience” and agriculture, between “by and large” and sailing, between “get your goat” and horses, or between “steal your thunder” and show business?
You probably have heard the comparisons “happy as a clam,” “smart as a whip,” “pleased as punch,” and “dead as a doornail” — but have you ever wondered why a clam should be happy, a whip smart, punch pleased, and a doornail dead?
Through the fifty games included in The Play of Words you’ll discover the answers to these questions as well as hundreds of other semantic delights, such as the rhyming game Inky Pinky, that repose in our marvelous English language.
A joyous hymn of praise to the English language, including its history and the writers, from Shakespeare to Orwell, who shaped it. Richard Lederer’s most luminous work.
Master verbalist Richard Lederer, America’s “Wizard of Idiom” (Denver Post), presents a love letter to the most glorious of human achievements.
Welcome to Richard Lederer’s beguiling celebration of language — of our ability to utter, write, and receive words. No purists need stop here. Dr. Lederer is no linguistic sheriff organizing posses to hunt down and string up language offenders. Instead, join him “In Praise of English,” and discover why the tongue described in Shakespeare’s day as “of small reatch” has become the most widely spoken language in history:
He also points out the pitfalls and pratfalls of English. If a man mans a station, what does a woman do? In the “The Department of Redundancy Department,” “Is English Prejudiced?” and other essays, Richard Lederer urges us not to abandon that which makes us human: the capacity to distinguish, discriminate, compare, and evaluate.
Conceived by Richard Lederer and built by award-winning constructor Gayle Dean, each of the 100 puzzles in The Big Book of Word Play Crosswords is a rousing collection of 100 original puzzle.100 crossword puzzles in this book combines the classical elegance of American crosswords with the cleverness of British versions.
Sparked by amusing, witty, and challenging themes, these brain teasers feature jokes, puns, bloopers, rhymes, anagrams, and palindromes. Each of the 100 crossword puzzles includes an introduction by verbivore Richard Lederer, author of more than 60 books about language, history, and humor.
A collection of accidental assaults on the English language. Student bloopers, headline bloopers, church bloopers, and much more. Every fluff and flub, goof and gaffe, and blunder and blooper is authentic.
Richard Lederer’s Fractured English is a laugh-out-loud, sidesplitting, knee-slapping collection of language fluffs and flubs by America’s super-duper blooper snooper.
This collection of language gems by the author of Anguished English includes rib-tickling language bloopers under such headings as “Out of the Mouths of Babes,” “Classified Classics,” “Poli-Tickle Speeches,” and “Science Friction.”
Have some fun with your native tongue!
In The Cunning Linguist, renowned language expert Richard Lederer shows us the naughtier side of wordplay, revealing hundreds of hilarious, ingenious, unabashed, and adults-only puns, jokes, limericks, one-liners, and other adventures in sexual humor. This book of “good, clean dirty fun” will delight word hounds, punsters, bachelor-party goers, and adult and adulterer who likes a clever grown-up joke.
Here’s a taste of The Cunning Linguist:
What does a man have in his pants that you can also find on a pool table?
Pockets.
Have you heard about the incompatible couple?
He had no income, and she wasn’t pattable.
The four stages of a couple’s sex life:
Under 35: Tri-weekly
35-45: Try weekly
45-55: Try weakly
55 and over: Try, try, try.
For much more, sneak between the covers of this unique and laugh-out-loud book.
The Ants Are My Friends is a concert of more than 200 punny stories, each crescendoing with a play on the lyrics of a famous song, from show tunes to pop hits to folk songs. Richard Lederer and Stan Kegel have both been elected International Punster of the Year.
International Punsters of the Year Richard Lederer and Stan Kegel have teamed up to compose this groanfully lyrical collection of puns based on famous music. You’ll never listen to popular songs the same way after reading this book! Maybe ants aren’t really Bob Dylan’s friends, but the answer, my friend, is that you’ll laugh all the way through these pages.
Best-selling author and world-class punster Richard Lederer presents the scariest and silliest spectacle of monsters ever gathered together in a single book. The 1,000 jokes, 80 illustrations, 60 poems, and 20 creepy creatures are guaranteed to make both kids and groan-ups laugh out loud!
How do you make a skeleton laugh? You tickle its funny bone. What’s black and white and dead all over? A zombie wearing a tuxedo. What has six legs and flies? A witch riding with her cat on a broomstick.
Featuring over 1,000 drop-dead funny jokes, riddles, and poems about scar, slimy, slithery slobbery sooky creatures, Monsters Unchained! is the funniest monster book you will ever read. Best-selling author Richard Lederer has written for both kids and groan ups.
Don’t ever play ping pong with King Kong.
Don’t ever take blood tests with Dracula.
Don’t you dare give a wedgie to Frankenstein.
Your ending will be quite spectaculah!
A rare book of language fun and skill for children 9-13. Homographs, homophones, and spoonerisms, with goofy games, and lots of chances for kids to create wacky jokes and puzzles of their own. Created by Richard Lederer, the International Punster of the Year.
As one frog said to the other: “Time’s fun when you’re having flies!”
Children 9-13 are invited to step right up to a whirling, twirling, swirling three-ring circus of letter play in The Circus of Words. They will thrill to the dancing alphabet, starring anagrams, palindromes, pangrams, kangaroo words, and much more!
Language skills will fly through the air with the greatest of ease as kids join in The Circus of Words. Children of all ages are delighted by anagrams, palindromes, acrostics, alliteration, riddles, and puns, yet few books on wordplay are addressed to middle-schoolers. This creative and challenging activity book shows kids how to juggle letters to become ringmasters of wordplay. “The Shrinking Spotlight” shows how larger words become smaller words when certain letters are removed. “Clown Cars” introduces the idea of words hiding within words, and “The Acro Bat” and “Silver Spoonerisms” show off letter clusters that change from one word to another. The whole bandwagon is here, enabling kids, who are natural language enthusiasts, to cavort through that endless entertainment, the English language.
For readers 8-11 years young, Super Funny Animal Jokes is designed for children who love animals and humor. Inside its pages are more than 500 animal jokes that are guaranteed to make readers howl, twitter, yip, and yelp with lots of laughter.
How do you know when it’s raining cats and dogs? When you step in a poodle. Hilarious jokes about animals, from aardvark to zebra.
Everybody loves animal jokes: Duck jokes quack you up. Porcupine jokes are to-the-point. Elephant jokes are worth the weight. Skunk jokes are real stinkers, and kangaroo jokes are best by leaps and bounds.
The co-authors, Richard Lederer and Jim Ertner, have both been elected International Punster of the Year, and Jim McLean’s delightful illustrations add to the fun.
How do you know when it’s raining cats and dogs? When you step in a poodle. Hilarious jokes about animals, from aardvark to zebra, for children 8-12.
Wild & Wacky Animal Jokes is designed for readers 8-11 years young, who love animals and humor. Inside its pages are more than 500 animal jokes that are guaranteed to make readers howl, twitter, yip, and yelp with lots of laughter.
Everybody loves animal jokes: Duck jokes quack you up. Porcupine jokes are to-the-point. Elephant jokes are worth the weight. Skunk jokes are real stinkers, and kangaroo jokes are best by leaps and bounds.
The co-authors, Richard Lederer and Jim Ertner, have both been elected International Punster of the Year, and Jim McLean’s delightful illustrations add to the fun.
For readers 8-11 years young, Rip Roaring Animal Jokes is designed for children who love animals and humor. Inside its pages are more than 500 animal jokes that are guaranteed to make readers howl, twitter, yip, and yelp with lots of laughter.
How do you know when it’s raining cats and dogs? When you step in a poodle. Hilarious jokes about animals, from aardvark to zebra.
Everybody loves animal jokes: Duck jokes quack you up. Porcupine jokes are to-the-point. Elephant jokes are worth the weight. Skunk jokes are real stinkers, and kangaroo jokes are best by leaps and bounds.
The co-authors, Richard Lederer and Jim Ertner, have both been elected International Punster of the Year, and Jim McLean’s delightful illustrations add to the fun.
For readers 8-11 years young, Cleverly Comical Animal Jokes is designed for children who love animals and humor. Inside its pages are more than 500 animal jokes that are guaranteed to make readers howl, twitter, yip, and yelp with lots of laughter.
How do you know when it’s raining cats and dogs? When you step in a poodle. Hilarious jokes about animals, from aardvark to zebra.
Everybody loves animal jokes: Duck jokes quack you up. Porcupine jokes are to-the-point. Elephant jokes are worth the weight. Skunk jokes are real stinkers, and kangaroo jokes are best by leaps and bounds.
The co-authors, Richard Lederer and Jim Ertner, have both been elected International Punster of the Year, and Jim McLean’s delightful illustrations add to the fun.
For readers 7-8 years young, Animal Cracker Uppers Jr. is designed for children who love animals and humor. Inside its pages are more than 500 animal jokes that are guaranteed to make readers howl, twitter, yip, and yelp with lots of laughter.
Celebrating one of children’s favorite forms of comedy, this witty wordplay collection provides a lively array of animal-inspired amusement. Beginning with a dictionary of jokes and riddles, dozens of different species are highlighted in alphabetical order. The subsequent section is arranged by classic clusters from knock-knock jokes and rhymes to quips overheard in a restaurant. Mixing vocabulary-enhancing humor with fun-filled facts about the animal kingdom, young readers will delight at zany, zoological insights coupled with engaging illustrations.
Everybody loves animal jokes: Duck jokes quack you up. Porcupine jokes are to-the-point. Elephant jokes are worth the weight. Skunk jokes are real stinkers, and kangaroo jokes are best by leaps and bounds.
The co-authors, Richard Lederer and Jim Ertner, have both been elected International Punster of the Year, and Jim McLean’s delightful illustrations add to the fun.
In this guide to real-life writing, grammar, spelling, and punctuation, you’ll learn to write right. Joining forces are Richard Lederer, a former Usage Editor of the Random House Dictionary of the English Language, and Richard Dowis, former Publications Director for Coca-Cola.
From Simon & Schuster, The Write Way is the S.P.E.L.L. (Society for the Preservation of English Language and Literature) guide to real-life writing.
Anyone who’s tackled tricky grammar, slippery syntax, pesky punctuation, head-scratching spelling, and sneaky jargon knows that good writing is never easy. In this ingenious guide, enjoy the wit of two English language mavens as they entertain while answering all your perplexing questions about how to write clearly, persuasively, and accurately.
This practical guide for the grammatically challenged gives the lowdown on all the major issues of grammar and usage. Joining forces are Richard Lederer, a former Usage Editor of the Random House Dictionary of the English Language, and Richard Dowis, former Publications Director for Coca-Cola.
For years Richard Lederer has enthralled fans of the English language with his keen insights, commonsense advice, and witty presentation. Now
The authors clear up once and for all the confusion between lay and lie and put to rest some common myths about language. The book’s finale is a ten-minute writing lesson from which everyone, from rank amateur to seasoned pro, can benefit. These and dozens of other features make this book pure pleasure for language buffs, writers, and teachers. Sleeping Dogs Don’t Lay is useful and authoritative as well as fun to read, with humorous touches often popping up where least expected and most needed.
On your marks! This is a fun-damental guide to the craft and art of punctuating precisely and profoundly. With high humor, Comma Sense reveals the essential rules for using commas, apostrophes, quotation marks, and all the other crucial squiggles that enhance our writing. Co-author Richard Lederer is a former Usage Editor of the Random House Dictionary of the English Language.
Are you confounded by commas, addled by apostrophes, or queasy about quotation marks? Do you believe a bracket is just a support for a wall shelf, a dash is something you make for the bathroom, and a colon and semicolon are large and small intestines? If so, language humorists Richard Lederer and John Shore (with the sprightly aid of illustrator Jim McLean), have written the perfect book to help make your written words perfectly precise and punctuationally profound.
Don’t expect Comma Sense to be a dry, academic tome. On the contrary, the authors show how each mark of punctuation―no matter how seemingly arcane―can be effortlessly associated with a great American icon: the underrated yet powerful period with Seabiscuit; the jazzy semicolon with Duke Ellington; even the rebel apostrophe with famed outlaw Jesse James. But this book is way more than a flight of whimsy. When you’ve finished Comma Sense, you’ll not only have mastered everything you need to know about punctuation through Lederer and Shore’s simple, clear, and right-on-the-mark rules, you’ll have had fun doing so. When you’re done laughing and learning, you’ll be a veritable punctuation whiz, ready to make your marks accurately, sensitively, and effectively.
Welcome to the website woven for wordaholics, logolepts, and verbivores. Carnivores eat meat; herbivores eat plants and vegetables; verbivores devour words. If you are heels over head (as well as head over heels) in love with words, tarry here a while to graze or, perhaps, feast on the English language. Ours is the only language in which you drive in a parkway and park in a driveway and your nose can run and your feet can smell.