Word by word : the secret life of dictionaries
(Book)

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Average Rating
Published
New York : Pantheon Books, [2017].
Format
Book
Edition
First edition.
ISBN
9781101870945, 110187094X
Physical Desc
xiii, 296 pages ; 22 cm
Status
Wadleigh Memorial Library - Nonfiction - Adult Nonfiction
413.028 Sta
1 available

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LocationCall NumberStatus
Wadleigh Memorial Library - Nonfiction - Adult Nonfiction413.028 StaOn Shelf
LocationCall NumberStatus
Amherst - Nonfiction - Main Floor413.028 StOn Shelf
Bedford - Nonfiction413.028 StamperOn Shelf
Leach Library - Nonfiction - Nonfiction Stacks (Main Reading Room)413 STAOn Shelf

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More Details

Published
New York : Pantheon Books, [2017].
Edition
First edition.
Language
English
ISBN
9781101870945, 110187094X

Notes

Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 265-280) and index.
Description
"Brimming with intelligence and personality, a vastly entertaining account of how dictionaries are made - a must read for word mavens. Have you ever tried to define the word "is?" Do you have strong feelings about the word (and, yes, it is a word) "irregardless?" Did you know that OMG was first used in 1917, in a letter to Winston Churchill? These are the questions that keep lexicographers up at night. While most of us might take dictionaries for granted, the process of writing dictionaries is in fact as lively and dynamic as language itself. With sharp wit and irreverence, Kory Stamper cracks open the complex, obsessive world of lexicography, from the agonizing decisions about what and how to define, to the knotty questions of usage in an ever-changing language. She explains why the small words are the most difficult to define, how it can take nine months to define a single word, and how our biases about language and pronunciation can have tremendous social influence. Throughout Stamper brings to life the hallowed halls (and highly idiosyncratic cubicles) of Merriam-Webster, a surprisingly rich world inhabited by quirky and erudite individuals who quietly shape the way we communicate. A sure delight for all lovers of words, Word by Word will also improve readers' grasp and use of the English language."--,Provided by publisher.

Citations

APA Citation, 7th Edition (style guide)

Stamper, K. (2017). Word by word: the secret life of dictionaries (First edition.). Pantheon Books.

Chicago / Turabian - Author Date Citation, 17th Edition (style guide)

Stamper, Kory. 2017. Word By Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries. New York: Pantheon Books.

Chicago / Turabian - Humanities (Notes and Bibliography) Citation, 17th Edition (style guide)

Stamper, Kory. Word By Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries New York: Pantheon Books, 2017.

Harvard Citation (style guide)

Stamper, K. (2017). Word by word: the secret life of dictionaries. First edn. New York: Pantheon Books.

MLA Citation, 9th Edition (style guide)

Stamper, Kory. Word By Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries First edition., Pantheon Books, 2017.

Note! Citations contain only title, author, edition, publisher, and year published. Citations should be used as a guideline and should be double checked for accuracy. Citation formats are based on standards as of August 2021.

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