Write It Right: A Little Blacklist of Literary Faults
Author: Ambrose Bierce –
Amusing and thought-provoking, this A-to-Z compendium outlines common oral and written gaffes. Ambrose Bierce, a celebrated literary wit, assembled his informative compilation in 1909 from many years of observations and notes. He advocates precision in language, offering¨‚alternatives to grammatical lapses and inaccurate word choices. Moneyed for Wealthy: "The moneyed men of New York." One might as sensibly say, "The cattled men of Texas," or, "The lobstered men of the fish market." Name for Title and Name: "His name was Mr. Smith." Surely no babe was ever christened Mister. Juncture means a joining, a junction; its use to signify a time, however critical, is absurd. "At this juncture the woman screamed." In reading that account of it, we scream, too. Times and usages have changed considerably in the past century.¨‚Bierce's strict rules¨‚remain, however, a timeless source of interest for wordsmiths and lovers of language. About the Author Ambrose Bierce (1842‚¨1914) is best known for his influential and frequently dramatized short story, An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, and his ever-popular satirical reference, The Devil's Dictionary, both of which are available in Dover editions.