Everything You Know About English Is Wrong

Beginning with his "English Delusionary" (a glossary of words created solely for this volume), Bill Brohaugh wants to make one thing perfectly clear: He spends a great deal of time considering irregularities in the English language and our repetitive abuse of them. This is not necessarily a bad thing because Brohaugh, the former editor of WRITER'S DIGEST, isn't cranky about usage issues. Rather, he's quite amused. Items that have rendered other linguists apoplectic, seem to merit his mirth. Double negatives? Great! Ending a sentence with a preposition? You betcha! Fond of your "ain't"? Have at it! Brohaugh embraces the colloquial while providing insights into just how we arrived at such a comfy kind of grammar. Employing ample pop culture references, he reminds us that "the broken are made to be rules" when it comes to the English language. The book provides a good counterpoint to Lynne Truss's anxiety-inducing EATS, SHOOTS & LEAVES and will be enjoyed by everyone who can't quite admit to being amused by William Safire because they can't get past his politics. In other words, Brohaugh is funner.