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Word by Word : The Secret Life of Dictionaries

Kory Stamper

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Sale

Word by Word : The Secret Life of Dictionaries

by Kory Stamper
Save up to 62%
Word by Word : The Secret Life of Dictionaries - Thryft
Word by Word : The Secret Life of Dictionaries - Thryft

Cracking open the secret world of dictionaries.

This book is a delightful exploration of the fascinating world of lexicography, revealing the intricate process of how dictionaries are made. With sharp wit and irreverence, Kory Stamper takes readers on a journey through the complexities of defining words and the ever-changing nature of language. Through amusing anecdotes and surprising revelations, Word by Word brings to life the quirky individuals and rich history behind the dictionaries we often take for granted. A must-read for anyone who loves words and wants to unravel the secrets of the English language.

  • Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Nonfiction (2017)
Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.
Sale

Word by Word : The Secret Life of Dictionaries

by Kory Stamper
Save up to 62%
Condition guide

Book Condition Guide

Books in Like New Condition

This book may contain very minor cosmetic defects, but it is in pristine condition. There should be no yellowing, no foxing, no water damage, and no annotations of any kind on the cover and the pages. For paperbacks, there should not be any crease marks on the spine. This book is good as new — lucky you!

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Very Good Condition

This book has been used, but it is still in a clean condition. There should be no foxing or annotations of any kind on the inner pages, but a sparse amount may be present on the cover, title pages, or outside edges of the book. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be light crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Good Condition

We do our best to ensure the quality of our books, but there is no escaping the wear and tear that comes with time. Slight foxing and some annotations may be present on the pages and the cover. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be several crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Well Read Condition

This is a well-read book, which means that the previous owner probably really enjoyed it! The cover and pages may include moderate foxing and annotations, but the text is not obscured and still readable. Moderate cosmetic defects and minor water damage may be present on the edges of the book. For paperbacks, there may be multiple crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

 

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ISBN: 9781101870945
Author: Kory Stamper
Publisher: Pantheon
Date of Publication: 2017-03-14
Format: Hardcover
Related Collections: Biographies & Memoirs, History
Related Topics: Pop Culture, Microhistory, Memoir, Biography Memoir
Goodreads rating: 4.19
(rated by 8435 readers)

Description

Brimming with intelligence and personality, a vastly entertaining account of how dictionaries are made a must read for word mavens. While most of us might take dictionaries for granted, the process of writing them 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 small words are the most difficult to define (have you ever tried to define is ?), 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 world inhabited by quirky, erudite individuals who quietly shape the way we communicate. A sure delight for all lovers of words, Word by Word might also quietly improve readers grasp and use of the English language."
 

Cracking open the secret world of dictionaries.

This book is a delightful exploration of the fascinating world of lexicography, revealing the intricate process of how dictionaries are made. With sharp wit and irreverence, Kory Stamper takes readers on a journey through the complexities of defining words and the ever-changing nature of language. Through amusing anecdotes and surprising revelations, Word by Word brings to life the quirky individuals and rich history behind the dictionaries we often take for granted. A must-read for anyone who loves words and wants to unravel the secrets of the English language.

  • Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Nonfiction (2017)
Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.

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