The fifth edition of Garner’s Modern English Usage has recently been published by OUP. I was happy to talk to Bryan Garner who was declared a “genius” by the late David Foster Wallace about what it means to write a usage dictionary.
Some words propagate like mushrooms: no roots but a sizable crowd of upstarts calling themselves relatives. Gr-words are the pet subject of all works on sound imitation and sound symbolism.
I decided not to wait another week, let alone another four weeks, and discuss the notes and queries from my mail. As usual, I express my gratitude to those who have read the posts, added their observations, or corrected my mistakes.
As her thrilling story of swindlers preying on an heiress turns 20, the author recalls the sinful inspiration Victorian pornography gave her – and the fans who turned their favourite lines into tattoos<br>• <em>Warning: contains spoilers</em>