{"product_id":"what-in-the-word-wordplay-word-lore-and-answers-to-your-peskiest-questions-about-language-isbn-9780156031974","title":"What In The Word?: Wordplay, Word Lore, and Answers to Your Peskiest Questions about Language","description":"Are you so sure about “assure,” “ensure,” and “insure”? Can you determine whether a knob of butter is equivalent to a lump or a pat or a scosh? Can you say which word in the English language has the most definitions, or who put the H in Jesus H. Christ?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e If you can’t, be assured that Charles Harrington Elster, author of several well-loved works on language, can—and does in his latest book, a delightfully designed compendium of the most common, interesting, and entertaining conundrums in our language. Drawing upon esoteric sources and his own inimitable expertise, Elster uses a lively question-and-answer format to cover a variety of topics—word and phrase origins, slang, style, usage, punctuation, and pronunciation. Every chapter features original brainteasers, challenging puzzles, and a trove of literary trivia. | \u003cp\u003ePRAISE FOR \u003cem\u003eTHE BIG BOOK OF BEASTLY MISPRONUNCIATIONS\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Ek-STROR-di-ner-ee. The best survey of the spoken field in years.\"--William Safire, \u003cem\u003eThe New York Times Magazine\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Collins Reference","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44889876398309,"sku":"NP9780156031974","price":17.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780156031974.jpg?v=1730232094","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/what-in-the-word-wordplay-word-lore-and-answers-to-your-peskiest-questions-about-language-isbn-9780156031974","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}