Status
Available
Publication
New York : St. Martin's Press, 1998.
Description
In all his work, and throughout his life, the use and abuse of the English language was one of Kingsley Amis's principal concerns. This text conveys his love and knowledge of the subject to new generations of readers and writers.
User reviews
LibraryThing member themulhern
This book was published posthumously. Likely there were no readers left alive who would have been able to be amused by it. However, it is occasionally interesting, and it is always nice to find more authorities who condemn the split-infinitive rule.
LibraryThing member setnahkt
As he aged, British author (and he has an opinion on “British”) Kingsley Amis often got described as “irascible” or something similar. In this book on English usage, he doesn’t come across as irascible so much as tired and long-suffering. The title, honoring a classic work on usage by
Not a style manual or grammar or reference, but instead a collection of essays that can be read for pleasure (one is a discussion of the difference between a book of essays that can be read for pleasure and a book of essays which can be read for pleasure).
Among the interesting stuff is a derivation of “ain’t”. I remember an elementary school teacher pouncing on me, and anybody else who used “ain’t”, with the triumphant question “Because “ain’t” has an apostrophe it must be a contraction. Of what?”. Amis proposes “Am not I?”, parallel to “isn’t he?”, “aren’t you?” etc. The simple contraction, “amn’t I”, is unpronounceable, leading to “ain’t I”. Take that, Mrs. Jones.
Just with “A” we also have “Americanisms” (Amis generally approves), “alternate” versus “alternative” (Amis notes that it should be “alternative history”, not “alternate history”, but accepts that particular use) and “-athon” (as in “telethon” or “sale-a-thon”; he comments that despite his overall acceptance, some Americanisms should be shot on sight). Lots of other fun stuff with the rest of the alphabet; he’s got some wonderful invective for journalist-speak.
Found in the remainder bin; easily worth the $3.00 paid for it.
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H.W. Fowler, is a pun; Amis’ nickname was “The King”. Amis has no objection to puns, noting that Shakespeare made them and if they’re OK with him they’re OK with Amis.Not a style manual or grammar or reference, but instead a collection of essays that can be read for pleasure (one is a discussion of the difference between a book of essays that can be read for pleasure and a book of essays which can be read for pleasure).
Among the interesting stuff is a derivation of “ain’t”. I remember an elementary school teacher pouncing on me, and anybody else who used “ain’t”, with the triumphant question “Because “ain’t” has an apostrophe it must be a contraction. Of what?”. Amis proposes “Am not I?”, parallel to “isn’t he?”, “aren’t you?” etc. The simple contraction, “amn’t I”, is unpronounceable, leading to “ain’t I”. Take that, Mrs. Jones.
Just with “A” we also have “Americanisms” (Amis generally approves), “alternate” versus “alternative” (Amis notes that it should be “alternative history”, not “alternate history”, but accepts that particular use) and “-athon” (as in “telethon” or “sale-a-thon”; he comments that despite his overall acceptance, some Americanisms should be shot on sight). Lots of other fun stuff with the rest of the alphabet; he’s got some wonderful invective for journalist-speak.
Found in the remainder bin; easily worth the $3.00 paid for it.
Show Less