Review by Choice Review
A consulting editor for the Columbia Journalism Review, Jenkins adds an engaging book to the language maven's shelf. He understands that journalists and editors must find the vital center of language, deciding which distinctions matter and which do not. In Jenkins's view, distinctions that matter include those between comprise and compose, hone in and home in, and wolf down and woof down. He condemns heart-wrenching, the hybrid of heart-rending and gut-wrenching. In the not-that-big-a-deal category he includes hopefully and the distinction between with and to after compare. Jenkins is a good linguistic trend-watcher and has benefited from the comments and queries of his column's readership; his book brings a refreshing bemusement to the task of distinction making. Though this slim dictionary will not supplant comprehensive works such as Garner's Modern American Usage (CH, Mar'04, 41-3782), it is squarely in the tradition of Theodore Bernstein's classic Watch Your Language (1958). It can be previewed at the Web site of the Columbia Journalism Review by clicking on Language Corner. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readers; all levels. E. L. Battistella Southern Oregon University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review