Dictionary of Fine Distinctions

'A joy to read' David Crystal | 'Gulp it down' Lucy Mangan | 'A gem' Simon Garfield Swamp or bog? Guilt or shame? Clementine or tangerine? We like to think that we choose our words with care, but are we using them with any degree of accuracy - or should that be precision? For hair-splitters and language lovers, Dictionary of Fine Distinctions explores the world of the vanishingly small, teasing apart the terms that we tend to collapse, conflate, or confuse. An illustrated odyssey into minute differences in meaning, Eli Burnstein's unputdownable guide will hone your wits, tickle your brain, and deepen your appreciation for the infinite (and infinitesimal) nuances all around us.

'A joy to read' David Crystal | 'Gulp it down' Lucy Mangan | 'A gem' Simon Garfield Swamp or bog? Guilt or shame? Clementine or tangerine? We like to think that we choose our words with care, but are we using them with any degree of accuracy - or should that be precision? For hair-splitters and language lovers, Dictionary of Fine Distinctions explores the world of the vanishingly small, teasing apart the terms that we tend to collapse, conflate, or confuse. An illustrated odyssey into minute differences in meaning, Eli Burnstein's unputdownable guide will hone your wits, tickle your brain, and deepen your appreciation for the infinite (and infinitesimal) nuances all around us.

"A great idea, beautifully realized. I shall never have a latte again without thinking of this book! A joy to read." --David Crystal, Linguist and Author of The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language Swamp or bog? Guilt or shame? Club soda or sparkling water? From food to fashion, ethics to architecture, there are thousands of words and ideas that we tend to collapse, conflate, or confuse. For hairsplitters and language lovers, Dictionary of Fine Distinctions explores the world of the vanishingly small, offering up witty deep dives and lively illustrations to help sharpen these differences and bring us clarity at last.

"A great idea, beautifully realized. I shall never have a latte again without thinking of this book! A joy to read." --David Crystal, Linguist and Author of The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language Swamp or bog? Guilt or shame? Club soda or sparkling water? From food to fashion, ethics to architecture, there are thousands of words and ideas that we tend to collapse, conflate, or confuse. For hairsplitters and language lovers, Dictionary of Fine Distinctions explores the world of the vanishingly small, offering up witty deep dives and lively illustrations to help sharpen these differences and bring us clarity at last.