A dictionary of modern American usage
by Bryan A. Garner · first published 1998
6mentions
4recommended by
6HN commenters
2009–2023first – last mentioned
67% recommend33% neutral
"This wonderfully written work aims to help people use language so they will use the right words to say what they mean. Garner relies on modern sources rather than historical precedent to determine the current, correct usage. He even advises writers about which words to avoid altogether. Each of the approximately 7,000 entries provides a definition, discusses the usage of the word, provides illustrative quotations, and gives citations to the references and quotations. This is an entertaining, witty, and unpretentious resource that will always come in handy in the public or academic library."--
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Garner's A Dictionary of Modern American Usage is a great dictionary filled with just the words we mess up (either through spelling or usage). I'm a word geek & find it interesting just to flip around reading entries. http://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Modern-American-Usage/dp/01...
on “Are Dictionaries Obsolete in Age of Google? ” ↗I suspect that some may be concerned about referring to such an old tome. Usage does change after all over the years. I recalled David Foster Wallace's effusive praise [1] for Garner's Dictionary of Modern American Usage [2] which seems to have similar characteristics to the Webster, but I doubt there's such a convenient digital integration available for this. If only the world were perfect! ;) [1] http://instruct.westvalley.edu/lafave/DFW_present_tense.html…
on “Using the wrong dictionary” ↗Get a good style guide, read it, and stick to it. I like the Dictionary of Modern American Usage because its recommendations are presented with justifications.
on “Ask HN: What are good writing tips for software developers?” ↗…non-fiction of his (which appears in Consider the Lobster): https://harpers.org/wp-content/uploads/HarpersMagazine-2001-... It's a discussion of descriptivist vs prescriptivist grammar and led me to A Dictionary of Modern American Usage, which is a way more fascinating book than its title would imply.
on “A Brand New Interview with David Foster Wallace” ↗…"Authority and American Usage" [1] is an essay concerning prescriptivism vs. descriptivism and the relations between grammar and class/power which (somewhat) masquerades as a review of Bryan Garner's A Dictionary of Modern American Usage [2]. This topic naturally includes discussion about the use of Standard Written English (SWE) at university/college level. In one chapter the author talks about how he teaches a remedial English class…
on “African American Vernacular English Is Not Standard English with Mistakes (1999) [pdf]” ↗…indexed and the SNOOTs² of the world will be able to find it. ¹ Forgive me for the sprinkling of keywords. ² Listen to the recording, or read the book’s introduction or Wallace’s review of Garner’s A Dictionary of Modern American Usage: https://web.archive.org/web/20210413013149/https://lafavephi...
on “David Foster Wallace and Bryan Garner on English Usage” ↗