The Big Book Of Beastly Mispronunciations: The Complete Opinionated Guide for the Careful Speaker

I bought one for myself and later bought this one as a gift for my sister-in-law. This book is very funny and is great entertainment for people who like language or literature. It is a perfect gift for someone who likes to speak well or even someone who speaks publicly alot like a teacher, professor, trainer, doctor, nurse, manager, pilot, principal, courier, taxi driver, etc. It's a great addition to anyone's library and would be perfect for home-schoolers. There have been many studies that show those who speak well are more successful in life. That means you need to have a great vocabulary and pronounce your great vocaulary correctly! If you want to get ahead, you have to speak well. This book is helpful in that respect.

I'm a stickler for accurate pronunciation. I cringe at mispronounced words, and I will (gently) correct those who are around me when something grates on my ear. I have found this book to be a great arbiter of what is and is not standard American pronunciation. If people don't believe me, I use this book to buttress my case. I respect the author's views so much that on the (rare) occasion when I am wrong, I will change my position. Obviously, not everyone will agree with the author and pronunciation and usage do gradually shift over time. That having been said, this is one of the easiest and most interesting of the many books on the subject to read.

This is a great source for discovering the proper pronunciation of popular words in the English language. Many people don't realize they are pronouncing some words incorrectly. If you enjoy language and are a person who attends to fine details when it comes to the contemporary use of language, you will enjoy this source. As a curious person who enjoys language, I found this book enlightening.

You'd be surprised at how many words you could be mispronouncing. Highly recommended for everyone, but especially those who speak for a living (actors, voice actors, public speakers, etc.) Be educated and be better.

If you care about how you sound and the way you come across to other people, you'll want this book. It's a reference you'll want in whatever room you're in. You'll discover everyday words that are being mispronounced by newscasters and, more likely, by you. At least I did. And I'm a writer who prides herself on knowing words well! This book is for the American. It gives American pronounciation that is accepted by the educated class. It disdains words that are used for effect. And if a word is right in the UK but not America it will tell you so. Words like Missouri, Vase, the days of the week, yesterday, rather, begin and hundreds more are explained. You will learn the background on the usage. You will learn how to correctly pronounce February. Now that's a challenge! This is a terrific book and I highly recommend it. If I could give it more than five stars I would! Buy it!!

This is a compact easy to use book which can be used to settle many an argument. In many instances however it has the capacity to shake the reader's self confidence badly when it upsets his/her habits of many years. Then of course there are the odd pronunciations used by United States dwellers that are quite foreign to those of us in the Antipodes. This is what makes life interesting of course, and I would certainly recommend this little volume which is guaranteed to provide much browsing pleasure.

This book was advertised as “Used - Very Good.” Very Good??? It looks as though it’s been through the war!! Partially ripped binding, reference library stickers all over, and browning of the inside covers. Seller had a lot of nerve charging me $28. for a book in this beaten up condition.

I was hoping for a more opinionated review of the words reviewed here, but it is beautifully researched and offers clarifying advice on many words you just wonder about (the greek Gyro sandwich? ). This is a great reference book and my officemates enjoy taunting one another with their poor diction. I highly recommend it!

Prompt service. Really pleased with my purchase.