Others say...

"Don't let the title fool you. Great book."
This is a genuinely entertaining book, believe it or not. You might think of it as a reference book but I actually just sit and read it, page by page. One of my favorite quotes poked fun at the artificial rule that prohibits ending a sentence with a preposition: "This is the sort of English up with which I cannot put." Funny, right? Well, maybe it's not for everybody. My girlfriend didn't laugh either. Well, I laughed out loud. Beyond that, it is also very useful. I consider myself educated, but I learned a lot of useful tidbits. Granted, some of the entries were very basic, but this is a very minor complaint. In fact, it probably makes the book useful to a wider audience (including kids). Highly recommended (would make a great gift, too).

"Common Errors in English Usage"
Great book ! I recommend this book for anyone who is serious about improving communication skills.

"Excellent resource "
This is an excellent reference guide for the average person as well as the professional writer or editor. The various common errors are organized into logical groupings including lists of commonly confused words and the differences between them, commonly misused words and how they should be used, commonly confused expressions such as aural and oral or breach and breech. The author also includes common grammar, spelling, and style issues such as anyways and anyway or commas, capitalization, and accent marks. Other useful categories include sections on homonyms like site, sight, and cite, and commonly misspelled words like device, devise, miniature, or rapport. For those who don't seem to get things quite right there is a listing of commonly mangled expressions such as chomp at the bit compared with champ at the bit and a section of inexact words and phrases such as podium and lectern, or select and selected. There are even sections on pronunciation problems such as elicit and illicit or click and clique, redundancies such as added bonus or return back or time period, and commonly misused expressions such as critique and criticize or factoid. Common Errors in English Usage is a required reference for serious writers and an authoritative resource for those who want to improve the quality of their communication at any level.

"Practice Makes Perfect"
Should that be "Practise" or did I use the right spelling?

In the United Kingdom, "practice" is the noun, "practise" the verb; but in the U.S. the spelling "practice" is commonly used for both, though the distinction is sometimes observed. ~ pg. 161

The entries in Paul Brians' "Common Errors in English Usage" are organized alphabetically and provide hours of amusement for anyone who loves language. This book brought back memories of childhood, in those moments where the use of "borrowed" and "lend" were taught at school. Then there is the every present annoyance of "its/it's." Who has not made a mistake while spelling lightening and lightning?

Humor abounds as in the picture of man and bear with the caption: "For a moment he was confused - was he being attacked by a bear presently or currently?"

Some of the most intriguing entries include:

envious/jealous
Mauve
immaculate conception/virgin birth
disburse/disperse
jealous/envious
hysterical/hilarious
who/whom
that/which

You can be jealous of your boyfriend's attraction to other women, but you're envious of your boyfriend's CD collection. ~ pg. 74

This book discusses redundancies, like "DVD disk," but doesn't discuss the difference between CDs and CD's. One if of course possessive while the other is plural.

If I said chai tea, would that be a redundancy? Actually, redundancy also means being unemployed. I still like saying chai tea, but this book says it is pointless and it is also called masala chai. As this tea grows every more popular, I'm sure the way we ask for tea will correct itself.

Why would anyone use sacred instead of scared? This book also deals with common typos. You have to love uses like "same difference." Why do they say "There is no such word as "verbage" when I do find this word in an online dictionary as "jargon." Of course, an urban dictionary may send some people into a state of shock. The author cautions against using nonstandard and obsolete words and says that just because a word is in a dictionary, doesn't mean it is being "endorsed."

If you tend to think up a lot of your own words or like to be playful then some of the entries will make you feel a little rebellious. For those who are longing to perfect their writing, this book can be invaluable. Well, as they say practice makes perfect although my first indication is to type "practise."

"Colour vs. Color" is a far less common usage problem, although I must say that as a child, I was smacked on the hands with a ruler for that one. I had apparently learned the word "color" before moving overseas.

This book would make a perfect present for anyone interested in language, will provide lots of laughs and will bring back memories from childhood. Frankly, I found this to be a fun book. OK, so now I can't use "Frankly" anymore. This book says that I have just abused the English language.

Sentences beginning with this word are properly admissions of something shocking or unflattering to the speaker; but when a public spokesperson for a business or government is speaking, it almost always precedes a self-serving statement. ~ pg. 88

If you have ever lived overseas or have tried to use foreign words, this book unveils faux pas and British/U.S. Spellings.

~The Rebecca Review

"But how does one critique such a book....?"
The William, James & Co. is making a fine stance in its selection of books to publish, books that serve the soul and the mind and challenge our perceptions on many levels. The quality of every aspect of their books is superb: in the case of this book, COMMON ERRORS IN ENGLISH USAGE, the mood and class begins with a front cover image (an old photograph of a school marm being applauded by an audience of men WAY before feminist values took hold!) and progresses through fine design and careful editing, fonts, and page layout.

Paul Brians opens this completely useful compendium with an Introduction that sets a tone so necessary for books that discredit contemporary mangling of the English language: he is lighthearted, astute, wise, and wisely non-threatening. What follows is an (now) indispensable 'brain check' for all writers and curious readers whose eyes challenge the use of certain spellings and phrases. Creating his own dictionary, Brians lists common errors alphabetically in the first 200 plus pages of the book - a quick and easy reference for finding first, just how guilty we all have become and then second, a resource for avoiding errors of expression and spelling that will aid all writers no matter their direction.

Brians then lists by categories commonly confused expressions, homonyms, misheard expressions, pronunciation, grammar/spelling/style - all manner of pitfalls that have become so common in even the best writing of the day. He does this in a way that allows us to laugh through our embarrassment and learn from his erudite summations. This is a sparklingly fine book that belongs not on the coffee table (though it is wildly humorous in many ways, a fine conversation piece for guests), but more appropriately on the desks of everyone who puts pen to page or fingers to keyboard. This is a book that will crowd Roget and Webster for space in every thinking person's library! Grady Harp, November 06