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Dictionary of Fine Distinctions

Nuances, Niceties and Subtle Shades of Meaning
Brief Description
Delightful Steven Pinker | 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... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
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A charmingly illustrated and witty stocking filler for language lovers

A charmingly illustrated and witty stocking filler for language lovers

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Delightful Steven Pinker | 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.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781805227229

Publisher: Profile Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 04 September 2025

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Profile Books Ltd

Edition: Main

Illustration: b/w integrated line drawings throughout

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 16.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 180g

Pages: 208

About the Author

Eli Burnstein is a Canadian humour writer, living in London. His work has appeared in the New Yorker, McSweeney's Internet Tendency, Slackjaw, Weekly Humorist and Points in Case. He runs a spelling bee (Spelling Bae) that has been featured in the Toronto Star and the National Post, and on CBC Radio.

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