Bryson's Dictionary: for Writers and Editors

Sensible advice… Bryson is against pomposity and in favour of clarity and brevity… His pet hates are particularly well judged, by which I mean they are mine too. Time and again, I found myself cheering him on… Evelyn Waugh would find much to surprise and please him here… provides plenty of ammunition for anoraky one-upmanship – Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday *Now your favourite transplanted American (and mine) has ventured into the field of Linguistic Guidance for Limeys… Language lovers - of every stripe and creed - should raise three cheers…. clear out your linguistic cobwebs, with the help of Bill Bryson – Erica Wagner * The Times *As a newspaper sub-editor myself (Bryson’s original trade), I’ve read this guide to spelling, grammar and usage from front to back and have to say one thing. It’s brilliant. It should be on the shelf of anyone aspiring to make a living using the English language… the best book of its type yet written * Daily Mail *

Bill Bryson was born in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1951. His bestselling books include The Road to Little Dribbling, Notes from a Small Island, A Walk in the Woods, One Summer and The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid. In a national poll, Notes from a Small Island was voted the book that best represents Britain. His acclaimed work of popular science, A Short History of Nearly Everything, won the Aventis Prize and the Descartes Prize, and is the biggest selling non-fiction book of the 21st century. The Body- A Guide for Occupants was shortlisted for the Royal Society Science Book Prize and is an international bestseller. Bill Bryson was Chancellor of Durham University 2005-2011. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society. He lives in England.