''Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage'' is a
usage dictionary published by
Merriam-Webster
Merriam-Webster, Inc. is an American company that publishes reference books and is especially known for its dictionaries. It is the oldest dictionary publisher in the United States.
In 1831, George and Charles Merriam founded the company as ...
, Inc., of Springfield, Massachusetts . It is currently available in a reprint edition (1994) or . (The 1989 edition did not include ''Merriam-'' in the title. It was added as part of the
rebranding
Rebranding is a marketing strategy in which a new name, term, symbol, design, concept or combination thereof is created for an established brand with the intention of developing a new, differentiated identity in the minds of consumers, investors ...
campaign to emphasize the differences between Merriam-Webster's dictionaries and
dictionaries of other publishers using the
generic trademark ''Webster's''.)
The book has been praised by language experts.
Stan Carey at the blog ''Sentence First'' concludes that it operates "in such a thorough and unbiased way is what elevates ''MWDEU'' so far above the ordinary. Each entry is presented in a much broader context than is typically the case in books that advise on English usage and style." It is critically acclaimed by the linguist
Geoffrey Pullum, who calls it "the best usage book I know of... utterly wonderful." It is known for its historical scholarship, analysis, use of examples, and
descriptive approach. It has more than 2,300 entries, and includes more than 20,000 quotations from prominent writers.
[see]
''Usage''
/ref>
A concise version is also available.
See also
* '' A Dictionary of Modern English Usage''
* '' The Cambridge Guide to English Usage''
* '' Garner's Modern American Usage''
* List of English words with disputed usage
Notes
External links
Entry at Google Books
English dictionaries
Style guides for American English
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