Writers Reference Books

• Dictionaries, Thesauruses, & Quotation Books 
• Slang and Euphemisms
• Grammatical Guides and Writers Guides

Dictionaries, Phrase, and Quotation Books

The Big Book of Filth by Jonathon Green
Cassell; New Ed edition (March 28, 2003); ISBN: 0304363871

Visceral, raw, and utterly lewd and rude, these more than 6,500 off-color phrases provide a guided tour of sexual wordscapes. Categories include body parts (men's and women's); states of arousal and frustration; masturbation and orgasm; intercourse in a dazzling variety of positions and occasions; oral sex, kinky sex, gay and bi sex, promiscuity, virginity, prostitution, and many other commercial aspects of sex. 

The era of safe sex has brought a new, imaginative coinage of terms for contraception, venereal disease, and AIDS. Sources range from the latest street slang and popular music lyrics, to classical literary allusions, fascinating etymologies, and words that rhyme-all perfect for use in homegrown limericks and greeting cards. Bonus: George Carlin's famous 1970s "12 words you can't say on TV," along with their latest competitors. It's like a red-light district of language!

"Great f*cking book!"  —Stephen King
Available at Amazon.com / Amazon UK

21st Century Synonym and Antonym Finder by Kipfer, Barbara Ann
Laurel; Reissue edition (April 4, 1993); ISBN 0440213231

Designed for rapid access, this innovative reference helps writers find the perfect choice of words to get his/her ideas across with impact and accuracy. 

Specially created for contemporary writers and speakers, it includes essential definitions and avoids outmoded, useless entries.
Available at Amazon.com / Amazon UK

Writer's Digest Flip Dictionary by Barbara Ann Kipfer
(November 2000) Writers Digest Books; ISBN: 0898799767

For the "tip of the tongue" syndrome...this is the book! Ever know the definition -- know what you `mean' -- but cannot put your finger on the word? The Flip Dictionary is going to help you in many of these instances.

"Omit needless words," intone Strunk and White in The Elements of Style; "use definite, specific, concrete language." In order to use the best word for the job, though, you have to know it. The Flip Dictionary is full of words you may have forgotten and words you never knew, all accessed by their meaning. Look up "mounds and hills, with," and you will find tumulus. Search "the ropes connecting the harness and the canopy of a parachute," and you'll find shrouds. There's no need to say "lowest point in orbit" when you can say perigee, or "lowest deck of a ship" when you can say orlop. We don't know when we'd ever find a chance to use the word tomally, but we like knowing the one word out there that means "lobster liver." 

And, oh, the lists! Of apples and art movements, beers and birding terms, constellations and clothes (including 47 kinds of shirt), fears and ferns. The same caveats apply as with the use of a thesaurus: some of the definitions are a bit off ("hater" is vague for misanthrope), others are rather informal (boner, for instance, to mean "error"), and still others are so specific that you will want to be sure that you truly have found the right word for the job. Great fun. --Jane Steinberg
Available at Amazon.com

A Dictionary of Modern American Usage by Bryan A. Garner
(December 1998) Oxford Univ Press; ISBN: 0195078535

This book - a detailed explanation and defense of standard American English - contains more than 700 pages of crisp, authoritative guidance on hundreds of questions of grammar and usage. A Dictionary of Modern American Usage treats all these topics and more: basic grammar, as well as advanced nuances; word preferences and shades of meaning; punctuation; idiomatic phrases; spelling; and effective style. 

In an age of linguistic uncertainty, this book gives surefooted guidance on the direct, precise, and robust use of the English language. And although the book is scholarly, it is leavened with a dry wit. It is at once entertaining and educational. DMAU is the most up-to-date and comprehensive guide to issues that writers continually confront. It's essential for seasoned and aspiring writers, teachers, scholars and students, professional editors, proofreaders, businesspeople, advertising and public-relations writers, and technical and scientific writers.
Available at Amazon.com / Amazon UK

Random House Webster's Word Menu by Stephen Glazier
Random House Reference &; ISBN: 0375700838

The revolutionary, all-in-one dictionary/thesaurus/almanac. Glazier's critically acclaimed Random House Webster's Word Menu is the definitive language reference for anyone who reads, writes creatively or simply loves to explore linguistic relationships.

This rich storehouse of language organizes the vocabulary of English by subject matter, reflecting the way we actually look at the world around us. A totally new kind of language resource, Random House Webster's Word Menu combines the virtues of an entire shelf of reference works: Full dictionary, thesaurus and almanac. Reverse dictionary: when you can't think of the obscure word you're looking for, find it by looking up the common word you already know Multiple glossaries: find just the right terms for foods and finery, weather and weapons, romance and relativity.

Synopsis:  The critically acclaimed Word Menu is the ultimate language reference for students, learners of English as a second language, creative writers, journalists, business executives, office professionals, and anybody with a curiosity about the English language. The Word Menu is a reverse dictionary, thesaurus, almanac, and compendious glossary all in one.
Available at Amazon.com / Amazon UK

The Describer's Dictionary: A Treasury of Terms and Literary Quotations by David Grambs
(August 1995) W W Norton & Co; ISBN 0393312658

Review by Leigh: The Dictionary describes the observable, and presents the results in such categories as Things, Earth and Sky, Buildings, Animals, and People. It's arranged by definition-to-term, so if you're looking for another word or phrase that means "very warm", you'd find--hot, torrid, burning, blazing, scorching, blistering, broiling, baking, searing, roasting, tropical, pitiless. Then, as inspiration for the writer, Grambs quotes hundreds of colorful and descriptive passages from writers as diverse as Charles Darwin and John Updike. Under "Climate" is a quote from Nathaniel Hawthorn's THE MARBLE FAUN--"Above the whole valley, indeed, the sky was heavy with tumbling vapors, interspersed with which were tracts of blue, vividly brightened by the sun; but, in the east, where the tempest was yet trailing its ragged skirts, lay a dusky region of cloud and sullen mist, in which some of the hills appeared of a dark-purple hue."  Typical Victorian! That quote is all one sentence!
Available at Amazon.com / Amazon UK

Dictionaries of Slang and Euphemisms

English As a Second F*cking Language by Sterling Johnson
(July 1996) St. Martin's Press; ISBN 031214329X

Synopsis:  In English, swearing is essential to effective communication. Whether one wants to succeed in business, school, or social circles, a strong command of unprintable language is absolutely necessary. 

Employing a helpful "Need to Know, " "Nice to Know, " and "Forget It" system for identifying swear words, English as a Second Fcking Language offers an informative--and funny--look at taboo words and expressions to boost readers' vocabularies.
Available at Amazon.com / Amazon UK

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears
McGraw-Hill; 4 edition (September 23, 2005); ISBN: 0071461078

More bling for the buck! The #1 guide to American slang is now bigger, more up-to-date, and easier to use

This new edition of McGraw-Hill’s Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions offers complete definitions of more than 12,000 slang and informal expressions from various sources, ranging from golden oldies such as . . . golden oldie, to recent coinages like shizzle (gangsta), jonx (Wall Street), and ping (the Internet). Each entry is followed by examples illustrating how an expression is used in everyday conversation and, where necessary, International Phonetic Alphabet pronunciations are given, as well as cautionary notes for crude, inflammatory, or taboo expressions.

This edition also features a fascinating introduction on "What is Slang?," a Thematic Index that cross-references expressions by standard terms--such as Angry, Drunk, Food, Good-bye, Mess-up, Money, and Stupidity--and a Hidden Word Index that lets you identify and locate even partially remembered expressions and phrases.
Available at Amazon.com / Amazon UK

Wicked Words by Hugh Rawson
Crown Pub, November 1989 ASIN 0517590891

Review by Seneca F. Mayfair:  Rawson's book contains nearly a 1,000 entries of slang. He provides a social and historical context for each of the entries in the form of a frequently amusing and always interesting essay. Anyone wishing a brief and excellent introduction to "wicked words" is advised to read Rawson's opening essay "The Anatomy of Wicked Words". Rawson's book is not essential for the writer though glancing through it might spark some ideas. 

For a good read, I'd choose Rawson over Spears any day. An example of Rawson's scholarship and wonderful sense of humor is his entry for "coxcomb". He defines the word and gives its origin: "coxcomb. A vain fob, a conceited fool, from 'cock's comb', originally a red strip of cloth . . . that professional fools of the Middle Ages wore on their caps. The term has been applied as an insult to nonprofessional fools for the past four hundred years or so." John Adams apparently disliked fellow founding father Alexander Hamilton and dismissed him as "an insolent coxcomb" and a "brat". This is a book to be enjoyed.
Available at Amazon.com / Amazon UK

Grammar Guides and Writers' Guides

Grammatically Correct: The Writer's Essential Guide to Punctuation, Spelling, Style, Usage and Grammar by Anne Stilman
Writers Digest Books (September 5, 2004); ISBN 1582973318

For those who value correct grammar, Anne Stilman has written the definitive guide. She holds you to her high grammatical standards, and clearly explains how to follow the rules. There are chapters on "Spelling," "Punctuation," "Grammar," and "Style," and Stilman patiently elucidates the rules of colons, brackets, and plural formations, while gracefully tackling the common misuses of "lie" versus "lay." Her illustrative examples bring the stickiest lessons home. Quoting from Woody Allen, Vikram Seth, Mark Twain, and other likable authors, issues of pronoun choice, parallelism, and ellipses come clear. 

Although Stilman cuts no slack on errors, she concedes that grammar evolves. While she suggests that you avoid splitting infinitives, she also believes you shouldn't introduce excessive awkwardness merely to conform to a rule that was dogmatically decreed years ago for no particular reasons of clarity or merit.
Available at Amazon.com / Amazon UK

The Chicago Manual of Style by University of Chicago Press Staff
University of Chicago Press; 15th edition (August 1, 2003); ISBN: 0226104036

In the 1890s, a proofreader at the University of Chicago Press prepared a single sheet of typographic fundamentals intended as a guide for the University community. That sheet grew into a pamphlet, and the pamphlet grew into a book--the first edition of the Manual of Style, published in 1906. Now in its fifteenth edition, The Chicago Manual of Style--the essential reference for authors, editors, proofreaders, indexers, copywriters, designers, and publishers in any field--is more comprehensive and easier to use than ever before. 

Those who work with words know how dramatically publishing has changed in the past decade, with technology now informing and influencing every stage of the writing and publishing process. In creating the fifteenth edition of the Manual, Chicago's renowned editorial staff drew on direct experience of these changes, as well as on the recommendations of the Manual's first advisory board, composed of a distinguished group of scholars, authors, and professionals from a wide range of publishing and business environments.

Every aspect of coverage has been examined and brought up to date--from publishing formats to editorial style and method, from documentation of electronic sources to book design and production, and everything in between. In addition to books, the Manual now also treats journals and electronic publications. All chapters are written for the electronic age, with advice on how to prepare and edit manuscripts online, handle copyright and permissions issues raised by technology, use new methods of preparing mathematical copy, and cite electronic and online sources.
Available at Amazon.com / Amazon UK

The Elements of Style by William, Jr. Strunk, E.B. White, Strunk
4th edition (August 1999) Allyn & Bacon; ISBN: 020530902X

The most indispensable writing resource! Features a new Glossary of grammatical terms. Retains the classic principles of English style. You recognize the title. You've probably used this book yourself. This is The Elements of Style, the classic style manual, now in a fourth edition. 

The revisions to the new edition are purposely kept minimal in order to retain the books unique tone, wit, and charm. A new Glossary of the grammatical terms used in the book provides a convenient reference for readers. The discussion of pronoun use is revised to reflect the contemporary concern with sexist language. In addition, there are numerous slight revisions in the book itself which implement this advice. A new Foreword by Roger Angell reminds readers that the advice of Strunk & White is as valuable today as when it was first offered.

This book has conveyed the principles of English style to millions of readers. Use the fourth edition of "the little book" to make a big impact with writing.

"No book in shorter space, with fewer words, will help any writer more than this persistent little volume" (The Boston Globe).
Available at Amazon.com / Amazon UK

The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation by Jane Straus
8th edition ( November, 2004); Jane Straus; ISBN 0966722175

This easy-to-use reference guide and workbook is now available in a new edition. Jane Straus has added 50% more material—more rules, more exercises, more tests, and, of course, more answers. In 104 pages that are painless and amusing, Jane will reveal to you the mysteries of grammar and punctuation.

An indispensable tool for teachers, students, writers, proofreaders, editors, managers, and clerical staff, over 65,000 copies are circulating in schools, offices, and the hallowed halls of government, making users feel confident writing papers, letters, memos, and even emails.
Available at Amazon.com / Amazon UK

English Grammar for Dummies by Geraldine Woods
John Wiley & Sons; ISBN: 0764553224; (July 2001) 

Effective written and oral communication is important for everyone. And, with the emergence of a global economy, standard American English has become the de facto international language for business. It's not enough to learn the English vocabulary; you want and need effective tools for grammar and usage.

English Grammar For Dummies gives you a witty, irreverent guide that delivers grammar basics in easily digestible chunks. In typical Dummies style, the book makes use of humor and everyday examples to explain a very complicated subject.

A friendly guide to proper English grammar. Features coverage of pronouns, participles, parallel structure of verbs, adjectives, and tenses, and proper punctuation. Also covers effective proofreading, using slang, avoiding common grammatical errors, and conveying the appropriate meaning.
Available at Amazon.com / Amazon UK

Woe Is I: The Grammarphobe's Guide to Better English in Plain English by Patricia T. O'Conner
Reprint edition (August 1998) Riverhead Books; ISBN 1573226254

Written by Patricia T. O'Conner, an editor at the New York Times Book Review, Woe Is I gives lighthearted, witty instruction on the subject most of us dreaded in school--grammar. Discussion is brief and concise, and much more engaging than the grammar books you may remember. With chapter titles such as "Woe is I Therapy for Pronoun Anxiety," "Your Truly The Possessive and the Possessed," "Verbal Abuse Words on the Endangered List," "Comma Sutra; The Joy of Punctuation," and "Death Sentence Do Cliches Deserve to Die?," O'Conner proves that even grammar can make for entertaining reading.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "The best primer on English usage to come along since Strunk and White's The Elements of Style."

About the Author: Patricia T. O'Conner is a senior copy editor at The New York Times Book Review who has written guest columns for William Safire. She has also conducted a grammar course for Times employees.
Available at Amazon.com / Amazon UK

Painless Grammar by Rebecca S. Elliott, Laurie Hamilton (Illustrator)
(August 1997) Barrons Educational Series; ISBN 0812097815

Review by Sandaidh:  I picked up Painless Grammar by Rebecca Elliott, Ph.D on a whim one day, and I've been really glad I did. 

It's easy to read, and/or flip through to find what you need. And I really appreciate the fact that it has examples, telling me how and why something works is fine, but showing me is much better. It's a handy little book and I recommend it.
Available at Amazon.com / Amazon UK

Grammar Smart: A Guide to Perfect Usage by Princeton Review
Princeton Review; ISBN 0375762159; 2nd edition (August 7, 2001)

The words you use say a lot about you. Your grammar makes a lasting impression on friends, co-workers, and teachers, but learning the rules has always been boring. That's why the folks at The Princeton Review created Grammar Smart.

Grammar Smart uses a witty, irreverent approach to help you write and speak with greater clarity and confidence. Grammar Smart doesn't force you to memorize dozens of confusing grammatical terms. Instead, it shows you the logic behind each correct sentence. You'll learn how to choose between "that" and "which" and when to use "as" instead of "like," and you'll know for sure if this is between "you and me" or "you and I."

Grammar Smart includes
*the basic parts of speech-nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc.
*pronoun-verb agreement, parallel construction
*tips on how to avoid misplaced modifiers, dangling participles
*lively, humorous examples and stories to illustrate meanings
*brief, interactive question-and-answer reviews

Don't worry-you won't end up sounding like an eighteenth-century nobleman. Everything in Grammar Smart is nuts-and-bolts English designed to help you express yourself more clearly.
Available at Amazon.com / Amazon UK

Sleeping Dogs Don't Lay: Practical Advice for the Grammatically Challenged by Richard Lederer, Richard Dowis
1 Ed edition (September 1999) St Martins Pr (Trade); ISBN 0312203632

For years Richard Lederer has enthralled fans of the English language with his keen insights, common-sense advice, and witty presentation. Now Lederer has teamed up with Richard Dowis to take readers on another journey through the world's most wonderful, albeit perplexing, language. How many times have we all heard the word viable used in company meetings? Lederer and Dowis show us how viable, somewhere along the line, was extracted from medical books, where it literally means "capable of living," and placed into the business lexicon, where it means...well, who knows?

The authors clear up, once and for all, the confusion between lay and lie and put to rest some common myths about language. The book's finale is a 10-minute writing lesson from which everyone, from rank amateur to seasoned pro, can benefit. These and dozens of other features make this book pure pleasure for language buffs, writers, and teachers. Sleeping Dogs Don't Lay is useful and authoritative as well as fun to read, with humorous touches often popping up where least expected and most needed.
Available at Amazon.com / Amazon UK

Words Fail Me: What Everyone Who Writes Should Know About Writing by Patricia T. O'Conner
(September 2000) Harvest Books; ISBN 0156010879

Patricia T. O'Conner's Words Fail Me is written in the same lighthearted tone as her snappy grammar guide, Woe Is I. This time out, O'Conner tackles the writer's art. "Good writing," she says, "is writing that works." This book is the perfect text for the novice writer who tends to gravitate toward comedic instructors. "Crummy spelling," says O'Conner, "is more noticeable than crummy anything else." Organizing your material "may be a pain in the butt, but it's thankless, too!" "Write as though you were addressing someone whose opinion you value, even if the reader is ... a stingy insurance company that won't pay for your tummy tuck." 

O'Conner's material isn't new--like many such books, Words Fail Me advocates the use of small words, fresh verbs, and only well-chosen modifiers--but rarely is a primer so amusing. And the clever titles strewn throughout--"Taking Leave of Your Tenses," "The It Parade"--provide added pleasure, particularly for anyone who knows how hard it can be to put a headline on a piece of writing. --Jane Steinberg
Available at Amazon.com / Amazon UK

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