{"product_id":"what-in-the-word-wordplay-word-lore-and-answers-to-your-peskiest-questions-about-language-9780156031974","title":"What in the Word?: Wordplay, Word Lore, and Answers to Your Peskiest Questions about Language","description":"Are you so sure about \"assure,\" \"ensure,\" and \"insure\"? Can you determine whether a knob of butter is equivalent to a lump or a pat or a scosh? Can you say which word in the English language has the most definitions, or who put the H in Jesus H. Christ? \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e If you can't, be assured that Charles Harrington Elster, author of several well-loved works on language, can--and does in his latest book, a delightfully designed compendium of the most common, interesting, and entertaining conundrums in our language. Drawing upon esoteric sources and his own inimitable expertise, Elster uses a lively question-and-answer format to cover a variety of topics--word and phrase origins, slang, style, usage, punctuation, and pronunciation. Every chapter features original brainteasers, challenging puzzles, and a trove of literary trivia.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eElster, Charles Harrington:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - CHARLES HARRINGTON ELSTER is a writer, broadcaster, and logophile-a lover of words. He is the author of several books, including The Big Book of Beastly Mispronunciations, Verbal Advantage, and There's a Word for It. He is also a guest contributor to the On Language column of the New York Times Magazine. He lives in San Diego.","brand":"Houghton Mifflin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50491558854930,"sku":"9780156031974","price":13.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_8af0092f-5717-4ded-9944-883a6ba2b8ad.jpg?v=1730543496","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/what-in-the-word-wordplay-word-lore-and-answers-to-your-peskiest-questions-about-language-9780156031974","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}