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Dictionary of Fine Distinctions

Nuances, Niceties, and Subtle Shades of Meaning

by Eli Burnstein
Hardback
Publication Date: 09/04/2024

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What’s the difference between mazes and labyrinths? Proverbs and adages? Clementines and tangerines?

Join author Eli Burnstein on a hairsplitter’s odyssey into the world of the ultra-subtle with Dictionary of Fine Distinctions. Illustrated by New Yorker cartoonist Liana Finck, this humorous dictionary takes a neurotic, brain-tickling plunge into the infinite (and infinitesimal) nuances that make up our world.

The perfect gift for book lovers, word nerds, trivia geeks, and everyday readers, this illustrated gem is more than just a book — it is an indispensable resource akin to a thesaurus but filled with charm and wit. Each entry, from 'latte vs. flat white' to 'Great Britain vs. The United Kingdom', is accompanied by mnemonic aids, quirky asides, and detailed illustrations, making it a standout dictionary for any bibliophile or language enthusiast's library.

For fans of The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows or Foyle's Philavery: A Treasury of Unusual Words, Dictionary of Fine Distinctions promises to be a cherished addition to the genre that offers clarity, joy, and a deeper appreciation for the subtleties of the English language. The quintessential librarian gift and English teacher gift, it’s an educational odyssey that’s as entertaining as it is enlightening.

ISBN:
9781454952350
9781454952350
Category:
Grammar & vocabulary
Format:
Hardback
Publication Date:
09-04-2024
Language:
English
Publisher:
Sterling Publishing Co Inc
Country of origin:
United States
Dimensions (mm):
178x127mm

'This delightful book is a tribute to the genius of the human mind for conceptual precision and the beauty of the English language in capturing it. It resolves a great deal of puzzlement over confusable terms, and its endearing illustrations and lighthearted explanations multiply the satisfaction.'
— Steven Pinker, author of The Language Instinct and Rationality

Eli Burnstein

Eli Burnstein is a humour writer whose work has appeared in The New Yorker, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, Slackjaw, Weekly Humorist, The Offing, 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. Burnstein is Canadian and lives in London, UK.

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