A brilliant, witty, and engagin exploration of the many facets of the English language.

For thir years VERBATIM: The language Quarterly has published amusing, interesting, and occasionally useful essays on concept, usage, jargon, wordplay, lexicography, linguistics, blunders, malapropisms, and antyin esle remotely (or at all) tied to the English language. HEre, collected for the first itme, are some of the most fascinatin, funniest, and strangest pieces that first debuted in its pages.

With reputable contributors such as Richard Lederer, Jesse Sheidlower, Joew Queenana, Frederic Cassidy, and Bryuan Garner, as well as language "experts" of dubious distinction, VERBATIM is a smart and sassy collection for anyone seeking the highly scholarly or the completely frivolous. From the roots of medieval words to teh componenets of a British soccer chant, VERBATIM will offere seomething for every language lover and word nerd to enjoy.