''Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage'' (MWDEU) is a
usage dictionary published by
Merriam-Webster
Merriam-Webster, Incorporated is an list of companies of the United States by state, American company that publishes reference work, reference books and is mostly known for Webster's Dictionary, its dictionaries. It is the oldest dictionary pub ...
, 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
A generic trademark, also known as a genericized trademark or proprietary eponym, is a trademark or brand name that, because of its popularity or significance, has become the generic term for, or synonymous with, a general class of products or ...
''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
Geoffrey Keith Pullum (; born 8 March 1945) is a British and American linguist specialising in the study of English. Pullum has published over 300 articles and books on various topics in linguistics, including phonology, morphology, semantics ...
, who calls it "the best usage book I know of... utterly wonderful." ''
The Economist
''The Economist'' is a British newspaper published weekly in printed magazine format and daily on Electronic publishing, digital platforms. It publishes stories on topics that include economics, business, geopolitics, technology and culture. M ...
'' included it in its list "What to read to become a better writer," stating, "What distinguishes MWDEU is its relentless empiricism." 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
''Garner's Modern English Usage'' (GMEU), written by Bryan A. Garner and published by Oxford University Press, is a usage dictionary and style guide (or "Linguistic prescription, prescriptive dictionary") for contemporary Modern English. It was f ...
''
* List of English words with disputed usage
Some English words are often used in ways that are contentious among writers on usage and prescriptive commentators. The contentious usages are especially common in spoken English, and academic linguists point out that they are accepted by many ...
Notes
External links
Entry at Google Books
English dictionaries
Style guides for American English
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