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Word Savvy: Use the Right Word Every Time, All the Time
Build Your Word Know-How—and Stand Out The right words help you make a good impression—smart, professional, and trustworthy. Poor word choices can make coworkers, teachers, friends, or editors think you’re unprofessional, uneducated, or lazy. It?s critical that you learn the best methods for preventing wrong-word problems and catching errors in your writing. Word Savvy teaches you simple, easy ways to confidently avoid mistakes and ensure your success. No matter what kind of writing you do in your day-to-day life, Word Savvy gives you the strategies so that you can recognize, remember, and use the right word—every time. BONUS ONLINE CONTENT Download 3 free bookmarks, each with 10 savvy words everyone should know, at writersdigest.com/word-savvy
224 pages, Paperback
First published October 10, 2011
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265 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 8, 2012
If you’re the kind of writer who isn’t sure of your it’s and its, your effect/affect, then/than, loose/lose, then this is a terrific book for you. The main section of the text is organized alphabetically by these often-confused words, explaining the difference, giving examples, and in many cases giving a short series of fill-in-the-blanks exercises to nail the concepts down (answers in the back). The layout is clear and emphatic, making it easy to use.
If you have no trouble with these word pairs, you still may gain a few useful tips on the usage of further/farther, nemesis, pristine, and the like.
In short, a great find for writers who missed out on learning from those wonderful, strict English teachers in high school, but not so useful for more advanced types.
Disclaimer: I received a Giveaway copy through Goodreads. Thank you, Nancy!
If you have no trouble with these word pairs, you still may gain a few useful tips on the usage of further/farther, nemesis, pristine, and the like.
In short, a great find for writers who missed out on learning from those wonderful, strict English teachers in high school, but not so useful for more advanced types.
Disclaimer: I received a Giveaway copy through Goodreads. Thank you, Nancy!
December 15, 2011
Okay, I received "Word Savvy" today in high anticipation. I thought the book was going to be a fun grammatical book that would teach me "new" words. It kind of did, but not in the way I at first thought it would.
This is what the book IS: The book is basically a review of commonly confused words and showing you how to use them properly. It's a great English fresh-up, though not what I would consider an engrossing Saturday read. If you want to check up on your grammar this a fantastic book. It is filled with quizzes and many examples to help you fully understand the meaning and usage of each word. i.e. empathy vs. sympathy, effect vs. affect... ect.
Conclusion in short: Great grammatical overview of confused words, probably not the most exciting book you will ever read.
Kai.
This is what the book IS: The book is basically a review of commonly confused words and showing you how to use them properly. It's a great English fresh-up, though not what I would consider an engrossing Saturday read. If you want to check up on your grammar this a fantastic book. It is filled with quizzes and many examples to help you fully understand the meaning and usage of each word. i.e. empathy vs. sympathy, effect vs. affect... ect.
Conclusion in short: Great grammatical overview of confused words, probably not the most exciting book you will ever read.
Kai.
January 1, 2012
Good source to go to in case you're caught in a pickle on which word to use, and feel like I'm a little better prepared in writing a paper having read this book along with tips to follow and mistakes in trying to avoid.
Thank you for having this in the goodreads first-reads program and getting it to me so quickly as well. Very enjoyable read :) Thank you Nancy :)
Thank you for having this in the goodreads first-reads program and getting it to me so quickly as well. Very enjoyable read :) Thank you Nancy :)
July 21, 2016
I won this book through the Goodreads First Reads program. It might sound kind of nerdy, but I really liked it! It was well written and informative and even though english is already my best subject, I learned a lot. I use it mostly for reference, and it's great for that, but it's good to read straight through too. Not boring like other English reference guides or textbooks
:)
:)
December 18, 2011
As an English teacher, I am always looking for relatable resources for my students. This is one that is going on the shelf Monday. Thanks so much!
March 29, 2012
Thank you to the author, Nancy Ragno, for choosing me as part of a recent Goodreads contest to read and review this book. I'm impressed with this timely tool. I like to think that I don't really need the help it offers and that I'll only take a look at this to "help someone else." I laugh at myself now; because, I have found a few things I could improve on in my own writing. After reading this book, some of you may even find some of them in this review!
The premise of Ms. Ragno's book (backed up with research) is that misspelling is no longer the number one problem of writers today. Instead, the greatest problem is improper word usage.
There follows a highly organized means of detecting and correcting improper word usage problems. Suggested means of doing so speak to various learning methods of potential readers. The chapters are well designed to flow together and assist the reader on a path of discovery and understanding. A given example is that though useful, technology can actually create some of the very problems the writer is trying to avoid! Thankfully, the majority (if not the entirety) of them can be found and corrected by using this book.
Beginning with chapter 3, Word Savvy: Use the Right Word Every Time, All the Time also turns into a useful workbook. Some of you may groan, "Oh no! Not homework!" Happily, the work isn't that difficult. Words are defined, their usage explained, a memory trick offered, and THEN comes the quiz. An added bonus? Answers to all of the questions are in the back, but don't peek! Try to answer the questions honestly first. With all of the preparation leading up to the quizzes, you'll undoubtedly find that your answers are correct.
Taken as a whole, this book might seem intimidating and overwhelming. However, it can be easily "digested" bit by bit, chapter by chapter. Alternately, the reader can check out the handy index to find an immediate answer to nearly every potential word mishap.
This book has joined my other writing handbooks as a must-have tool for the editing process. I also hope to employ it as a preventative measure. If I can learn some more of the tricks that are suggested in the book, I may not have as much editing to do at the end.
The premise of Ms. Ragno's book (backed up with research) is that misspelling is no longer the number one problem of writers today. Instead, the greatest problem is improper word usage.
There follows a highly organized means of detecting and correcting improper word usage problems. Suggested means of doing so speak to various learning methods of potential readers. The chapters are well designed to flow together and assist the reader on a path of discovery and understanding. A given example is that though useful, technology can actually create some of the very problems the writer is trying to avoid! Thankfully, the majority (if not the entirety) of them can be found and corrected by using this book.
Beginning with chapter 3, Word Savvy: Use the Right Word Every Time, All the Time also turns into a useful workbook. Some of you may groan, "Oh no! Not homework!" Happily, the work isn't that difficult. Words are defined, their usage explained, a memory trick offered, and THEN comes the quiz. An added bonus? Answers to all of the questions are in the back, but don't peek! Try to answer the questions honestly first. With all of the preparation leading up to the quizzes, you'll undoubtedly find that your answers are correct.
Taken as a whole, this book might seem intimidating and overwhelming. However, it can be easily "digested" bit by bit, chapter by chapter. Alternately, the reader can check out the handy index to find an immediate answer to nearly every potential word mishap.
This book has joined my other writing handbooks as a must-have tool for the editing process. I also hope to employ it as a preventative measure. If I can learn some more of the tricks that are suggested in the book, I may not have as much editing to do at the end.
November 21, 2022
More of a reference than a book to read cover to cover. However, the explanations for the misuse of words along with their correct use was clear and helpful.
For each word the incorrect or misuse is presented first, followed by the correct meaning and its use. In addition the author provides what she calls memory tricks to help in remembering the correct meaning and/or usage. She even includes a quiz for nearly every word for the reader to test his or her understanding.
The book is relatively new and it was helpful to hear the author discuss the impact that computer and internet use had on the use and misuse of words.
In chapter 5, the author presents a set of words and phrases that are either invalid, i.e. not real words (e.g. alright, alot, irregardless) or were once words in common usage but are now obsolete (e.g. anyways).
Though in the case of irregardless, I just saw a short video on the Merriam Webster website. This word IS in that dictionary and has been used for quite some time though today is considered obsolete. So it actually is, or was, a word contrary to author Ragno's opinion.
While most of the words discussed were reviews for me, I did run across a few where I had carried the incorrect meaning or usage for some time.
Well written and enjoyable.
For each word the incorrect or misuse is presented first, followed by the correct meaning and its use. In addition the author provides what she calls memory tricks to help in remembering the correct meaning and/or usage. She even includes a quiz for nearly every word for the reader to test his or her understanding.
The book is relatively new and it was helpful to hear the author discuss the impact that computer and internet use had on the use and misuse of words.
In chapter 5, the author presents a set of words and phrases that are either invalid, i.e. not real words (e.g. alright, alot, irregardless) or were once words in common usage but are now obsolete (e.g. anyways).
Though in the case of irregardless, I just saw a short video on the Merriam Webster website. This word IS in that dictionary and has been used for quite some time though today is considered obsolete. So it actually is, or was, a word contrary to author Ragno's opinion.
While most of the words discussed were reviews for me, I did run across a few where I had carried the incorrect meaning or usage for some time.
Well written and enjoyable.
August 13, 2012
For full disclosure purposes, I won this book through the first reads program. This book is a great resource for anyone who puts words on paper. I like books like this, and this is the best I've encountered so far. This book is not just a list of problem pair words like others are, it also gives useful examples to show the difference and different tricks to remember the difference between them. It also has quizzes for the reader to test themselves, which is really fun. This book is very useful, and would be great to use in the classroom. Of course, this book is not the kind to read from cover to cover, so I will continue reading it in parts, but it looks like a really good reference book.
February 16, 2012
This was a very informative book. I enjoyed the quizzes at the end of each "lesson" to help you understand what was just read. I thought I was "word savvy" until I read this. I didn't realize all of the mistakes I've been making over the years, even though most of them were small. I also enjoyed the resume suggestions and actually used them today to rewrite my resume. I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone who needs a little extra help with their grammar and anyone who thinks they might have it down, as well.
I got this book free through the GoodReads Giveaways.
I got this book free through the GoodReads Giveaways.
March 21, 2012
Was surprised to find WORD SAVVY in my mail box today. I really happy I've been flipping through it and so has my son. I'm sure I will be using it a lot. I would have like small note to come with the book or a notification that I had won.. That is all right I'm just happy to have received it.
Thank you Nancy Ragno
Thank you Nancy Ragno
April 7, 2012
I received this book through the First Reads Program. I was expecting it to be more like "Word Power" in Reader's Digest but it isn't. That being said, it is a good resource for those who use the wrong word in situations for example, formerly instead of formally. You may not even know you've been using the wrong word all this time unti you read Word Savvy!
Want to read
August 9, 2016I won this book from First Reads. Looks like a good book. Thank you.
May 5, 2012
I won this book through Goodreads! ^_^
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews