Grammar Girl's 101 Words to Sound Smart

by Mignon Fogarty

Millions of people around the world communicate better thanks to Mignon Fogarty, aka Grammar Girl, whose top-rated weekly grammar podcast has been downloaded more than 40 million times. Now she's turning her attention to improving our vocabulary—one smart word at a time—with Grammar Girl's 101 Words to Sound Smart.Are you often stumped for the perfect way to say or write something? Do you find yourself using the same words over and over? Grammar Girl to the rescue! This handy reference guide contains 101 words that will enhance your writing, adding nuance, subtlety, and insight. Using these words in speeches, you'll sound confident and articulate—a skill that will benefit you for years to come.Full of clear, straightforward definitions and fun quotations from historic luminaries such as Leonardo da Vinci and Charlotte Bronte as well as contemporary notables such as Dave Eggers and Rowan Atkinson, this highly useable guidebook gives you the ability to speak and write eloquently at any occasion, setting you up for a lifetime of success.

Genres: Nonfiction, Language, Writing, Reference

129 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 8, 2011

About the author

Mignon Fogarty is better known as Grammar Girl — five-time winner of Best Education Podcast in the Podcast Awards, an inductee in the Podcasting Hall of Fame, the founder of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network, and the former chair of media entrepreneurship in the Reynolds School of Journalism at the University of Nevada. She is the author of seven books about language, including the New York Times bestseller, Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing. She has also appeared as a guest expert on the Oprah Winfrey Show and the Today Show.

Reviews

[Lillian · Rating 1 out of 5]

To be honest, I dislike Grammar Girl with a passion. She makes grammar mistakes of her own in the book, and in no way deserves to be called "Grammar Girl."

[Loren · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Cacophony.... Defenestrate... Harangue... Pedantic. These are words I use regularly.... ha! Erudite? Histrionics? Galvanize?"

"Yeah, that's why people find you pedantic, you erudite!"

"Oh please! We all have our chosen vernacular!"

"Yeah, douche vernacular!"

Yes, I admit it. I actually picked up this book. Just as I picked up every Cliff Notes I could get my hands on so I could read Shakespeare in middle school without suffering an anuerism. Those were the days!

I believe there's no harm in our youth wanting to "sound smart". And since I have a photographic memory, I still remember exactly when and where I came across these words during my life. For instance, erudite. I learned that while reading Angels and Demons back before anyone even knew about Davinci Code. (Obviously not considered accelerated reading material).

Since each word lacks a listing of parts of speech and the plethora of variations, as well as a firm linguistical history, I believe this book does more harm than good. As if we need more people running around saying things like "And your argument is as tenuous as a gossamer!" Strunk and White would cringe in fits of acid reflux.

For those who truly desire to augment your vocabulary, why not join merriam webster's online one a day subscription. Not only is each word well defined in parts of speech, usage and history, but you can also look foward to quizzes on past words as you go along. And with the merriam webster app, now you can actually look up a word as you come across it in your day to day without the pain all you ADD adolescents suffer with every crinkle of a dictionary page. For that is what separates those who are smart from those who "sound smart."

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grammar Girl's 101 Words to Sound Smart is filled with interesting words. Each one is clearly defined but not with the clinical precision of a dictionary. Instead, Mignon Fogarty provides interesting background on the origins of most of the words and gives concrete examples of how the usage may have changed over time. Each word is also accompanied by a quotation or two showing it being used correctly. These quotations were very fun to read and their sources ranged from journalists to politicians to popular authors and television shows.

Some of the words contained in this book were familiar to me but Fogarty pointed out subtle nuances of usage that I was unfamiliar with. Other words were completely new. While I do not see myself regularly interjecting these words into my reviews or other writings, I will be keeping this book on hand as a reference guide for those occasions when an extra special word is needed.

The one thing that I found to be missing from this book is a pronunciation guide for each word. While Fogarty is discussing the usage of these words in writing, I still like to know how the word should sound in my head as I am reading it.

[Ami Iida · Rating 2 out of 5]

learning 101 words from the etymology
I reference English conversation and Grammar by the e-book and the podcast.

[Julie Grace Immink · Rating 2 out of 5]

How can you sound smart using the words, if you don’t include how the words are pronounced?

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found about a dozen words that I would probably start using. The etymology of some words was interesting (like "bedlam" is the shortened name of the Hospital of St. Mary of Bethlehem, the first known insane asylum, which was established in London in the 1300s or 1400s). The cartoons could have been left out (but that would have made the book even shorter).

[Scot · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll read anything that Grammar Girl writes. Yes, I'm a GG fanboy. She makes language interesting.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

good words, good explanations of meaning, stellar examples; wish the corny cartoons had been edited out

[Cool · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Kindle book for reading on your phone while waiting in line or, you know, conducting other business. Do a word a day and you'll be that much better off. Her examples are interesting and her characters, Squiggly and Aardvark, crack me up.

[Candy C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the words are rarely used, but the book provides clear explanations that are easily understood. However, I think I will forget, or already have forgotten, most of them without periodic reviews.

[Jennifer Worrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, so some of these are not particularly odd words; some I hear pretty frequently. But it was fun to see which words I could use in my current project, then write a new sentence with each of them.

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only wish there was more than 101 words! these books are so helpful, creative, and quirky!

[Brandielle]

There is a way to make a dictionary interesting but this isn't it. Also, no pronunciation guide so you can learn the words to feel smart but then sound like an idiot saying them.

[Keanna Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think that this book will be really good to read, because it seems like it gives a cool and easy, plus fun way to learn to expamd our vocabulary.

[Jaclyn]

Soooooo up my alley. I need to get my fingers and eyes all over this!

[Yvonne O'Connor · Rating 2 out of 5]

I suppose if you have a mediocre vocabulary to begin with, this would be helpful. Anyone who took school somewhat seriously will know all of these words, and more.

[Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Got this with another of her books, and figured it'd be a quick little read. It was witty and fun, but I found the word selection a little pedestrian.

[CKE387 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Odd thing - for a book that is supposed to make you sound smart, it didn't include a pronunciation guide/key!