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The Most Common Mistakes in English Usage
This book analyzes the errors most commonly made in spoken and written English and presents them in a systematic, down-to-earth manner. It does not dictate grammar to the reader; rather, it presents the guidelines for English usage currently being observed by the most competent and careful speakers and writers.
- GenresWriting
146 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1971
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 31, 2014
As a general reference, this book is useful. However, Berry spins in place with his preface and throughout the rest of his book on the question of who determines or what constitutes “correct usage.” Berry states that most authors of books on usage “do not dictate.” They, rather state the principles “'for acceptable expressions in educated society.'” In other words, a speaker and writer is free to do whatever, but only Berry's summary of correct usage is acceptable if one is to be regarded as “educated” or “linguistically competent.”
“Careful speakers and writers” do thus and so. From these general remarks, Berry lapses into the consistent use of the impersonal, implied authority such as “It is generally believed that...” X is correct or incorrect, without specifying who exactly is the “it” and why it has the authority to make such determinations. “An authoritative ruling has now been established,” he writes regarding the use of “can not” versus “cannot” and he states that “the masculine form...has become the standard for both masculine and feminine,” leaving open the questions about who it is who establishes and who makes the determination that “she” shall become “he.”
If Berry simply stated the rules of general usage without implying that some Board is involved, this book would come off with a better tone. In other words, if we want to communicate, this is how most of us should speak and write and that when we deviate much, we risk confusing the reader, etc. There is a certain logic that is involved in communicating clearly and many of the rules and principles that Berry covers are helpful in that regard. But Berry gets into his personal rules of correct usage that seem arbitrary and inflexible. One should not use “sick” for “displeased,” he writes, so one cannot say that “he” is sick of all the paper work,” but must say instead that “I have grown to dislike all this paper work.” Really? One doesn't say, “We are going to fix the broken machine” but rather, we are going to “repair” it. Pretty soon, Berry is up there in an arched and stilted land. One should only use “one” once in a sentence; when it's an antecedent, use “he” instead. Although some authorities approve of split infinitives, “careful usage demands that splitting be avoided....”
It goes on like this, page after page. But elsewhere, Berry simply notes differences in usage without insisting that one is correct and another is incorrect. Thus, he advises against using the possessive for inanimate objects, but notes that a strict application is futile. He also acknowledges without judgment that there's a growing tendency for formal names to be used without capitalization, and that there can be no rules for hyphenating words because of “constantly shifting practices.'
Berry wrote this book in 1961, and there's more flexibility now. A good rule for writing a book of this sort is to simply note the general usage along with major variants and leave it at that without pejorative judgment. “Confusion of the contraction 'don't” and 'doesn't' is quite common,” Berry writes, and then adds, “among those whose formal education has been limited.” Berry could have made the same point if he simply put a period after “common.”
“Careful speakers and writers” do thus and so. From these general remarks, Berry lapses into the consistent use of the impersonal, implied authority such as “It is generally believed that...” X is correct or incorrect, without specifying who exactly is the “it” and why it has the authority to make such determinations. “An authoritative ruling has now been established,” he writes regarding the use of “can not” versus “cannot” and he states that “the masculine form...has become the standard for both masculine and feminine,” leaving open the questions about who it is who establishes and who makes the determination that “she” shall become “he.”
If Berry simply stated the rules of general usage without implying that some Board is involved, this book would come off with a better tone. In other words, if we want to communicate, this is how most of us should speak and write and that when we deviate much, we risk confusing the reader, etc. There is a certain logic that is involved in communicating clearly and many of the rules and principles that Berry covers are helpful in that regard. But Berry gets into his personal rules of correct usage that seem arbitrary and inflexible. One should not use “sick” for “displeased,” he writes, so one cannot say that “he” is sick of all the paper work,” but must say instead that “I have grown to dislike all this paper work.” Really? One doesn't say, “We are going to fix the broken machine” but rather, we are going to “repair” it. Pretty soon, Berry is up there in an arched and stilted land. One should only use “one” once in a sentence; when it's an antecedent, use “he” instead. Although some authorities approve of split infinitives, “careful usage demands that splitting be avoided....”
It goes on like this, page after page. But elsewhere, Berry simply notes differences in usage without insisting that one is correct and another is incorrect. Thus, he advises against using the possessive for inanimate objects, but notes that a strict application is futile. He also acknowledges without judgment that there's a growing tendency for formal names to be used without capitalization, and that there can be no rules for hyphenating words because of “constantly shifting practices.'
Berry wrote this book in 1961, and there's more flexibility now. A good rule for writing a book of this sort is to simply note the general usage along with major variants and leave it at that without pejorative judgment. “Confusion of the contraction 'don't” and 'doesn't' is quite common,” Berry writes, and then adds, “among those whose formal education has been limited.” Berry could have made the same point if he simply put a period after “common.”
October 3, 2008
This book is fine, but it was printed a while back so the examples aren't based on current mistakes.
July 31, 2017
I love this book. You can just open to any page and start reading and you will learn something. This is the perfect coffee table book, perfect for nerdy conversations and for looking up exactly have to use this 'word' correctly. I thing that everyone should have this book.
February 28, 2017
Though a bit dated, this book contains the best and most comprehensive set of English grammar and usage lesson I have ever read.
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June 6, 2011good
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews