Horrible Words: A Guide to the Misuse of English

by Rebecca Gowers

Nothing inflames the language gripers like a misplaced disinterested, an illogical irregardless, a hideous operationalisation. To purists these are 'howlers' and 'non-words', fit only for scorn. But in their rush to condemn such terms, are the naysayers missing something?

In this provocative and hugely entertaining book, Rebecca Gowers throws light on a great array of horrible words, and shows how the diktats of the pedants are repeatedly based on misinformation, false reasoning and straight-up snobbery. The result is a brilliant work of history, a surreptitious introduction to linguistics, and a mischievous salute to the misusers of the language. It is also a bold manifesto asserting our common rights over English, even as it questions the true nature of style.

Genres: Nonfiction, Language, Writing, Linguistics

193 pages, Hardcover

First published April 26, 2016

Reviews

[Daniel B-G · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm not sure how the writer managed to make what should be an interesting topic so flat and lifeless.

[Eliza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I loved this book! Gowers is a wonderful writer, and her argument is perfectly suited to her purpose. She addresses throughout a reader who desires above all to drive vocabulary purists and prescriptivists insane, giving that reader advice on how best to do it. Hilarious. From back-formations to phrasal verbs to portmanteaus to double negatives, she shows us how our efforts to keep the English language static and correct are both ill-informed and useless, with wonderful examples and side notes.
Okay so I'm a word nerd. I confess it happily. And I'm overjoyed to know that there are writers out there with a great sense of humor who want to write whole BOOKS about words. Keep 'em coming!

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this – because it demolishes a thing I hate: snobbery about language, and, worse, ill-informed snobbery about language. Gowers names and shames some of the worst offenders, which is lovely, and shows how their scholarship is incomplete and sometimes simply misstated (let's be generous).

At the same time, we are taken on a roller-coaster ride around some of the myriad delightful corners of etymology, with breathtaking switchbacks as words shift their meaning around over time, and as fashion dictates.

The style is engaging – nay, sly – and this is a fun read, which is an excellent way to teach. If you know you have peever tendencies and are inclined to tut at usages that make you shudder, then read this book. It will make you a nicer person. Language belongs to us all and there's no policing it.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprisingly entertaining book, which out-pedants the pedants: all those people who complain about you using "disinterested" when you mean "uninterested" (actually, historically, the meanings are completely reversed), or whinge about "ok" or "alright" (all those pedants are me, by the way) are shown why they're wrong.

Surprisingly, didn't address my pet peeves: "quantum leap" (correct meaning: a totally meaningless and random movement), "on the back foot" (correct meaning: putting yourself in a strong position), "tragedy" (events you brought on yourself), "paedophile" (someone who respects children as his emotional and intellectual equal). But these are battles I have lost.

An important point she raises is that "Received Pronunciation" or "Correct English" are just forms of slang themselves, and anyone who thinks there is a correct way of using English is deluding himself.

[Bab · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best thing I've read this year so far. Loved it, all the way, from head to toe! Fun and all wits and deep and tongue in cheek, all at once. My call: don't be scared, don't just guess all books on words are just a bore, this one ain't so; so don't you doubt it and don't you miss out, trust me: just get your hands on it and read it.
And if you wish, just to be safe, let me know if you should hate it –which, let me tell you, you can't, so you won't– and I'll pay you back for it. Deal? We got a deal?
Then off you go! Go get it, now! Just pick it up and read it! I swear to you I can't tell you how much you'll love this book, the whole humongous, ravishing fantabulousness of it!

[Collin · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Kind of like being taught language history/linguistics/whatever this is about by Lemony Snicket. Enjoyable, though the extended metaphor of being in a war against Good English could drag a little, and some of the middle chapters got repetitive (repetitious - repeatful - repetitivacious). Enjoyable, though. I'd like to own it some day.

[Mugren Ohaly · Rating 1 out of 5]

An interesting subject ruined by an unfunny writer who muddles the book with an obscene amount of quotes and insists on constantly insulting people who care about “proper” English.

[Teresa McCarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

How many of us, encouraged by our love of language and reading, followed an academic path that led to prescriptivism? This book serves as an entertaining and erudite corrective. But, in its exploration of usage, grammar, and etymology, descriptivists might find themselves compiling their own lists of horrible words (strictly for personal use, of course).