Horrible Words: A Guide to the Misuse of EnglishNothing 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

When reality is surreal

killingly funny and beautifully told

A Best Book of the Year in The Economist

'INGENIOUS' - New York Times

the October Missile crisis and Kennedy's assassination

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the ruined grandson of an ex-millionaire working as a receptionist

not of his father