500 Words You Should Know

 

Ever wanted to ameliorate your atavistic lexicon, engage in a little intellectual badinage, or been discombobulated by tricky diction? 500 Words You Should Know has you covered. This book will inspire readers to use uncommon words in their correct context, to utilize the English language to its full potential, and to test themselves on the words they think they already know. This is a book for the appreciator of correct usage, and contains words you thought you knew (decimate, caveat, nemesis), words you should know (euphemism, diatribe, tautology), and just a few that you might want to know (peripatetic, shibboleth, callipygian). Arranged thematically, each word is dissected, with a brief explanation of etymology, historical, and modern usage, allowing you to fully understand and effectively employ the word in its proper context.

"This 'essential cornucopia' aims to inspire you to use uncommon words in their original context, in order to utilize the English language to it's full potential, and to test yourself on words you think you already know."  —Bookseller

Caroline Taggart is the author of the bestselling I Used to Know That, The Classics: All You Need to Know, An Apple a Day, and several other books. A veteran of publishing for nearly 30 years, she has edited innumerable books across categories.