The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary by William Little; J. Coulson; H. W. Fowler; G. W. S. Friedrichsen; C. T. Onions (Revised by)

$35.00 NZD

Category: Reference | Reading Level: very good

Penguin Encyclopedia by David Crystal

$40.00 NZD

Category: Reference | Reading Level: very good

Now in its third edition, Penguin Encyclopediais the one reference book that every family and office needs. It contains over 28,000 entries on the facts, events, issues, people, beliefs and achievements that make up the sum of human knowledge and experience written in a clear, direct style that illumina tes even the most intricate concept. The book is designed so that it is easy to locate the information you require quickly and there are over 350 maps and diagrams to aid understanding. Penguin Encyclopediais part of the Penguin Reference Libraryand draws on over 70 years of experience in bringing reliable, useful and clear information to millions of readers around the world - making knowledge everybody's property. ...Show more

Scottish Place-Names - Their Study and Significance by W. F. H. Nicolaisen

$16.00 NZD

Category: United Kingdom | Reading Level: very good

This book, the result of twenty years' meticulous research, remains the only comprehensive and systematic study of Scottish place-names. From names which date from the dawn of time - such as the river names Tay and Avon - to more modern place-names, such as Fort William and Helensburgh, W.F.H. Nicolaise n brings to life the rich tapestry of history which has shaped Scotland over thousands of years. When first published in 1976, Scottish place-names was welcomed by reviewers for its innovative thinking and for setting new standards in place-name studies in Scotland. Three further printings within a few years responded to an obvious demand for the kind of overview and methodological guide it provided. The revised edition, first published in 2001, responded to the huge surge of interest in, and study of, Scottish place-names and included an updated preface and additional bibliography. ...Show more

The Secret Life of Words: How English Became English by Henry Hitchings

$10.00 NZD

Category: Reference | Reading Level: very good

Communication is essential to our lives, but how often do we stop to think about where the words we use have come from? Have you ever thought about which words in English have been borrowed from Arabic, French or Dutch? Try admiral, landscape and marmalade just for starters. The Secret Life of Words is a wide-ranging account not only of the history of English, but also of how words witness history, reflect social change and remind us of our turbulent past. Henry Hitchings delves into our promiscuous language and reveals how and why it has absorbed words from more than 350 other languages many originating from the most unlikely of places, such as shampoo from Hindi and kiosk from Turkish. From the Norman Conquest to the present day, Hitchings narrates the story of English as an archive of our human experience and uncovers the secrets behind everyday words. This is a celebration of our language; after reading it, you will never again take the words we use for granted.Winner John Llewellyn Rhys Prize 2008. ...Show more

Fowler's Modern English Usage by H.W. Fowler and Ernest Gowers

$10.00 NZD

Category: Reference | Series: Oxford Paperbacks | Reading Level: very good

This reference offers guidance on English grammar and discusses the meanings, proper use, and pronunciation of a wide range of words.

The Last Word: Tales from the Tip of the Mother Tongue by Ben Macintyre

$12.00 NZD

Category: Reference | Reading Level: very good

Do you know your geek-speak from your geek-chic? Ever wanted to put Humpty Dumpty together again? Can you distinguish Spanglish from Chinglish? We adapt words from other languages, from slang, from developments in science, literature and art. Often, we adopt them from a bright yellow and deeply dysfunct ional television cartoon family called The Simpsons. D'oh!, Homer's grunt of irritation at each successive failure, has now entered the Oxford English Dictionary and it was Homer who also created sacrilicious, which so precisely captures the pleasure of being rude about someone else's religious beliefs. This is a collection of pieces that will tease, tickle and tantalise those who enjoy all things lexical. Learn the advantages of having your own signature word; Boris Johnson has come up with 'bemerded' or 'to be fouled by a dog', even though the word doesn't actually exist; the significance of lifts with middle-class, 1930s accents and what reviewers really mean when they say exhaustive (exhausting), compelling (I managed to finish it), detailed (has footnotes) and richly detailed (has lots of footnotes). Explore what classic texts may have been like had they been given happier endings: Madame Bovary gets her man, Hamlet finds a shrink, marries Ophelia and goes into insurance. Godot actually turns up. Witty, profound and utterly delightful, The Last Word is a collection of delicious morsels that celebrate the richness, ridiculousness and resilience of language. ...Show more

Larousse Biographical Dictionary by Magnus Magnusson

$16.00 NZD

Category: Reference | Reading Level: very good

Oxford Dictionary, Thesaurus and Wordpower Guide by Maurice Waite

$18.00 NZD

Category: Reference | Reading Level: good

This volume gives you three books in one. The dictionary section offers comprehensive coverage of today's English, with over 145,000 words, phrases, and definitions, while the thesaurus has over 333,000 alternative words. The Wordpower Guide offers extra help to enrich and develop your vocabulary.

Collins Paperback English Dictionary by Collins

$12.00 NZD

Category: Reference | Reading Level: good

Collins Win at Scrabble by .

$8.00 NZD

Category: Reference | Reading Level: very good

Never be lost for words! Want to beat family and friends but always get stuck finding the best words to play? Collins Win at Scrabblea is the perfect guide to this ever-popular game, giving guidance on strategy and tips for choosing good words. An invaluable new reference book for all Scrabble players , to help them improve their game. The first section gives guidance on how to play and help with strategy, so that people can really improve their game. In the second section, good words for Scrabble are presented letter by letter to help players use up tricky letters and get out of difficult board situations. Collins Win at Scrabblea is endorsed by Mattel. SCRABBLEa is a registered trademark of J. W. Spear & Sons Ltd., a subsidiary of Mattel, Inc.A(c) 2010 Mattel, Inc. All Rights Reserved. ...Show more

Collins English Thesaurus Pocket Edition - 7th Edition

$12.00 NZD

Category: Reference | Reading Level: very good

The ideal word finder with a wide range of up-to-date entries, a generous choice of synonyms, and thousands of antonyms, giving unrivalled everyday language coverage for a thesaurus of its size. The hard-wearing cover makes it an ideal reference book for carrying to school or work. The perfect book for anyone stuck for words, writing essays or reports, marketing copy and work emails. This new edition provides up-to-date language coverage along with practical guidance on effective English for everyday use. All main words are clearly distinguished and the most helpful synonyms in each entry are given first and highlighted to ensure you find what you're looking for in the shortest time. With key antonyms included for many entries and the unique supplement, this is the ideal one-stop word reference for every home and office. 128,000 synonyms and antonyms ...Show more

Collins Concise Dictionary by .

$12.00 NZD

Category: Reference | Reading Level: good

As well as being a comprehensive guide to the changing language of today, this concise dictionary includes encylopaedic entries for people, places, regions, and ideas.