Book Review & Giveaway: 101 Words Every High School Graduate Needs to Know

Grammar Girl's 101 Words Every High School Graduate Needs to Know by Mignon Fogarty

Millions of people around the world communicate better thanks to Mignon Fogarty, aka Grammar Girl, whose top-rated weekly grammar podcast has been downloaded more than 30 million times. Now she’s turning her attention to improving our vocabulary—one word at a time.

Not sure whether your post-high school vocabulary is up to snuff? This handy reference guide is a great starting point for ensuring you know the words that will help you impress your college professors, hold your own among your peers, write killer papers, and simply sound articulate--a skill that will benefit you for years to come.

Full of clear, straightforward definitions and fun quotations from luminaries such as J.D. Salinger and Susan B. Anthony, to characters such as Marge and Homer Simpson, this highly-useable guidebook gives you the confidence to succeed and sets you up for a lifetime of success.

I managed to graduate from high school and live another 20 years without knowing many of these words.  If asked to define canard, bellicose, fungible, kudzu, nadir, or schadenfreude I would have failed a test!

The author gives a great explanation and definition of each word and then follows up with a quote from a movie, TV show, famous person or famous quote that use the word in context.

It was a falsehood, a canard, a prevarication. Oh, why beat about the bush. It was a simple lie told by a little girl named Sandy. ~ From Puff the Magic Dragon in the Land of Living Lies.

You'll climb the wrist-thick kudzu vines that wrap the Sears Towers ~ Brad Pitt in Fight Club

If you are looking for a fun way to improve your vocabulary give Grammar Girl's book a try.

Rating: 4 Stars - Great Book

Source: From Publisher for Review

Book Giveaway:
I have an extra copy of 101 Words to giveaway.
Open to US only
Ends 10/4/11
To enter just leave a comment on this post with a word you think every high school graduate should know.
Make sure there is a way to contact you if you win.

Book Review & Giveaway: 101 Misused Words You'll Never Confuse Again by Mignon Fogarty

Millions of people around the world communicate better thanks to Mignon Fogarty, aka Grammar Girl, whose top-rated weekly grammar podcast has been downloaded more than 30 million times. After realizing her fans were asking the same questions over and over, Mignon decided to focus her attention on those words that continuously confound the masses. You’ll learn:
When you should use affect and when effect is right
Whether you should you say purposely or purposefully
What the difference is between hilarious and hysterical

Packed with clear explanations, fun quotations showing the word used in context, and the quick and dirty memory tricks Mignon is known for, this friendly reference guide ends the confusion once and for all and helps you speak and write with confidence.

This book made me realize there is a lot I think I know but actually do not know. I regularly misuse many of the words featured in this book. Reign verses rein, explicit verses implicit, farther verses further, infer verses imply, fewer verses less - Each set of words in this book is explained and has an example on how to properly use the word.  Many have a quote from a popular TV show, movie, book or famous person such as Clark Gable in Gone with the Wind saying:

No, I don't think I will kiss you, although you need kissing, badly. 

This would make a great reference book for a writer, student or teacher.

Rating: 4 Stars - Great Book

Source: From publisher for Review

My teenage son has my review copy on his bookshelf but thanks to MacMillian I have an extra copy for giveaway.

Giveaway Details:
1 copy of Grammar Girl's 101 Misused Word You'll Never Confuse Again
Open to US only.
Ends 10/3/11
To Enter just leave a comment on this post with a way to contact you if you win.