Dictionary of Fine Distinctions: Nuances, Niceties, and Subtle Shades of Meaning Hardcover – April 9, 2024

What an absolute joy Eli Burnstein's new book "Dictionary of Fine Distinctions" is! The book's subtitle says it all: Nuances, Niceties, and Subtle Shades of Meaning - this vs. that, that vs. this, Balcony vs. Terrace, Dinner vs. Supper, Slapstick vs. Screwball, Envy vs. Jealousy, Bay vs. Gulf vs. Cove...who knew?!! Burnstein is who! With this extremely charming book, he has hit the mark BIG TIME for any word enthusiasts ~ honestly for anyone who is standing upright and is communicating! It is hard not to turn each page and not want to rush over to the nearest person - friend, loved one, or absolute stranger - to show, discuss, and share with them what you just read, err...learned! Burnstein, with his powerful, delicious, and erudite book, depicts the very essence of Mark Twain's quote about the right word: “The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.” Bravo Burnstein, bravo! Dictionary of Fine Distinctions is an absolute gem - a joy to pore over, study, read, enjoy, and treasure! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

This breezy review of 100 or so distinctions among terms is useful, witty and fun to peruse. I am a retired journalist but had no idea of the different meanings of typeface and font. And I have lived beside a "bog" for decades without realizing it is a marsh or fen. The difference between a catapult and a trebuchet may not change your life, but all-wheel drive versus four-wheel drive is a helpful concept. The writer is a clever wordsmith: "Poison is when you bite it; venom is when it bites you." Bonus: the illustrations are charming.

The book is precisely what it claims to be: a charming look at words we often confuse with one another. I found it both informative and helpful.You should know, however, that the hardcover edition is quite small. For this price, I had expected something more in line with a standard-sized volume.

English is my second language, and this may be the reason why I obsess with using it correctly. So, when I found out about this book, I could not resist and bought it. I actually bought three copies, one for me and the other two as gifts for friends who, too, care about precision in language.The book did not disappoint me, and I learned quite a few subtleties, but I could think of more word distinctions than in the book.

THIS BOOK IS A GEM. It solved problems I didn't even know I had. It's truly informative and clarifying, not to mention wonderfully written and illustrated. Buy this book for anyone you know who loves words and hates being confused!

What a delightfully descriptive little narrative about nuances in everyday things. Well written, and entertaining, as well as captivating for my ADHD brain.

Excellent item arrived right on schedule!

While the information might be available for free on the internet, it’s such a great job the author did. Very helpful especially for an esl