The Concise Oxford Companion to the English Language

First published in 1992, The Oxford Companion to the English Language was described by The Times as an 'excellent guide to the history, geography and contours of English', one that 'immediately establishes itself as a necessary book'. A carefully-planned shorter version of the Oxford Companionto the English Language, this new Concise concentrates on the central themes in the language: grammar, usage, dialect, pronunciation, and the history of English. Within each theme all the key subjects are covered, and individual entries offer all the most essential information from the parentCompanion. With nearly 2,000 articles in A-Z format the Concise Companion is an ideal reference for both students and general readers wanting access to the highly readable scholarship of the Companion in a portable and affordable format.

About the Author: Tom McArthur, former Professor of English at the University of Quebec, is editor of the journal English Today and the full Oxford Companion to the English Language.