Besides being extremely knowledgable about Plains, PA history, and a retired educator, my friend Bob Corcoran is a word maven with a Master of Science from the University of Scranton and his own print shop. His father, a Latin teacher, had his own printing machine in the basement of their house, and Bob would "sit on the floor and turn the big wheel" when the motor wasn't working. If there were any doubt that Bob loves words, printed or otherwise, it would be put to rest by two books he recently sent me, written and printed by Bob as a retirement project. They are both pretty amazing. Dr. Johnson (a.k.a. "Dictionary Johnson") would have loved them. Here's the cover and an inside page from the first:
This scholarly work explains the symbols used in parentheses after words in the dictionary and how they are used to understand how to pronounce them. We've all seen them. Who understands them? Well, Bob does, and now anybody can. You can buy a copy at Amazon here.
The next book, Dictionary Skills, is a broader guide to using the dictionary. Here is the cover and another inside page.
Both books come complete with exercises for students, and even word puzzles to test your knowledge. "Dictionary Skills" is available here.
Scholars like Bob keep our constantly changing language alive. Their importance to writers and readers is overlooked, but it cannot be overestimated. Thanks for sending me these two terrific books, Bob—or should I say, "Dictionary Corcoran."
I'd like end with Bob's own words from the preface to "Dictionary Secrets."
"Some people have a gift or propensity for words. Words seem to roll off the tips of their tongues. Others have a far greater gift, a sensitivity or penchant for words. Learn to study words, learn to enjoy words.
A developed sensitivity for words is the goal of this book."
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