Anguished English: An Anthology of Accidental Assualts Upon Our Language

by Richard Lederer

Overview

“Richard Lederer is the true king of language comedy. Anguished English is the funniest book I have ever read.”—Sidney Sheldon

Anguished English is the impossibly funny anthology of accidental assaults upon our language. From bloopers and blunders to Signs of the Times to Mixed Up Metaphors . . . from Two-Headed Headlines to Mangling Modifiers, here is an outrageous treasury of assaults upon our common language that will leave you roaring with delight and laughter.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780440203520
Publisher:	Random House Publishing Group
Publication date:	08/05/1989
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	192
Sales rank:	224,854
Product dimensions:	4.22(w) x 6.79(h) x 0.43(d)

About the Author

Richard Lederer is an American author, speaker, and teacher, best known for his books on the English language and on wordplay such as puns, oxymorons, and anagrams. He has written more than 30 books and was the cohost of a national radio show, A Way with Words.

Read an Excerpt

One of the fringe benefits of being an English or history teacher is receiving the occasional jewel of a student blooper in an essay or test paper.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION.....vii

I. SCHOOLISHNESS Student Bloopers Win Pullet Surprises.....3
The World According to Student Bloopers.....7
Excuses, Excuses.....16

II. THE BLUNDERFUL WORLD OF BLOOPERS Disorder in the Court!.....21
Accidental Bloopers.....27
Wholly Holy Bloopers.....31
It's an Ad, Ad, Ad, Ad, World.....37
Signs of the Times.....41
Welfare Bloopers Fare Well.....47
Stop the Presses!.....49
Two-Headed Headlines.....56

III. INSPIRED GIBBERISH Modern Day Malapropisms.....69
Mixed-Up Metaphors.....77
An Irish Bull is Always Pregnant.....82
Goldwynisms and Berraisms.....87
Lost In Translation.....93

IV. GRAMMER GAFFES Mangling Modifers.....101
References Wanted.....105
Laffing at Mispellings.....109
Howta Reckanize American Slurvian.....114