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Title: The New Fowler's Modern English Usage (New Fowler's Modern English Usage, 3rd Ed) by R. W. Burchfield, Henry Watson Fowler ISBN: 0198602634 Publisher: Oxford University Press Pub. Date: February, 2000 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $29.95

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Average Customer Rating: 2.27

Rating: 5
Summary: The essential English usage reference
Comment: If you aren't familiar with previous versions of Fowler's, don't be scared off by all the negative reviews here. If you work with words for a living (as I do), you must have a copy of the current edition. It is the only comprehensive -- and, importantly, comprehendible -- reference on English usage available. The current edition reflects modern standard usage. Perhaps it is not as prescriptive as earlier editions, but I would argue that you don't want it to be. English usage is in flux, and the author is wise enough not to enforce rules that are in the process of being naturally dismantled. He is wise enough to tell you precisely what the state of the language is now, enough to inform your own decisions. If you are an editor or a serious writer, you must have this book.

Rating: 3
Summary: Honestly, it isn't a bad book... it's just not Fowler's
Comment: I think that the issue most people have with the third edition of this book is the big word "Fowler's" on the cover. If it had simply been called "Modern English Usage," this book would, I think, be a very useful tool to most literary folk.

The second edition of Fowler's had charisma and wit on it's side. This book, the third is well... it is a good tool, and not much more.

Personally, I use both editions in different ways. When I was in school once sat down and read the second edition cover to cover, and I still, occasionally consult it. Because the third edition deals with Canadian English (and I suppose American too) I use it, infrequently, like I would a regular dictionary.

Rating: 1
Summary: In with the new? Not this time.
Comment: As a person who has long held Fowler's Grammatical works in highest esteem, this "new edition" comes as a grave disappointment to me.
It is more an inferior re-write than that which you might call a "New Edition".
Some might argue that the English language is in flux, and of course, this is true. However, when a significant part of this is entirely due to the perpetuation of improper word usage (often relegating original meanings and associated sentence structures to the archives), ratifying the inclusion of such examples, other than to point out that they are incorrect, is linguistic vandalism.
Purists and writers alike should go for the Second Edition; it is more accurate, more informative, and a more interesting and witty read.
Those people with sound knowledge of correct grammar are the only ones with any right to break the rules of grammar; they know what rules they are breaking, and why. This edition can only undermine the terrific utility of the Second Edition in this regard.

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