Dictionary of Fine Distinctions

'Delightful' Steven Pinker | 'A joy to read' David Crystal | 'Gulp it down' Lucy Mangan | 'A gem' Simon GarfieldSwamp or bog? Guilt or shame? Clementine or tangerine? We like to think that we choose our words with care, but are we using them with any degree of accuracy - or should that be precision?For hair-splitters and language lovers, Dictionary of Fine Distinctions explores the world of the vanishingly small, teasing apart the terms that we tend to collapse, conflate, or confuse. An illustrated odyssey into minute differences in meaning, Eli Burnstein's unputdownable guide will hone your wits, tickle your brain, and deepen your appreciation for the infinite (and infinitesimal) nuances all around us.

Eli Burnstein is a Canadian humour writer, living in London. His work has appeared in the New Yorker, McSweeney's Internet Tendency, Slackjaw, Weekly Humorist and Points in Case. He runs a spelling bee (Spelling Bae) that has been featured in the Toronto Star and the National Post, and on CBC Radio.