100 Best Etymology Books of All Time

We've researched and ranked the best etymology books in the world, based on recommendations from world experts, sales data, and millions of reader ratings. Learn more

Featuring recommendations from John C. Maxwell, Tony Robbins, Daymond John, and 44 other experts.
1
The Etymologicon springs from Mark Forsyth's Inky Fool blog on the strange connections between words. It's an occasionally ribald, frequently witty and unerringly erudite guided tour of the secret labyrinth that lurks beneath the English language, taking in monks and monkeys, film buffs and buffaloes, and explaining precisely what the Rolling Stones have to do with gardening. less

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2
With dazzling wit and astonishing insight, Bill Bryson—the acclaimed author of The Lost Continent—brilliantly explores the remarkable history, eccentricities, resilience and sheer fun of the English language. From the first descent of the larynx into the throat (why you can talk but your dog can't), to the fine lost art of swearing, Bryson tells the fascinating, often uproarious story of an inadequate, second-rate tongue of peasants that developed into one of the world's largest growth industries. less

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3

Think and Grow Rich

One of the most popular personal development and self-improvement books of all time, Think and Grow Rich has sold over 100 million copies worldwide since its first publication during the Great Depression. In this hardcover edition, Napoleon Hill presents a "Philosophy of Achievement" in 13 principles drawn from the success stories of such greats as Andrew Carnegie, Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and other millionaires of his time.

Think and Grow Rich reveals the secrets that can bring you fortune. By suppressing negative thoughts and keeping your focus on...
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Daymond JohnThe main takeaway from [this book] was goal-setting. It was the fact that if you don't set a specific goal, then how can you expect to hit it? (Source)

Mark Moses[ listing the books that had the biggest impact on him] (Source)

Sa ElAnother book all about how to obtain financial success by changing how you think and how to change your actions based on that thinking pattern, mindset is the first thing that must change if you want to build a business. (Source)

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4
The Professor and the Madman, masterfully researched and eloquently written, is an extraordinary tale of madness, genius, and the incredible obsessions of two remarkable men that led to the making of the Oxford English Dictionary -- and literary history. The compilation of the OED, begun in 1857, was one of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken. As definitions were collected, the overseeing committee, led by Professor James Murray, discovered that one man, Dr. W. C. Minor, had submitted more than ten thousand. When the committee insisted on honoring him, a... more
Recommended by Peter Gilliver, and 1 others.

Peter GilliverW.C. Minor was a member of the public, but he just happened to be a murderer who was banged up in Broadmoor. (Source)

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5
The average English speaker knows 50,000 words in contemporary use - 25 more words than there are stars in the night sky visible to the naked eye. Yet stripped down to its origins, this apparently huge vocabulary is in reality a much smaller number of words from Latin, French and the Germanic languages. It is estimated that every year, 800 neologisms are added to the English language: acronyms - 'yuppie', blended words - 'motel', and those taken from foreign languages - 'savoir-faire'. The Bloomsbury Dictionary of Word Origins provides a concise history of over 8,000 of the most commonly used... more

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6
In Made in America, Bill Bryson de-mythologizes his native land, explaining how a dusty hamlet with neither woods nor holly became Hollywood; how the Wild West wasn't won; why Americans say "lootenant" and "Toosday"; and exactly why Mr. Yankee Doodle called his feathered cap "Macaroni." less

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7

The Lost Words

From Acorn to Weasel: a gorgeous, hand-illustrated, large-format spellbook celebrating the magic and wonder of the natural world

All over the country, there are words disappearing from children's lives. Words like Dandelion, Otter, Bramble, Acorn and Lark represent the natural world of childhood, a rich landscape of discovery and imagination that is fading from children's minds.

The Lost Words stands against the disappearance of wild childhood. It is a joyful celebration of the poetry of nature words and the living glory of our distinctive, British countryside....
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Recommended by Zoe Greaves, and 1 others.

Zoe GreavesThe illustrations are utterly breathtaking. Jackie Morris is an illustrator that I just find astonishing—she’s got to be one of the most brilliant artists working in children’s books at the moment. (Source)

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8

Frindle

From bestselling and award-winning author Andrew Clements, a quirky, imaginative tale about creative thought and the power of words that will have readers inventing their own words.

Is Nick Allen a troublemaker? He really just likes to liven things up at school -- and he's always had plenty of great ideas. When Nick learns some interesting information about how words are created, suddenly he's got the inspiration for his best plan ever...the frindle. Who says a pen has to be called a pen? Why not call it a frindle? Things begin innocently enough as Nick gets his friends to use the...
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9
The idiosyncratic, erudite and brilliantly funny new book from Mark Forsyth, bestselling author of The Etymologicon and The Horologicon.

In an age unhealthily obsessed with substance, this is a book on the importance of pure style.

From classic poetry to pop lyrics and from the King James Bible to advertising slogans, Mark Forsyth explains the secrets that make a phrase - such as ‘Tiger, tiger, burning bright’ or ‘To be or not to be’ - memorable.

In his inimitably entertaining and witty style he takes apart famous lines and shows how you...
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Recommended by Bill Liao, and 1 others.

Bill LiaoThe human world occurs in language so best get good at it! (Source)

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10
Recommended by Mark Nichol, and 1 others.

Mark NicholThis book is good for beginners, but I also find it helpful for people who might consider themselves experts. It’s very clean, and it’s in a workbook format with many exercises in it. You read a short, simple lesson about adjectives and adverbs, or about when you use ‘that’ or ‘which’ in a sentence, and then you can practise with the exercises. (Source)

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Don't have time to read the top Etymology books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.

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  • Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
  • Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
11
Do You Always Use the Right Word Can You Pronounce It -- and Spell It -- Correctly Do You Know How to Avoid Illiterate Expressions Do You Speak Grammatically, Without Embarrassing Mistakes If the answer to any of these questions is NO, you ought to read Word Power Made Easy. Now thoroughly revised to eliminate outmoded references and to to reflect current idioms, it remains the best and quickest means to a better vocabulary in the English language. Each chapter ends with review. Each section ends with a progressive check. Numerous tests will help you increase and retain the knowledge you... more

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12
An unusual and authoritative 'natural history of languages' that narrates the ways in which one language has superseded or outlasted another at different times in history. The story of the world in the last five thousand years is above all the story of its languages. Some shared language is what binds any community together, and makes possible both the living of a common history and the telling of it. Yet, the history of the world's great languages has rarely been examined. Empires of the Word is the first to bring together the tales in all their glorious variety: the amazing innovations - in... more
Recommended by Henry Hitchings, and 1 others.

Henry HitchingsIt’s a history of all languages – some have called it a macro-history. The ambition of this book is really extraordinary. There have been lots of histories of English, and there are lots of histories of other languages in those languages, but actually to try and write a history of the whole of language is an incredibly audacious thing, and Ostler pulls it off. (Source)

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13
The Horologicon (or book of hours) gives you the most extraordinary words in the English language, arranged according to the hour of the day when you really need them.

Do you wake up feeling rough? Then you’re philogrobolized. Pretending to work? That’s fudgelling, which may lead to rizzling if you feel sleepy after lunch, though by dinner time you will have become a sparkling deipnosophist.

From Mark Forsyth, author of the bestselling The Etymologicon, this is a book of weird words for familiar situations. From...
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14
The Etymology, Phonology, Semantics and Morphology of the word Moor from Ancient Times. Hieroglyphics begins to take on a lettering system in the form of an upper Kemetic Script known as Proto- Sinatic or Ancient Moabite/Cannanite from which the Greek, Roman, Latin and English Alphabet are derived. Ancient words that have been passed down through this script still hold the intrinsic meanings of those letters and have been preserved in secret societies for ages. These meanings are not present in modern dictionaries due to the morphing of language itself overtime. However, because the ancients... more

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15

English Words from Latin and Greek Elements

Since 1965, Donald Ayers' English Words from Latin and Greek Elements has helped thousands of students to a broader vocabulary by showing them how to recognize classical roots in modern English words. Its second edition, published in 1986, has confirmed that vocabulary is best taught by root, not rote. The importance of learning classical word roots is already acknowledged by vocabulary texts that devote chapters to them.

Why a whole book based on this approach? Ayers' text exposes students to a wider range of roots, introduces new English words in context sentences,...
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16
The world's foremost expert on the English language takes us on an entertaining and eye-opening tour of the history of our vernacular through the ages.

In this entertaining history of the world's most ubiquitous language, David Crystal draws on one hundred words that best illustrate the huge variety of sources, influences and events that have helped to shape our vernacular since the first definitively English word — ‘roe’ — was written down on the femur of a roe deer in the fifth century.

Featuring ancient words ('loaf'), cutting edge terms that reflect our world...
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17

History in English Words

Owen Barfield's original and thought-provoking works over three-quarters of a century made him a legendary cult figure. History in English Words, his classic historical excursion through the English language, is now back in print after five years.

This popular book provides a brief, brilliant history of those who have spoken the Indo-European tongues. It is illustrated throughout by current English words—whose derivation from other languages, whose history in use and changes of meaning—record and unlock the larger history.

"In our language alone, not to speak of its many...
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Recommended by Henry Hitchings, and 1 others.

Henry HitchingsHe was a very wide-ranging amateur scholar of a type that we don’t tend to have any more. Maybe because he was a solicitor for a significant part of his life, he didn’t have to genuflect before the pieties of academia and could pursue the things that interested him. He has the rigour of an academic scholar but the romantic sympathy of a creative writer. (Source)

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18
English is understood by around two thousand million people across the world. Yet it was very nearly wiped out in its early years. Melvyn Bragg explores the story of the English language - from its beginnings as a minor Germanic dialect to its position today as a truly established global language. less

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19

The Best Punctuation Book, Period

PUNCTUATE WITH CONFIDENCE--NO MATTER THE STYLE

Confused about punctuation? There's a reason. Everywhere you turn, publications seem to follow different rules on everything from possessive apostrophes to hyphens to serial commas. Then there are all the gray areas of punctuation--situations the rule books gloss over or never mention at all. At last, help has arrived.

This all-in-one reference from grammar columnist June Casagrande covers the basic rules of punctuation plus the finer points not addressed anywhere else, offering clear answers to perplexing questions...
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20
A survey of the quirks and quandaries of the English language, focusing on our strange and wonderful grammar

Why do we say "I am reading a catalog" instead of "I read a catalog"? Why do we say "do" at all? Is the way we speak a reflection of our cultural values? Delving into these provocative topics and more, Our Magnificent Bastard Language distills hundreds of years of fascinating lore into one lively history.

Covering such turning points as the little-known Celtic and Welsh influences on English, the impact of the Viking raids and the Norman Conquest,...
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Don't have time to read the top Etymology books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.

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  • Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
  • Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
21
English Grammar in Use with Answers, authored by Raymond Murphy, is the first choice for intermediate (B1-B2) learners and covers all the grammar required at this level. It is a self-study book with simple explanations and lots of practice exercises, and has helped millions of people around the world to communicate in English. It is also trusted by teachers and can be used as a supplementary text in classrooms. less

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22

Chambers Dictionary of Etymology

How are the words 'door' German 'Tzr' and Sanskrit 'dvar' related? When did the word Blarney first appear in print? What's the linguistic history of the word 'history'? The Chambers Etymological Dictionary holds all the answers for any person curious about the origins of the words they use, and how these words have changed over time. This fascinating dictionary explores the development of meaning, spelling, and pronunciation of over 25,000 English words. Over 30,000 detailed entries trace words back to their Proto-Germanic or Indo-European roots, and include words borrowed from other... more

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23
Never stress over a comma, colon, or dash again!

The Only Grammar Book You'll Ever Need is the ideal resource for everyone who wants to produce writing that is clear, concise, and grammatically excellent. Whether you're creating perfect professional documents, spectacular school papers, or effective personal letters, you'll find this handbook indispensable. From word choice to punctuation to organization, English teacher Susan Thurman guides you through getting your thoughts on paper with polish.
Using dozens of examples, The Only Grammar Book You'll Ever...
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24
Four-Time Gold Medal Winning Book in Children/Teen Education.

Finally! An easy-to-understand English grammar book with fun grammar lessons for middle grades and up. An excellent education reference for classroom and homeschool grammar lessons.

The Dragon Grammar Book is the perfect grammar study guide to help readers learn the rules of grammar and improve language art skills with ease and enjoyment. From multi-award-winning children's fantasy author, Diane Mae Robinson, The Dragon Grammar Book provides a fun and engaging approach to learning English grammar through...
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25
In Eats, Shoots & Leaves, former editor Lynne Truss, gravely concerned about our current grammatical state, boldly defends proper punctuation. She proclaims, in her delightfully urbane, witty, and very English way, that it is time to look at our commas and semicolons and see them as the wonderful and necessary things they are. Using examples from literature, history, neighborhood signage, and her own imagination, Truss shows how meaning is shaped by commas and apostrophes, and the hilarious consequences of punctuation gone awry.

Featuring a foreword by Frank McCourt, and...
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26

Ingles Para Latinos, Level 1

Publisher's Note: Products purchased from Third Party sellers are not guaranteed by the publisher for quality, authenticity, or access to any online entitlements included with the product.

Designed to teach Hispanics in the United States and Canada a practical working knowledge of English Updated with additional commonly-used phrases, new questions and answers for practice and review, and listening aids such as find-the-word boxes, jumbled words, and crosswords, the new edition of this informal language-learning program has been created to give Hispanics in the United...
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27
A placename is often much more than just a label. A name may bespeak the history of a nation, the culture of a people, or the hopes of an individual. Such connections are revealed in this extensive alphabetical reference to placenames of the world, which offers an in-depth look at the origins of each. First published in 1997, the work in this new edition contains over 7,000 entries, including 1,000 new placenames from previously under-represented areas such as China and Japan. Entries cover natural features such as mountains, rivers and lakes as well as manmade entities such as cities and... more

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28

The one and only bestselling official guide to the TOEFL, from the makers of the test! Now expanded with a third actual TOEFL exam

This Official Guide to the TOEFL Test is the best, most reliable guide to the test that is used around the world to assess foreign applicants to U.S. and Canadian universities for English proficiency. It includes real TOEFL questions for practice, as well as explanations of every section of the test and information on what is expected for every speaking and writing task. You will learn how to construct a good answer and how to integrate...

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29
A curated list of the 3500 most interesting words in the English language. less

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30
A major revision of the Fifth Edition of The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, the premier resource about words for people who seek to know more and find fresh perspectives. This new printing, which marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of the original American Heritage Dictionary, presents the most up-to-date research about the words in our language in an accessible and elegant design, featuring thousands of revisions, including more than 150 new words and senses.

This is the fiftieth anniversary printing of The American...
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Don't have time to read the top Etymology books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.

Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:

  • Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
  • Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
  • Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
31
Ali G: How many words does you know?

Noam Chomsky: Normally, humans, by maturity, have tens of thousands of them.

Ali G: What is some of 'em?

-Da Ali G Show

Did you know that both mammal and matter derive from baby talk? Have you noticed how wince makes you wince? Ever wonder why so many h-words have to do with breath?

Roy Blount Jr. certainly has, and after forty years of making a living using words in every medium, print or electronic, except greeting cards, he still can't get over his...
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32
Publisher's Note: Products purchased from Third Party sellers are not guaranteed by the publisher for quality, authenticity, or access to any online entitlements included with the product.



Master grammar with this bestselling workbook for learners of English

Practice Makes Perfect: English Grammar for ESL Learners is the go-to guide for clear, precise explanations of all aspects of English grammar. As a beginning learner of English, you might find that grammar concepts can be confusing. To make progress...
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33
Ideal for anyone who wants to learn English to native-speaker standard and prepare for major English exams including IELTS, TOEIC, and TOEFL, this fun and engaging visual guide to the most common and useful English idioms and phrases will help you understand and remember English idiomatic expressions and their meanings, making your English more fluent and natural.

English for Everyone: English Idioms combines an innovative visual teaching method with the best of DK design to make one of the most difficult aspects of learning English as a foreign language incredibly...
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34

The Story of English

Now revised, The Story of English is the first book to tell the whole story of the English language. Originally paired with a major PBS miniseries, this book presents a stimulating and comprehensive record of spoken and written English—from its Anglo-Saxon origins some two thousand years ago to the present day, when English is the dominant language of commerce and culture with more than one billion English speakers around the world. From Cockney, Scouse, and Scots to Gulla, Singlish, Franglais, and the latest African American slang, this sweeping history of the English language is the... more

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36

Top Notch 1 3/E Student Book

Renowned for its unique speaking pedagogy, Top Notch is a dynamic communicative course that makes English unforgettable. Goals and achievement-based lessons with "can-do" statements enable students to confirm their progress in every class session.
Top Notch builds confidence for successful verbal communication and develops critical thinking skills and reading and listening strategies. Highlights New Conversation Activator and Pronunciation Coach Videos in every unit build conversational competence and accurate pronunciation. New:...
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37
Mark Forsyth Collection 3 Books Bundle includes titles in this collection :- The Elements of Eloquence: How To Turn the Perfect English Phrase, The Horologicon: A Day's Jaunt Through the Lost Words of the English Language, The Etymologicon: A Circular Stroll Through the Hidden Connections of the English Language. Description:- The Elements of Eloquence: How To Turn the Perfect English Phrase Mark Forsyth presents the secret of writing unforgettable phrases, uncovering the techniques that have made immortal such lines as 'To be or not to be' and 'Bond. James Bond.' In his inimitably... more

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38
One of the outstanding problems of the biologist, whether he be beginning student or specialists, is that of understanding technical terms. The best way to understand and remember technical terms is to understand first their component parts, or roots. This dictionary has been designed primarily to meet the needs of the beginning student, the medical student, and the taxonomist, but it should be of value to all biologists. less

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39
The new and improved Listening and Speaking strand now offers an Interactive Student Book powered by MyEnglishLab. The Interactive Student Book allows students and teachers to better assess progress. Teachers can now monitor student performance to personalize learning and increase student motivation. The five-level NorthStar series engages students through a seamless integration of compelling online content and empowers them to achieve their academic and personal goals in order to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
- Current and thought-provoking listening selections from...
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40
Few people can write on the English language with the authority of Bryan A. Garner. The author of The Chicago Manual of Style’s popular “Grammar and Usage” chapter, Garner explains the vagaries of English with absolute precision and utmost clarity. With The Chicago Guide to Grammar, Usage, and Punctuation, he has written the definitive guide for writers who want their prose to be both memorable and correct.

Throughout the book Garner describes standard literary English—the forms that mark writers and speakers as educated users of the language. He also offers...
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Don't have time to read the top Etymology books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.

Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:

  • Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
  • Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
  • Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
41
A combined reference book and workbook covering over 3,000 entries of essential words and phrases to expand your English vocabulary.

Designed around the most up-to-date theories of language acquisition, English for Everyone: English Vocabulary Builder includes all the words and phrases English learners need to know. Question words, feelings, hairstyles, technology, seasons, entertainment, sports, and more are covered and illustrated, plus paired with audio in the accompanying app available for download. Readers can write their own translations and work through practice...
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42
A bestselling linguist takes us on a lively tour of how the English language is evolving before our eyes -- and why we should embrace this transformation and not fight it

Language is always changing -- but we tend not to like it. We understand that new words must be created for new things, but the way English is spoken today rubs many of us the wrong way. Whether it’s the use of literally to mean “figuratively” rather than “by the letter,” or the way young people use LOL and like, or business jargon like What’s the ask? -- it often seems as if the...
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43
The Easiest-to-Use, Most Up-to-Date Grammar Workbook for Improving Your Daily Communication

The English language is expansive and complex. The rules are always changing, and grammar advice from a century or even a few years ago may not apply today. If you want to communicate with clarity and credibility if you want people to focus on what you re saying, rather than how you re saying it then you need to use excellent grammar.

Editor, linguistic expert, and self-proclaimed grammar cheerleader Lisa McLendon has spent her career finding ways to use...
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47
Words are essential to our everyday lives. An average person spends his or her day enveloped in conversations, e-mails, phone calls, text messages, directions, headlines, and more. But how often do we stop to think about the origins of the words we use? Have you ever thought about which words in English have been borrowed from Arabic, Dutch, or Portuguese? Try admiral, landscape, and marmalade, just for starters.

The Secret Life of Words is a wide-ranging account not only of the history of English language and vocabulary, but also of how words witness...
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48
"The Oxford Dictionary of English Etymolgy" is the most comprehensive etymological dictionary of the English language ever published. It is based on the original edition of "The Oxford English Dictionary" but much augmented by further research on the etymology of English and other languages. Providing a fascinating insight into the development of English, it describes 38,000 words in 24,000 articles, which include: less

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49
Mary Norris has spent more than three decades in The New Yorker's copy department, maintaining its celebrated high standards. Now she brings her vast experience, good cheer, and finely sharpened pencils to help the rest of us in a boisterous language book as full of life as it is of practical advice.

Between You & Me features Norris's laugh-out-loud descriptions of some of the most common and vexing problems in spelling, punctuation, and usage—comma faults, danglers, "who" vs. "whom," "that" vs. "which," compound words, gender-neutral language—and her clear...
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50
Enjoy the most comprehensive and hilariously entertaining lexicon of the colorful and deeply expressive language of Yiddish. With the recent renaissance of interest in Yiddish, and in keeping with a language that embodies the variety and vibrancy of life itself, The New Joys of Yiddish brings Leo Rosten’s masterful work up to date. Revised for the first time by Lawrence Bush, in close consultation with Rosten’s daughters, it retains the spirit of the original—with its wonderful jokes, tidbits of cultural history, Talmudic and biblical references—and is enhanced by hundreds of new entries and... more

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Don't have time to read the top Etymology books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.

Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:

  • Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
  • Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
  • Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
51
The Curious Origins of Everyday Sayings and Fun Phrases

Over 400 intriguing, entertaining, and often hilarious etymological journey
English is filled with curious, intriguing and bizarre phrases.

This book reveals the surprising, captivating and even hilarious origins behind 400 of them, including: "Read between the Lines", "Cat Got Your Tongue?", "Put a Sock in It", "Close, but No Cigar", "Bring Home the Bacon", "Caught Red-Handed", "Under the Weather", Raining Cats and Dogs".
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52

Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins

Combining both accessibility and authority, The Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins describes the origins and development of over 3,000 words and phrases in the English language. The book draws on Oxford's unrivalled dictionary research program and language monitoring, and relates the fascinating stories behind many of our most curious terms and expressions in order to offer the reader a much more detailed explanation than can be found in a general English dictionary.
Organized A-Z, the entries include first known use along with examples that illustrate the many faces of the particular...
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53
In Origins of the Specious, word mavens Patricia T. O'Conner and Stewart Kellerman explode the misconceptions that have led generations of language lovers astray. They reveal why some of grammar's best-known "rules" aren't--and never were--rules at all. They explain how Brits and Yanks wound up speaking the same language so differently, and why British English isn't necessarily purer. This playfully witty yet rigorously researched book sets the record straight about bogus word origins, politically correct fictions, phony français, fake acronyms, and more. English is an endlessly... more

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55

A Writer's Reference

Integrated MLA 2003 update less

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56

Q

Skills for Success 2e Reading and Writing Level 3 Student Book

This series that helps students to think critically and succeed academically. With new note-taking skills, an extended writing syllabus and authentic video in every unit, this book equips students for academic success better than ever. This book helps students to measure their progress, with clearly stated unit objectives that motivate students to achieve their language learning goals. Seamlessly integrated online content allows teachers to truly implement blended learning into the classroom. less

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57

Word Origins

The average contemporary English speaker knows 50,000 words. Yet stripped down to its origins, this apparently huge vocabulary is in reality much smaller, derived from Latin, French and the Germanic languages. It is estimated that every year, 800 neologisms are added to the English language: acronyms (nimby), blended words (motel), and those taken from foreign languages (savoir-faire). Laid out in an A-Z format with detailed cross references, and written in a style that is both authoritative and accessible, Word Origins is a valuable historical guide to the English language. less

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58
Have we always "sworn like sailors"? Has creative cursing developed because we can't just slug people when they make us angry? And if such verbal aggression is universal, why is it that some languages (Japanese, for instance) supposedly do not contain any nasty words? Throughout the twentieth century there seems to have been a dramatic escalation in the use and acceptance of offensive language in English, both verbally and in print. Today it seems almost commonplace to hear the "f" word in casual conversation, and even on television. Just how have we become such a bunch of cursers and what... more

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59
From bloopers and blunders to Signs of the Times to Mixed Up Metaphors...from Two-Headed Headlines to Mangling Modifiers, Anguished English is a treasury of assaults upon our common language. less

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60

Workbook for Wheelock's Latin

WHEELOCK'S LATIN: AUDIO FILES

When Professor Frederic M. Wheelock's Latin first appeared in 1956, the reviews extolled its thoroughness, organization, and conciseness; at least one reviewer predicted that the book "might well become the standard text" for introducing students to elementary Latin. Now, five decades later, that prediction has certainly proved accurate.

Workbook for Wheelock's Latin is an essential companion to the classic introductory textbook. Designed to supplement the course of study in Wheelock's Latin, 6th Edition, Revised, each of...

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Don't have time to read the top Etymology books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.

Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:

  • Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
  • Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
  • Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
61
A revised and updated edition of the iconic grammar guide for the 21st century.

In this expanded and updated edition of Woe Is I, former editor at The New York Times Book Review Patricia T. O'Conner unties the knottiest grammar tangles with the same insight and humor that have charmed and enlightened readers of previous editions for years. With fresh insights into the rights, wrongs, and maybes of English grammar and usage, O'Conner offers in Woe Is I down-to-earth explanations and plain-English solutions to the language mysteries that bedevil all of us.
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63
This etymological dictionary gives the origins of some 20,000 items from the modern English vocabulary, discussing them in groups that make clear the connections between words derived by a variety of routes from originally common stock. As well as giving the answers to questions about the derivation of individual words, it's a fascinating book to browse thru, & includes extensive lists of prefixes, suffixes & elements used in the creation of new vocabulary. less

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64
Many English words are based on Latin and Greek roots. These ancient root words are dependable and unchanging and serve as the key to understanding not only the vocabulary of English but many of the modern European languages as well. An understanding of the core meaning can provide a tool for unlocking the meaning of the thousands of Latin and Greek-based words. Eminently readable, this book will sustain the interest of both browsers and serious students. less

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65
As all lovers of language know, words are the source of our very understanding of ourselves and the world around us. Often, however, our use of language is so automatic that we neglect to consider where those words came from and what they assume. What are the implications, beyond the simple dictionary definitions, of using words such as privilege, hysteria, seminal, and gyp?

Browsing through the pages of The Barhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology is like exploring the historical, political, and rhetorical wonderland of our linguistic heritage. We see the...
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66
The words you need to communicate with confidence. Vocabulary explanations and practice for advanced level (C1 to C2) learners of English. Perfect for both self-study and classroom activities. Quickly expand your vocabulary with over 100 units of easy to understand explanations and practice exercises. Be confident about what you are learning, thanks to Cambridge research into how English is really spoken and written, and remember words more effectively with lots of opportunities for personalised practice. less

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67

The Oxford Guide to Etymology

This practical introduction to word history investigates every aspect of where words come from and how they change. Philip Durkin, chief etymologist of the Oxford English Dictionary, shows how different types of evidence can shed light on the myriad ways in which words change in form and meaning. He considers how such changes can be part of wider linguistic processes, or be influenced by a complex mixture of social and cultural factors. He illustrates every point with a wide range of fascinating examples.
Dr. Durkin investigates folk etymology and other changes which words undergo in...
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69
Putting CLIL into Practice offers a new methodological framework for the CLIL classroom, focusing on how to guide input and support output. Full of real-life examples and practical guidelines, the book provides support to both novice and experienced CLIL teachers. less

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70

Touchstone Level 2 Student's Book

Touchstone, together with Viewpoint, is a six-level English program based on research from the Cambridge English Corpus. Touchstone uses a corpus-informed syllabus ensuring students are learning the language that people really use. Activities include a strong focus on inductive learning, personalized practice, and encouraging learner autonomy. Each Student's Book contains approximately 90 hours of material across 12 topic-based units - with additional grammar and pronunciation practice added for the Second Edition. Student's Book, Level 2 is at the high beginning CEFR level (A1-A2). less

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Don't have time to read the top Etymology books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.

Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:

  • Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
  • Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
  • Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
71

Studies in Etymology, 2nd Edition

Studies in Etymology is a textbook for a course or self study in building vocabulary through an understanding of Latin and Greek roots and the grammar of word formation. The first half of the book is devoted to Latin roots and word formation through the influence of Latin grammar and language development. The second half of the book deals with Greek, the nuances of Greek grammar and syntax, as well as the influences of such things as Greek mythology on the creation of words in English. A special section is devoted to science and medicine.
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73

'Motherfoclóir' [focloir means 'dictionary' and is pronounced like a rather more vulgar English epithet] is a book based on the popular Twitter account @theirishfor.

As the title suggests, 'Motherfoclóir' takes an irreverent, pun-friendly and contemporary approach to the Irish language. The translations are expanded on and arranged into broad categories that allow interesting connections to be made, and sprinkled with anecdotes and observations about Irish and Ireland itself, as well as language in general. The author includes stories about his own relationship with Irish, and how...

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74

A Must-Have Companion for Every Student Beginning Latin

"Scribblers, Scvlptors, and Scribes" is the first collection of entirely authentic, unadapted, unsimplified classical Latin texts that beginning students, from the very first day of their introduction to Latin, can read, enjoy, and profit from. These selections provide a wide range of insights into not just the minds of Rome's movers and shakers-her politicians and generals, philosophers and great poets-but also into the daily lives of the Average Joe and Jane Roman.

Beginning with simple graffiti, "Scribblers,...

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76

Wheelock's Latin

This book contains:
40 chapters with grammatical explanations and readings drawn from the works of Rome's major prose and verse writers;
Self-tutorial exercises, each with an answer key, for independent study;
An extensive English–Latin/Latin–English vocabulary section;
A rich selection of original Latin readings—unlike other Latin textbooks, which contain primarily made-up texts;
Etymological aids, maps, and dozens of images illustrating aspects of the classical culture and mythology presented in the chapter readings.

Also included are expanded notes on...
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77
The pioneering work on the roots & origins of the English language. The remarkable scholarship of Walter W. Skeat (1835-1912) was instrumental in the revival of the great works of early English literature, & he inspired later philologists & lexicographers. Skeat's astonishing detective work into the origins & development of the worlds most widely used language provides an unsurpassed guide to its flexibility & richness. This edition of his larger Etymological Dictionary is not a mere abridgment, but was entirely rewritten by Skeat. less

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78

The F-Word

We all know what frak, popularized by television's cult hit Battlestar Galactica, really means. But what about feck? Or ferkin? Or foul--as in FUBAR, or "Fouled Up Beyond All Recognition"?

In a thoroughly updated edition of The F-Word, Jesse Sheidlower offers a rich, revealing look at the f-bomb and its illimitable uses. Since the fifteenth century, no other word has been adapted, interpreted, euphemized, censored, and shouted with as much ardor or force; imagine Dick Cheney telling Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy to...
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Recommended by Melissa Mohr, Jonathon Green, and 2 others.

Melissa MohrThis is a great one for showcasing the variety of swearing and all the circumstances you can use this one word. It starts with absofuckinglutely and ends with zipless fuck, and in the middle has dumbfuck, frig, unfuckable—so many great words. He’s done this excellent research, so you can see the dates when they were all first used, with quotes. (Source)

Jonathon GreenEverybody should look at this and see how lexicography should be done, because it is a superb piece of work. It’s not a grubby book, or a meretricious book, it’s an amazing piece of scholarship. (Source)

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79
A comprehensive dictionary of word origins for school students. Each headword entry gives a complete story about how a particular word came into the English language and evolved over time. In addition, each headword entry includes meanings and shows how each word is used in context. The book also includes 40 extended panels covering a range of themes including: other languages which gave vocabulary to the English language from Arabic and Australian-Aboriginal to Urdu and Yiddish; acronyms (AIDS, NATO), eponyms (Wellingtons), invented words (nylon, spoof), shortened words (photo, exam), blends... more

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80

English from the Roots Up Volume 1

English from the Roots Up teaches 100 of the most-used Greek and Latin root words. It will help your child build vocabulary and comprehension, as well as figure out unknown words by deciphering their roots, prefixes, and suffixes. Grades 2-12. less

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Don't have time to read the top Etymology books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.

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  • Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
81

Passages Level 1 Student's Book

Passages, Third Edition, is a two-level, multi-skills course that will quickly and effectively move adult and young-adult learners of English from high-intermediate to the advanced level. The Passages, Third Edition, Student's Books have been updated to offer fresh, contemporary content, relevant speaking and listening activities, comprehensive grammar and vocabulary support, enhanced reading skills development, and a step-by-step academic writing strand. Students will progressively elevate their language ability in both formal and informal communication through a variety of real-world... more

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82
An entertaining and informative book about the fashion and fads of language

Today’s 18-year-olds may not know who Mrs. Robinson is, where the term “stuck in a groove” comes from, why 1984 was a year unlike any other, how big a bread box is, how to get to Peyton Place, or what the term Watergate refers to. I Love It When You Talk Retro discusses these verbal fossils that remain embedded in our national conversation long after the topic they refer to has galloped off into the sunset. That could be a person (Mrs. Robinson), product (Edsel), past bestseller...
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83
Welcome to the illogical, idiosyncratic, outrageous linguistic phenomenon known as the English language. The story of how this ragtag collection of words evolved is a winding tale replete with intriguing accidents and bizarre twists of fate. In this eye-opening, fabulously entertaining book, James Essinger unlocks the mysteries that have confounded linguists and scholars for millennia.

From the sophisticated writing systems of the ancient Sumerians through the tongue twisters of Middle English, the popular National Spelling Bee, and the mobile phone text-messaging of today,...
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84
An obsessive word loveras account of reading the Oxford English Dictionary cover to cover. aIam reading the OED so you donat have to. If you are interested in vocabulary that is both spectacularly useful and beautifully useless, read on...a So reports Ammon Shea, the tireless, word-obsessed, and more than slightly masochistic author of Reading the OED, The word loveras Mount Everest, the OED has enthralled logophiles since its initial publication 80 years ago. Weighing in at 137 pounds, it is the dictionary to end all dictionaries. In 26 chapters filled with sharp wit, sheer delight, and a... more

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85
Where did the words bungalow and assassin derive? What did nice mean in the Middle Ages? How were adder, anger, and umpire originally spelled? The answers can be found in this essential companion to any popular dictionary.
With over 17,000 entries, this is the most authoritative and comprehensive guide to word origins available in paperback. Based on The Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, the principal authority on the origin and development of English words, it contains a wealth of information about our language and its...
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86
If you're logofascinated, you are literally spellbound by language.

This surprising compendium of 1,000 facts about words, language and etymology is here to inspire your curiosity and delight in discovery. In Word Drops, you can delve into a smattering of unexpected connections and weird juxtapositions, stumble upon a new or remarkable word, or learn of many a bizarre etymological quirk or tall tale.

- Did you know that the bowl made by cupping your hands together is called a gowpen?

- And speaking of bowls, the earliest known reference to...
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87
Please take notice that this is the "first" edition. As for the "second" edition, it can be found under the search term "word magic second edition".

Is there more to words than meets the eye? Let us tumble down the rabbit hole to explore the world of magic, words and legalese, and I will show you proof that there is more to words than meets the eye. This magical journey will teach you how words can be used to empower or disempower you. Once you learn how powerful words are and how to apply them wisely to your life, you can use them to empower you...
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88
This book is awesome awful!

Did you know that "awful" first originated as a compliment? How about the fact that it was perfectly fine for someone to defecate in their living room? Or that at one time a bully was actually a sweetheart?

You may think that these things sound outlandish, but hundreds of years ago, the words "awful," "defecate," and "bully" meant something entirely different than what we know today. The Unexpected Evolution of Language reveals the origins of 208 everyday terms and the interesting stories behind their shift in meaning.
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89

Encyclopedia of Indo-European Culture

The "Encyclopedia of Indo-European Culture" provides full, inclusive coverage of the major Indo-European language stocks and their origins. The "Encyclopedia" also includes numerous entries on archaeological cultures having some relationship to the origin and dispersal of Indo-European groups-as well as entries on some of the major issues in Indo- European cultural studies.
There are two kinds of entries in the "Encyclopedia of Indo-European Culture: a) those that are devoted to archaeology, culture, or the various Indo-European languages; and b)" "those that are devoted to the...
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90

Dictionary of Word Origins

A guide to the origins and histories of over 300 commonly used words. With entries from accolade to zoo, and mini-essays throughout on general topics, this will appeal to anyone interested in words and language. less

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  • Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
  • Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
92
Puzzled by past tenses? Confused by comparatives? This clearly structured and beautifully presented workbook is packed with grammar practice activities that make learning English grammar incredibly easy.

The English for Everyone Grammar Guide Practice Book is an essential companion to the English for Everyone Grammar Guide, a comprehensive reference book that makes even the trickiest grammar rules clear and simple. The Practice Book mirrors the unit-by-unit structure of the Grammar Guide. Each Practice Book unit is full of carefully graded...
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93
A page-turning, existential romp through the life and times of the world’s most polarizing punctuation mark

The semicolon. Stephen King, Hemingway, Vonnegut, and Orwell detest it. Herman Melville, Henry James, and Rebecca Solnit love it. But why? When is it effective? Have we been misusing it? Should we even care?

In Semicolon, Cecelia Watson charts the rise and fall of this infamous punctuation mark, which for years was the trendiest one in the world of letters. But in the nineteenth century, as grammar books became all the rage, the rules of...
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96

Touchstone Level 3 Student's Book

Touchstone, together with Viewpoint, is a six-level English program based on research from the Cambridge English Corpus. Touchstone uses a corpus-informed syllabus ensuring students are learning the language that people really use. Activities include a strong focus on inductive learning, personalized practice, and encouraging learner autonomy. Each Student's Book contains approximately 90 hours of material across 12 topic-based units - with additional grammar and pronunciation practice added for the Second Edition. Student's Book, Level 3 is at the low intermediate CEFR level (A2-B1). less

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97
This collection features some of the most interesting stories and fascinating origins behind more than 300 words, names, and terms. For any devoted philomath (a lover of learning), this anthology of entertaining etymology is an ideal way to have fun with language. less

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100
A Valuable Classroom Tool:

Separate sections on Latin and Greek derivations. Each section has 20 lessons—with assignments following each lesson—giving the user a vast technical vocabulary and increased word-recognition ability. 

A Definitive Reference:

Hundreds of Greek and Latin stems, prefixes, and suffixes show the precise application of the classical languages to biological and medical usage. Topic-organized bibliography, index of bases.
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Don't have time to read the top Etymology books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.

Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:

  • Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
  • Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
  • Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.