The name Fowler has become synonymous with reliable and accurate reference on all aspects of written English. In this classic reference book, which has been in print since its publication in 1906, the Fowler brothers illustrate, through hundreds of examples, all of the blunders of English usage that are commonly made, and guide the reader to improved expression and style. The ideal companion to Fowler's Modern English Usage, this is the essential guide to written English. The authors illustrate proper grammar by quoting examples of commonly-made grammatical blunders taken from famous authors and newspapers--including Thackeray, Ruskin, De Quincey, The Times, and The Spectator. Witty and lively in tone, it covers a wide range of language issues, including malapropisms, Americanisms, slang, pet phrases, "the spot plague" (overuse of periods), and a whole chapter on "Airs and Graces." This edition contains a new Introduction by Matthew Parris, which gives a modern perspective on the book and confirms its importance in literature.