Dictionary of Fine Distinctions

'Delightful' Steven Pinker 'A joy to read' David Crystal

Swamp or bog? Guilt or shame? Poisonous or venomous?

We pick from a wealth of words to express ourselves each day, giving precious little thought to the specifics or their meaning. 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 words that too many of us collapse, conflate or confuse. Inspecting the vanishingly small distinctions between them that make all the difference, Eli Burnstein's witty deep dives into everything from food and fashion to ethics and architecture will sharpen your understanding, tickle your mind and bring clarity at last.