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Fifteen Thousand Useful Phrases
Fifteen Thousand Useful Phrases
A Practical Handbook of Pertinent Expressions, Striking Similes, Literary, Commercial, Conversational, and Oratorical Terms, for the Embellishment of Speech and Literature, and the Improvement of the Vocabulary of those Persons who Read, Write, and Speak English
Published:
1910
Pages:
808
ISBN:
B0014K43PS
Downloads:
61,905
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Fifteen Thousand Useful Phrases
A Practical Handbook of Pertinent Expressions, Striking Similes, Literary, Commercial, Conversational, and Oratorical Terms, for the Embellishment of Speech and Literature, and the Improvement of the Vocabulary of those Persons who Read, Write, and Speak English
The most powerful and the most perfect expression of thought and feeling through the medium of oral language must be traced to the mastery of words. Nothing is better suited to lead speakers and readers of English into an easy control of this language than the command of the phrase that perfectly expresses the thought.
Book Excerpt
study of words, phrases, and literary expressions is a highly interesting pursuit. There is a reciprocal influence between thought and language. What we think molds the words we use, and the words we use react upon our thoughts. Hence a study of words is a study of ideas, and a stimulant to deep and original thinking.
We should not, however, study "sparkling words and sonorous phrases" with the object of introducing them consciously into our speech. To do so would inevitably lead to stiltedness and superficiality. Words and phrases should be studied as symbols of ideas, and as we become thoroughly familiar with them they will play an unconscious but effective part in our daily expression.
We acquire our vocabulary largely from our reading and our personal associates. The words we use are an unmistakable indication of our thought habits, tastes, ideals, and interests in life. In like manner, the habitual language of a people is a barometer of their intellectual, civil, moral, and spiritual ideals
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Very helpful to all students who appreciate the work of others. Thank you!
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Great book, especially for international student. Easy to read and use even though the organization is not very good.
11/20/2011
An amusing book, though better suited as a reference rather than as a reading book. Possibly more helpful for those seeking to sound more refined or at least a little more literate while writing essays and the like, not so much for everyday speech. :)
09/04/2010
This book is very badly organized. It has the potential to be very useful, but the author failed in his mission. The phrases, the longest being only about five words, are organized by their grammatical structure. It would be much more helpful to have them organized by topic.
In his introduction he writes that we learn to improve our vocabulary through reading, and he suggests that one read a few pages of his book every day to expand vocabulary. The essence of his theory is sound, but the execution is lacking.
Do not waste your time with this book. You can improve your vocabulary, your spoken and written skills, much more efficiently by reading any book, even if it is not very well written. This list of monotonous literary terms is boring, and useless for the expansion of vocabulary as it contains no context.
In his introduction he writes that we learn to improve our vocabulary through reading, and he suggests that one read a few pages of his book every day to expand vocabulary. The essence of his theory is sound, but the execution is lacking.
Do not waste your time with this book. You can improve your vocabulary, your spoken and written skills, much more efficiently by reading any book, even if it is not very well written. This list of monotonous literary terms is boring, and useless for the expansion of vocabulary as it contains no context.
07/29/2008
This book is just a really long list of two word phrases. Eg:
paradoxical talker
paralyzing sentimentalism
paramount authority
parasitical magnificence
parental permission
paroxysmal outburst
Not very useful.
paradoxical talker
paralyzing sentimentalism
paramount authority
parasitical magnificence
parental permission
paroxysmal outburst
Not very useful.
10/18/2007
An excellent compilation which would add the impact to the speech and enhance the vocabulary too. Thanx for sharing it with us, Manybooks.net.
02/14/2007
Fantastic, very useful
01/07/2007
very useful
12/31/2006
excellent
07/06/2006