Dictionary of Fine Distinctions

Nuances, Niceties and Subtle Shades of Meaning

Eli Burnstein

$26.99

Paperback

Forthcoming
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English

Profile
11 November 2025

linguistics; Grammar, syntax; Literary studies: general; Humour

'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.

By: Eli Burnstein
Imprint: Profile
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Edition: Main
Dimensions: Height: 198mm, Width: 130mm, Spine: 16mm
Weight: 180g
ISBN: 9781805227229
ISBN 10: 180522722X
Pages: 208
Publication Date: 11 November 2025
Audience: General/trade , Professional and scholarly , General/trade , ELT Advanced , Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

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.

Reviews for Dictionary of Fine Distinctions: Nuances, Niceties and Subtle Shades of Meaning

Buy this for every word nerd you know and watch them fibrillate with delight as they gulp it down -- Lucy Mangan * Bookish * A great idea, beautifully realized. I shall never have a latte again without thinking of this book! A joy to read -- David Crystal * How Language Works * This delightful book is a tribute to the genius of the human mind for conceptual precision and the beauty of the English language in capturing it -- Steven Pinker * The Language Instinct * Engaging, challenging and sometimes infuriating - a gem of a book that will help you be both precise and accurate, and distinguish between the two -- Simon Garfield * Just My Type * One doesn't have to read for long before experiencing a 'Eureka' moment, in which a previously murky subject comes into focus * Wall Street Journal * An immensely satisfying book * Washington Examiner *