Vivian Cook

Details the complex evolution of English spelling "rules" in a collection of games, quizzes, examples, and photographs that capture the oddities of the English language.

Or Why Can't Anybody Spell

Accomodating Brocolli in the Cemetary

Sarah Sammis

This is a strange book and I'm not sure how well it travels outside the specific region for which it appears to have been written (southern England). There are some fascinating history lessons on English spelling but many of the more modern examples don't make sense outside of specific dialects. For example: our and awe aren't homophones where I live. They aren't even close! There are also some examples of "American" example which may been regionally correct but aren't nationally correct. Here are some examples: dialog, glamour, catalog. In my neck of the woods, they are spelled: dialogue, glamor, catalogue (except in LIS which goes for the catalog option). Then there is the weird spelling of hiccup (hiccough in the book). I've NEVER seen it spelled hiccough and even found a couple examples from the BBC website of the hiccup spelling. In conclusion, I think this book would have been stronger if it had just stayed with one dialect and its history of spelling rules.

'It is a damn poor mind that can think of only one way to spell a word - U.S. PresidentShakespeare, Shake-speare, Shakspeare, Shaxberd, Shakespere, Shak-speare, Shaskpear, Shakspere, Shaksper, Schaksp., Shakespear, Shakespheare'My spelling is Wobbly' - Winnie-the-Pooh This delightful, quick-footed book celebrates the English language by exploring the rich treasure house of spelling in all its variety - setting tests and proposing rules, with illuminating quotations and tantalising lists Headrillaz and Misteeq; Naming Pop Groups; miniscule parallels; non-letters; the three-letter rule; Faeder ure pup e eart on heofunum; UK number plates; HipHop spelling; East Anglian place-names; the E-cancellation spelling test - these are just some of the intriguing subjects presented in this must-have, must-give little book.

Accomodating Brocolli in the Cemetary Or Why Can't Anybody Spell