The Great Affect vs. Effect Debate Settled

Announcing Merriam-Webster's Concise Dictionary of English Usage

SPRINGFIELD, MASS., June 2002 — Scores of language debates should be resolved this summer with the release of Merriam-Webster's Concise Dictionary of English Usage—a handy guide to problems of confused and disputed usage. Thousands of comprehensive articles provide expert analysis and practical advice on handling such perennial language questions as the use of effect and affect, sensual and sensuous, and all right as opposed to alright. Along with these traditional concerns of usage, this alphabetical reference also provides coverage of hundreds of idiomatic phrases, chiefly regarding which prepositions and adverbs go with commonly used nouns, verbs, and adjectives. More than 500 such idioms are addressed—the ones most likely to raise questions, especially for people learning English as a second or foreign language. And writers of all skill levels will find invaluable advice regarding commonly confused words, alternative spellings, and grammar issues—discovering along the way a wealth of information about words and our language, presented in a lively and engaging style.

One of the most notable features of this new reference is the inclusion of thousands of quotations from well-known writers and periodicals to illustrate the usage being described. "We made the decision to supply a generous sampling of quotations from published works, because we know that examples of actual usage are more valuable to the person who is grappling with a problem of usage than are the made-up examples many commentators rely on," said John Morse, President and Publisher of Merriam-Webster Inc. The bulk of these quotations have been taken from the famous Merriam-Webster citation files, which now include more than fifteen and one-half million examples of English words used in context.

Merriam-Webster's Concise Dictionary of English Usage is based on and abridged from Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage, which has drawn high praise from scholars, educators, and journalists. Both books were prepared under the editorship of E. Ward Gilman with the support and assistance of the Merriam-Webster editorial staff.

Merriam-Webster, Incorporated
Merriam-Webster Inc. acquired the rights to revise and publish Noah Webster's dictionaries in 1843. Since then, Merriam-Webster has maintained an ongoing commitment to innovation, scholarship, and love of language. Today, the company continues as the leader in both print and electronic language reference publishing, with reference products, learning tools, and word games.