Lexis: An Introduction to English Words

Have you ever wondered why English has more than one word for the same thing? Why the meat of a sheep is called 'mutton'? Or what 'velcroid' means?

If you would like to find out more about words, but don't know where to begin, then Lexis is for you. Written in a lively, easy-to-read style it covers:

• What we mean by a person's vocabulary
• How to improve your knowledge and understanding of words
• How to get your message across by using words effectively
• How to fit your language to different social situations
• The history of English words
• New words and how they are formed
• The grammar of words

Plus a reference section covering:

• Word classes
• Words that are commonly confused
• Prefixes
• Suffixes
• Glossary of technical terms
• Resources in print and online

John Seely is the author of the best-selling Oxford A-Z of Grammar and Punctuation and The Oxford Guide to Effective Writing and Speaking.