British English a to Zed (Writers Library)

An excellent book to enlighten anyone about the many different meanings of common words. A good book to take along, on your trip. Miss-understandings & confusion over what is meant, can be kept to a minimum. "British English" isn't "American English", there are many important differences. Purchase this book before your trip, you will be glad that you did.

I write sophisticated Harry Potter fanfic, but I'm an American and I don't have much of a clue about British usages. I had been relying upon a number of Internet sources of greater or lesser quality before I saw Britisn English from A to Zed recommended in one of the writer's fora on Fictionalley. I bought it, and I must say it is smashing. There is no better reference work for American-British conversion available. It is comprehensive and understandable - also funny; I sometimes find myself just reading a series of entries for the humour value. I absolutely recommend this to anyone trying to write in the British style.

There are only two drawbacks. One, the indexing is rather rudimentary. It's sometimes hard to find what one wants. Second, it's rather dear - over $50 (£35) for a couple hundred pages in hardback. But, as it's a specialty work, I suppose the price is to be expected.

Even though there are about 4000 entries I can never find what I am looking for. These are words used in BBC and ITV programs and must be ordinary and not smutty, yet they are not listed.

I work with an American organisation and we have many interesting conversations about the different languages (English v. American). I have great fun teaching them new words, such as Tickety-Boo which has become a well known phrase in my local work place. The book is very popular with the Americans (it is the standard gift from me when any of them leave) and provides far more 'translations' than many books written in a similar vein. I will certainly be ordering many more copies (I think I have given away 6 or 7 books so far).

This is a must if you want to understand the English. I took it with me to Britain and found it very useful. Its dictionary format makes it easy to find the term you need. It also helps with things like gestures, not just words.

It will also help you understand what they are saying in British movies, translate what they say.

The book includes reference to other variants, like Australian. perhaps the author would like to develop this into a book specifically for American people traveling to Australia.