Page 9 - Palm City Spotlight - February '25

Palm City Spotlight, Page 9

book revieW

Dictionary Of Fine Distinctions: the official yearbooks for teams in Major League Baseball, mistakenly believe are
interchangeable, but
the National Football League, National Basketball
Nuances, Niceties, And Subtle Association and National Hockey League, and “retired” which are not … and
Shades Of Meaning as president of a successful telecommunications company. in each case to explain
the differences. The text
I had intended for this book to take its place alongside
the dictionary and Roget’s Thesaurus in my home office as a by author Eli Burnstein
By Nils A. Shapiro. helpful reference. Instead, I have been carrying it around to is laced with such
Nils began his career share with friends as a source of not only important helpful a wonderful sense of
as marketing director for information but to spark a round of appreciative good humor humor that you hardly
a major book publisher. with the turn of almost every one of its 200 pages. realize you are learning
He has since edited the I believe you will be tempted to do the same once you so much, and many of
authors’ manuscripts’ for get your hands on this handy-sized, 5-1/4” by 7-1/4” the explanations are
more than 20 published hard-cover volume. illustrated with delightful
books, written more than My initial decision to purchase it is my need, as an editor cartoon illustrations.
200 book reviews, served and writer, to always select the correct word when more If you care about using
as publisher of several than one option may seem to be available … and the purpose the correct words in your own conversations or in your
million-plus circulation of The Dictionary of Fine Distinctions is to point out the writings this is a must-have reference book. If that is not a
national magazines, created more than 100 examples of two words that most people problem you care much about, then it is a must-have for the
fun it will add to your life. Here are just a few examples of
words you may be using incorrectly. For lack of space here
I offer only the author’s brief opening statement for each.
He almost always follows up with a fuller explanation, but
you will have to see the book for those.

• Poisonous vs. Venomous. Poisonous is when you bite
it (as with a toadstool mushroom). Venomous is when it
bites you (as with a snake).
• Irony vs. Sarcasm. Irony is when you say one thing
but mean another. (Lounging on the beach: “It’s a tough
life.”) So is sarcasm, only what you mean is insulting.
(After someone trips: “Smooth move.”)
• Pronunciation vs. Enunciation. To pronounce a word is
to say it correctly. To enunciate a word is to say it clearly.
• Hors d’oeuvres vs. Canape. Hors d’oeuvres are bite-
size appetizers. Canapes are bite-size appetizers on bread,
crackers or pastry.
• Schlemiel vs. Schlimazel. Shlemiels are bumbling fools.
Schlimazels have bad luck. Hence the Yiddish crack that
when a schlemiel spills their soup, it’s the shlimazel
whose lap it falls on.
• Assume vs. Presume. To assume is to suppose without
proof. To presume is to do so with confidence or authority.
• Gala vs. Ball. A Gala is a large, upscale social event. A
Ball is a large, upscale social event with dancing.
In any case, from now on I will have no more excuses
for using incorrect words in any of my columns. You have
my permission to chastise me if I do.

See answer in this paper.