That's Not English

Reviews / Votes

Lively, thought-provoking book -- Brian Viner * Daily Mail * As many of us know, straddling the Atlantic can be quite uncomfortable-and it doesn't help that the word 'quite' doesn't always mean what you think it means. This is a brilliant guide to the revealing differences between two branches of English from a writer who is funny, smart, and almost worryingly observant. I was charmed from first to last. As an English person I will say, 'Oh, jolly well done,' but I'd like to add: 'Good job! -- Lynne Truss The ocean that divides England and America is awash with linguistic wreckage and cultural tumult. But Erin Moore's study of these infested waters is serene, assured and hugely entertaining. They should hand her book out at border control * Simon Garfield, author of Just My Type * As an American expatriate and book editor who lives in London, Moore is in an ideal position to see the truth to the longstanding joke that British English and American English are different languages. In this witty book, Moore delves into specific linguistic differences, unpacking what they say about our respective cultures. Moore manages to create a text that is eminently readable, clever (in the sincerely-intended American sense) and thought-provoking, gently breaking down some of the cultural stereotyping that plagues both Americans and British. The end result is something readers can readily share with friends on both sides of the ocean. * Publishers Weekly * clever, witty and thoroughly engaging * Bookseller * A new fascinating exploration of the words that Americans and Brits both use and how they can have different meanings altogether... Moore is a very engaging writer... an excellent springboard for more research into the history of our magnificent and maddening language. * Anglotopia, Book of the Year * The ocean that divides England and America is awash with linguistic wreckage and cultural tumult. But Erin Moore's study of these infested waters is serene, assured and hugely entertaining. They should hand her book out at border control. -- Simon Garfield, author of Just My Type