The Hidden History of Coined Words
Ralph Keyes
Reviews and Awards
"Every page offers lexicographical surprises, among them the early use of vegan (in 1944) and the failed coinage Malthusianism as a replacement for contraception ... Readable and wide ranging, Keyes's book will appeal to both experts and word aficionados." - E. L. Battistella, CHOICE
"... comprehensive and fascinating... Keyes rattles through hundreds of neologisms in entertaining fashion, from spam to moxie to pecking order to gonzo to the surprising gobbledygook.,NZ Listener"
"Ralph Keyes is a legend for his accurate and very entertaining books about language. Now, in The Hidden History of Coined Words, he has written the best book ever produced on the fascinating stories and processes of how new words are created." - Fred Shapiro, Editor of The New Yale Book of Quotations
"Ralph Keyes looks at the history of coined words to explore how creativity itself works in language. Few word books are both this entertaining and this accurate; even fewer also manage to say anything new. This riveting book does it all." - Jesse Sheidlower, Former Editor at Large of the Oxford English Dictionary and past president of the American Dialect Society
"If my reaction is typical, people will start reading and not be able to put it down. It's very witty and learned — and interesting!" - Landon Y. Jones, author of The Essential Lewis and Clark
"The Hidden History of Coined Words is filled with intriguing information. Anyone who loves words, the history of language, or well-told stories will be glad they read this fascinating book." - Rosalie Maggio, author of How to Say It: Choice Words, Phrases, Sentences & Paragraphs for Every Situation