Eric Partridge (1894–1979)
Author of Usage and Abusage: A Guide to Good English
About the Author
Disambiguation Notice:
Also wrote novels as Corrie Denison.
Image credit: G88keeper
Works by Eric Partridge
Concise Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English: From a Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English by Eric Partridge (1989) 392 copies, 4 reviews
A dictionary of catch phrases, American and British, from the sixteenth century to the present day (1977) 153 copies, 2 reviews
Slang to-day and yesterday,: With a short historical sketch and vocabularies of English, American, and Australian slang (1970) 56 copies
From Sanskrit to Brazil;: Vignettes and essays upon languages (Select bibliographies reprint series) (1969) 14 copies
Name into word; proper names that have become common property; a discursive dictionary (1970) 13 copies, 1 review
The world of words : an introduction to language in general and to English and American in particular (1970) 10 copies
Three personal records of the war — Author — 7 copies
An original issue of "The Spectator" together with the story of the famous English periodical and of its founders (1939) 5 copies
Gentle Art of Lexicography: As Pursued and Experienced by an Addict (Classic Reprint) (2015) 3 copies
Robert Eyres Landor : selections from his poetry and prose : with an introduction biographical & critical — Editor, some editions — 2 copies
USAGE & ADUSAGE 1 copy
Chamber of Horrorz 1 copy
Symposium 1 copy
Précis writing : passages judiciously selected with an introduction on the art of précis (2015) 1 copy
The scene is changed 1 copy
Associated Works
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Partridge, Eric
- Other names
- Denison, Corrie (pseudonym)
Vigilans
Ray, James - Birthdate
- 1894-02-06
- Date of death
- 1979-06-01
- Gender
- male
- Education
- University of Queensland
University of Oxford (Balliol College)
Toowoomba Grammar School, Australia - Occupations
- lexicographer
expert on slang - Organizations
- Australian Army (WWI)
British Museum Library
Scholartis Press - Short biography
- Eric Partridge was born on the North Island of New Zealand. In 1907, the family moved to Australia, where Partridge studied first classics and then French and English at the University of Queensland. During this time, he also taught for three years before joining the Australian infantry during the World War I. Partridge returned to university between 1919 and 1921, when he received his BA. He then became Queensland Travelling Fellow at Balliol College, Oxford. He then taught briefly in a grammar school in Lancashire, and held lectureships at the Universities of Manchester and London. In 1923, he began work at the British Museum where he stayed for the next 50 years. In 1925 he married Agnes Dora Vye-Parminter, with whom he had a daughter. In 1927 he founded the small private Scholartis Press. During World War II, he served in the Army Education Corps and the RAF's correspondence department, before returning to his desk at the British Museum.
- Nationality
- New Zealand
- Birthplace
- Waimata Valley, New Zealand
- Places of residence
- Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
England, UK - Place of death
- Moretonhampstead, Devon, England, UK
- Disambiguation notice
- Also wrote novels as Corrie Denison.
Members
Reviews
It's somewhat redundant now, in an era where any annotated Shakespeare volume worth the price comes with a completely smuttified glossary, but there was a time - within the lifetime of some people still living - when this stuff was regularly omitted from teaching at any level. (It's the principal reason, to this day, that "Julius Caesar" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream" top so many highschool curricula.)
So, top marks for Partridge for putting together a glossary that finds some remarkably show more obscure dirty words in Shakespeare. Love it.
The opening essay is more of a mixed bag, to be honest. One-third is great, just in justifying Shakespeare's use of smut (nowadays, as we know more about theatre production and can equate it with the 17th century, we need this less). One-third is really just a recap of the glossary, since clearly Partridge is feeling pretty defensive. The other third is... more pretentious. And unpleasant. It's Partridge's overly psychologically telling explanation of why Shakespeare was expressly heterosexual. Now, don't get me wrong, I believe Shakespeare was at most bisexual, and ultimately it doesn't matter. But Partridge - while certainly "tolerant" of the deviant homosexuals he sees everywhere around him - directly appeals to his heterosexual readers to show less bias and to appreciate that only a straight man would make so many vagina jokes while writing a play for a mainstream audience. Um, Eric? Half of my friends are homosexual writers and/or comedians, and very few of them are afraid to discuss the pudenda. At length. But, thanks for playing.
So, his contributions far outweigh his puzzling psychological tells, but this book is probably outdated nonetheless. show less
So, top marks for Partridge for putting together a glossary that finds some remarkably show more obscure dirty words in Shakespeare. Love it.
The opening essay is more of a mixed bag, to be honest. One-third is great, just in justifying Shakespeare's use of smut (nowadays, as we know more about theatre production and can equate it with the 17th century, we need this less). One-third is really just a recap of the glossary, since clearly Partridge is feeling pretty defensive. The other third is... more pretentious. And unpleasant. It's Partridge's overly psychologically telling explanation of why Shakespeare was expressly heterosexual. Now, don't get me wrong, I believe Shakespeare was at most bisexual, and ultimately it doesn't matter. But Partridge - while certainly "tolerant" of the deviant homosexuals he sees everywhere around him - directly appeals to his heterosexual readers to show less bias and to appreciate that only a straight man would make so many vagina jokes while writing a play for a mainstream audience. Um, Eric? Half of my friends are homosexual writers and/or comedians, and very few of them are afraid to discuss the pudenda. At length. But, thanks for playing.
So, his contributions far outweigh his puzzling psychological tells, but this book is probably outdated nonetheless. show less
I just finished David Crystal's overview of punditry, [b:The Fight for English: How Language Pundits Ate, Shot, and Left|542046|The Fight for English How Language Pundits Ate, Shot, and Left|David Crystal|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255656845s/542046.jpg|529385] (gave it five stars; check it out), and this is the kind of book he isn't fond of.
Partridge is not as prescriptive as some, but this is a big usage manual on one aspect of 'correct' communication. To steal Crystal's metaphor, show more Partridge is trying to teach us to be both mechanic and driver - but punctuation (to stretch the metaphor 'until it howls') is just the seat & mirror position, the headlights and windshield wipers, the climate control and radio. Grammar, vocabulary, a sense of rhythm, etc., are all important for effective communication, too.
Fortunately he writes with skill, grace, some wit, and a certain degree of respect for stylistic preferences. And I think someone sincerely trying to be a better writer could benefit from studying Partridge's book. They'll need others, though, if they want to be ready to actually drive well, and/or understand what they're seeing under the hood.
This is British, and old. However, he does claim: I'm an Americanophile, not an Americanomane." (He does turn over discussion of the differences between British and American usage to an American excerpt.)
And the witty lines are fun: "Providing these serious-minded and decorous capitals be used sparingly, one can hardly object to them."
Btw, you gotta love the names of the players. And don't forget the other important contributors who have names that fit the theme, [a:H.W. Fowler|3003691|H.W. Fowler|http://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/nophoto-M-50x66.jpg] and [a:Lynne Truss|5571|Lynne Truss|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1215628380p2/5571.jpg]...." show less
Partridge is not as prescriptive as some, but this is a big usage manual on one aspect of 'correct' communication. To steal Crystal's metaphor, show more Partridge is trying to teach us to be both mechanic and driver - but punctuation (to stretch the metaphor 'until it howls') is just the seat & mirror position, the headlights and windshield wipers, the climate control and radio. Grammar, vocabulary, a sense of rhythm, etc., are all important for effective communication, too.
Fortunately he writes with skill, grace, some wit, and a certain degree of respect for stylistic preferences. And I think someone sincerely trying to be a better writer could benefit from studying Partridge's book. They'll need others, though, if they want to be ready to actually drive well, and/or understand what they're seeing under the hood.
This is British, and old. However, he does claim: I'm an Americanophile, not an Americanomane." (He does turn over discussion of the differences between British and American usage to an American excerpt.)
And the witty lines are fun: "Providing these serious-minded and decorous capitals be used sparingly, one can hardly object to them."
Btw, you gotta love the names of the players. And don't forget the other important contributors who have names that fit the theme, [a:H.W. Fowler|3003691|H.W. Fowler|http://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/nophoto-M-50x66.jpg] and [a:Lynne Truss|5571|Lynne Truss|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1215628380p2/5571.jpg]...." show less
A dictionary of catch phrases, British and American, from the sixteenth century to the present day by Eric Partridge
A product of old age, this isn't Partridge at his best (it's "here come de judge," not "there come...," Eric), but full of good stories and obscure allusions (especially helpful for Yanks who didn't grow up with ITMA)
Sweet! I love words. Christmas present to myself thanks to generous gift certificates from family. When I can't sleep this is a fun book to ponder. The only thing I'm worried about is the cr*p binding on this Burton-sized tome. I'm sure it will be falling apart within a decade--why would you bind a reference book like this?!
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