A review by stewartj0421
The English Language by Charles Barber, Philip Shaw, Joan Beal

3.0

Lots of useful information but SO dense, especially at the beginning. Also lots of specialized language that many readers (including myself) will not understand. If the goal is for people to understand the English language, then the language itself in this book is a huge barrier. Needs to be knocked down about 4 notches. Once you get around that — this book contains fantastic information and usually you get a look at things from multiple perspectives. I think the book mostly steers away from prescriptivism, though there are a few moments. And the author speaking British English can make things confusing here and there. But overall it was a useful book.