Includes bibliographical references and index.

How to sound like you're from across the pond --
How to sound like a fashionista --
How to sound well read --
How to sound like a season ticket holder to the symphony --
How to sound like a patron of the arts --
How to sound philosophical --
How to sound like a captain of industry --
How to sound like an oenophile --
How to sound like a gourmet --
How to sound like a seasoned traveler.

"For word nerds and grammar geeks, an illustrated guide to the most commonly mispronounced words, along with their correct pronunciations and pithy forays into their fascinating etymologies and histories of use and misuse. With wit and good humor, this handy little book not only saves us from sticky linguistic situations but also provides fascinating cocktail-party-ready anecdotes. Entries reveal how to pronounce boatswain like an old salt on the deck of a ship, trompe l'oeil like a bona fide art expert, and haricot vert like a foodie, while arming us with the knowledge of why certain words are correctly pronounced the "slangy" way (they came about before dictionaries), what stalks of grain have to do with pronunciation, and more. With bonus sidebars like "How to Sound like a Seasoned Traveler" and "How to Sound Cultured," readers will be able to speak about foreign foods and places, fashion, philosophy, and literature with authority"--