Hablando (bien) se entiende la gente /Speaking Well Makes the World Go 'Round (Spanish Edition)

Separated into six sections, the first being the largest and offering an alphabetical list of the most common false cognates, this quick reference guide, put together by the editors of the Academia Norteamericana de la Lengua Española (ANLE), is both charming and accessible. The remaining sections are far shorter and tackle problems such as commonly confused words, irregular verbs, and the manner in which punctuation affects spelling, namely, with regard to tildes (accent marks). Just 192 pages long, this guide doesn't overwhelm, and the editors offer clear and concise explanations with both authority and humor. Comical illustrations peppered throughout help show why using clear and correct language is so important. Editors, grammarians, and linguists will no doubt appreciate the effort made here to help conserve the richness of the Spanish language and prevent the loss of its flavor through laziness and the strong influence of English. Piña-Rosales and his coeditors have done for Spanish what Theodore Bernstein did for English with his excellent resource The Careful Writer. Strongly recommended for libraries, bookstores, and academic settings.—Vivian Gómez, Brooklyn, NY