Putnam's Phrase Book

Carr, Edwin HamlinProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

Rating 2.7

Word count: 286K words
Chapters: 29

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Putnam's Phrase Book by Edwin Hamlin CarrAuthor: Carr, Edwin Hamlin,Language: English, Class: PE: Language and Literatures: English, Release Date: Mar 8, 2015

Editor's review

This book is a phrasebook of common English expressions compiled by Edwin Hamlin Carr, formatted by Project Gutenberg as a free e-book. Its value lies not in systematically explaining grammar but in gathering high-frequency phrases and idiomatic expressions from everyday communication by scenario, making it convenient for readers to consult as needed. As an early English-learning reference, it retains many expressions that now seem somewhat formal or traditional, which allows readers to appreciate the historical layers of English expression. It is best treated as a lightweight reference volume: flip through a few pages on the commute, consult it while writing or translating, or use it as supplementary material for building up English phrases. There is no need to memorize it from cover to cover; skipping by topic and drawing on it as needed better serves its reference function. Note that some expressions carry the feel of older English, and judgment should be combined with contemporary context when actually using them.

Who it's for

A good fit for

English learners who need a handy reference for common English phrases
Readers who wish to accumulate traditional English expressions and appreciate register differences
Those looking for idiomatic expressions as reference when translating or writing
Readers who like lightweight reference books and are used to fragmented reading

Not a good fit for

Beginners seeking systematic study of English grammar and syntax
Readers who need contemporary spoken-English textbooks and the latest popular expressions
Exam candidates expecting complete course design and exercises

Reading tips

Skim by topic or scenario and treat the handbook as a lookup tool rather than memorization material.
Mark older expressions when you encounter them and compare them with contemporary usage.
Read just a short section at a time, copy out two or three phrases, and try making sentences with them.
When writing or translating, first search the relevant entries, then judge whether they fit the present context.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book suitable for zero-beginner English learners?

Not very suitable. This book is a phrase-compilation handbook that assumes readers already have some English foundation and can judge word meaning and usage for themselves. Zero-beginners lack a framework of grammar and vocabulary, so browsing it directly may lead them to see phrases without seeing the system; it is better to build a foundation first and then use it as a supplementary lookup tool.

Can the expressions in the book still be used directly now?

Some can, some require caution. The book was compiled early and retains the feel of traditional English; some expressions are no longer common in contemporary speech or sound formal. Before using them, it is best to judge against the current context and treat the book as a reference for understanding layers of English expression rather than a template to copy.

What kind of reading approach suits the e-book edition?

It suits lookup-based, fragmented reading. You can use the e-book's search function to find phrases by keyword and flip through a few pages on the commute or during breaks. There is no need to read it through; keeping it at hand for consultation better reflects the value of this kind of reference book.

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

Carr, Edwin Hamlin Author

Edwin Hamlin Carr is an author about whom public information is limited: no reliable record survives of his birth and death years, nationality, or educational background, and he is known only through a small number of works listed in bibliographies. One title is held in this collection, Putnam's Phrase Book. Judging from its title and nature, it is a compilation of English phrases and idioms—a practical language reference for readers who need to look up everyday expressions and idiomatic usage. Such books are usually arranged by topic or situation, with attention to easy lookup and usage examples, and their compilers must be careful in organizing language material. Because biographical sources are scarce, Carr's personal history cannot be reconstructed, and his writing style and influence can only be glimpsed through the editorial format of this phrase handbook. On the whole, he appears to be an editor known for reference-book compilation rather than an author of original argument.