The right word in the right place at the right time

the long version

"For the past twenty-five years Americans have relied on Pulitzer Prize-winning wordsmith William Safire for their weekly dose of linguistic illumination in The New York Times Magazine's column "On Language" - one of the most popular features of the magazines and a Sunday-morning staple for innumerable fans. He is the most widely read writer on the English language today." "The Right Word in the Right Place at the Right Time is a learned and piquant look at the oddities and foibles that find their way into the English language. Exposing linguistic hooey and riagamarole and filled with Safire's trademark wisdom, this book has a place on the desk or bedside table of all who share his profound love of the English language - as well as his penchant for asking "What does that mean?" Or, "Wassat?""--BOOK JACKET.