Description
Author: John Baker Opdycke, Litt.D.
Publisher: Harper & Brothers, New York
Publication Date: 1949
Format: Hardcover (no dust jacket as issued)
Edition: Early edition (1949 copyright)
Condition: Very Good+
• Solid binding
• Clean, legible interior
• Light age toning
• Exterior shows cosmetic clouding typical of the period
Description
A thoughtful, mid-century guide to precise English, Mark My Words reflects a time when clarity, restraint, and intention mattered deeply in written expression. Written by celebrated language authority John Baker Opdycke, this volume bridges classical grammar with modern usage, offering practical insight without pedantry.
Opdycke’s approach favors meaning over fussiness—a refreshing stance that makes this book surprisingly relevant today. Writers, editors, teachers, and lovers of language will appreciate its calm authority and period voice.
This copy carries tangible signs of real intellectual life: an earlier owner’s inscription and a loose sheet of handwritten calculations laid inside, suggesting the book was actively used rather than merely shelved. These elements add character without compromising readability.
A quietly elegant volume for readers who value language as both craft and conscience.