Have you ever wondered why English has more than one word for the same thing? Why the meat of a sheep is called 'mutton'? Or what 'velcroid' means? If you would like to find out more about words, but don't know where to begin, then 'Lexis' is for you. Written in a lively, easy-to-read style it covers: - What we mean by a person's vocabulary - How to improve your knowledge and understanding of words - How to get your message across by using words effectively - How to fit your language to different social situations - The history of English words - New words and how they are formed - The grammar of words Plus a reference section covering: - Word classes - Words that are commonly confused - Prefixes - Suffixes - Glossary of technical terms - Resources in print and online John Seely is the author of the best-selling 'Oxford A-Z of Grammar and Punctuation' and 'The Oxford Guide to Effective Writing and Speaking'.