Spell It Out: The singular story of English spelling

Whyistherean'h'inghost?WilliamCaxton,inventoroftheprintingpressandhisFlemishemployeesaretoblame:withoutadictionaryorstyleguidetohandinfifteenthcenturyBruges,thetypesetterssimplyspelleditthewayitsoundedtotheirforeignears,anditstuck.Seventy-fivepercentofEnglishspellingisregularbuttwenty-fivepercentiscomplicated,andinSpellItOutourforemostlinguisticsexpertDavidCrystalextendsahelpinghandtotheconfusedandcuriousalike.Heunearthsthestoriesbehindtheroguewordsthatconfoundus,andexplainswhythesepeculiaritiesenteredthemainstream,inanepicjourneytakinginsixthcenturymonks,FrenchandLatinupstarts,theIndustrialRevolutionandtheinternet.Bylearningthehistoryandtheprinciples,Crystalshowshowthespellingsthatbreakalltherulesbecomeeasiertogetright.