rom its inception the Wise Owl Publishing Company has dedicated itself to helping people communicate. Our first book, Fine-Tuning Your Writing, concentrated on communication between and among scientists, physicians, engineers, and those in other technical and how they can improve communication with their clients and patients.

But everybody communicates with at least one other person, so our next two publications were developed with that thought in mind. They are:

• English Trouble Spots for non-Native Speakers and Writers
  An small booklet that explains how to deal with the intricacies of our often wacky but always wonderful language.
• How to Learn How to Write
  Whether all you write is a note to your babysitter or if you have designs of becoming a published author, this pamphlet presents a logical and wonderfully easy way to get started.

Now Wise Owl Publishing proudly announces the release of its latest book, the Dictionary of Similar-but-Separate Words.

How important is it to know the difference between words and word combinations? For starters, ask anyone who enjoys working crossword puzzles.
More importantly, if your job, or duties as a volunteer for a school, church, or political event require you to speak or write you already know that the way you speak and write says a great deal about you. Proper word usage is essential to the image you want to maintain.

• Have you ever needed to know which will give you greater access to a building, admission or admittance?
• Do you know if it is possible for something to be unreadable but still not illegible?
• Suppose one thing looks exactly like something else; would you describe them as being the same, identical, or just like each other?

Until now there has been no dictionary that will tell you the difference between, for example, the words anxious and eager, or when to say that something has burned up and something else has burned down. Until now you've had no one place to quickly learn the difference between being optimistic and being hopeful, to learn whether you feel motivated or inspired, or to know the difference between being chosen and being designated.

Your only choice until now was to look up each word separately and try to fathom the distance between (or among) them (or to determine if there actually is a difference).

Now author William Luellen has done all that work for you and compiled it into a book titled the Dictionary of Similar-but-Separate Words. The Wise Owl Publishing Company is pleased to get it out just in time for the Holidays and at a price low enough-$14.95-that you'll want to give copies to loved ones, friends, colleagues, employees, clients, or customers.

If you ever speak or write to even one person besides yourself you will benefit from this book. If any part of your job (or your hobbies) require you to write or speak, you need this book. If you love to do crossword puzzles you need this book. (Even if all you have ever done is wonder which of the words mentioned above-and dozens more like them-is the correct one to use in a particular situation, you need this book.)

And remember, the price is only $14.95, plus tax, shipping, and handling.

About the author:
William Luellen has written and edited for everything from newspapers, magazines, and radio programs to scholarly scientific journals. His extensive knowledge of accurate communication and word usage has engendered invitations to speak at universities and to professional societies on three continents.

"For most of my professional career I've been collecting odd pairs, trios, and larger groupings of such words," Luellen says. "I first started collecting these words solely for my own entertainment and professional use. As I began publishing some of these definitions in my own newsletter-and in columns in newsletters published by others-people from around the world began sending me additional words and asking me for the distinctions between and among them. Every time I give a speech, short course, or other presentation-regardless of where in the world that might be-at least one person will ask me about at least one more set of similar-but-separate words. E-mailed questions about them come fairly regularly from clients around the world, too. So the list of similar-but-separate words just grows and grows."

When asked what prompted this book at this time, Luellen replies, "I decided earlier this year that I had collected enough definitions to fill a small dictionary. Interestingly, after I compiled the first draft of that dictionary and sent it to several writing experts for their critique they suggested several additional pairs and groupings that I also included." He smiled and added, "And if things continue as they have in the past I fully expect those who purchase the first edition of this book to send me still more. Who knows how much larger the second edition might be."