Edwin Hamlin Carr
Putnam's Phrase Book
An Aid to Social Letter Writing and to Ready and Effective Conversation, with Over 100 Model Social Letters and 6000 of the World's Best English Phrases
"Putnam's Phrase Book" by Edwin Hamlin Carr is a collection of linguistic aids aimed at social letter writing and facilitating effective conversation, written in the early 20th century. This resource comprises over six thousand carefully curated phrases meant to enhance communication, along with one hundred model social letters that exemplify these expressions. It serves as a guide for individuals looking to improve their writing and speaking skills in a variety of social situations. At the start of the book, the author outlines the necessity of a phrase book to complement a dictionary for everyday communication, emphasizing the importance of using well-chosen phrases. He discusses the structure of the phrase book, detailing its dictionary format, the sample letters included to guide users, and the method for preparing personalized letters utilizing the phrases provided. The foreword expresses his gratitude toward various literary sources, illustrating his commitment to curating phrases that reflect common, effective speech, and making it clear that the book is designed to assist with everything from simple communication to the more challenging task of writing condolence letters.