A matter of words

Correct Usage of Everyday Words, Phrases and Expressions, compiled and edited by Shiavux Mistry. Published in 2006 by the Maharashtra Association for Education, Gurukul Bhavan, Samarth Nagar, Aurangabad 431001. Pp: 314. Price: Rs 499.

Senior Bombay-based chartered accountant Shiavux Mistry labored for 10 years, conducting research with the help of 36 standard publications in English and other authoritative sources, to compile this unique handbook which he describes as "six mini-books in one: a mini-dictionary, mini-glossary, mini-thesaurus, mini-A-Z-guide, mini-lexicon and also a mini-encyclopedia, the first of its kind in India to serve as a referencer for the school, college, office, home and library.”

Shiavux Mistry (below) and his labor of love

Of particular value is the "Pocket Law Lexicon of Foreign Words and Phrases,” as also the sections on Roman numerals, common finance terms, classified weights and measures and their conversions, capital cities and currencies of selected countries. Mistry has listed the Indian states and union territories along with their capital cities and included both the Indian national anthem, Jana Gana Mana and national song, Vande Mataram, with English translations. The sections titled "Practical Mini-Grammar” and "Spelling and Punctuation Rules Simplified,” will prove a boon for users, especially students.

Mistry has provided a wealth of general information on flowers, fruits, vegetables, plants, spices and condiments, animals and birds with their respective cries, young ones, movements and habitat. There is information on musical instruments, planets, medical terms and diseases. Important national and international days are listed along with the names of Indian Presidents and Nobel laureates. A numerology chart will satisfy the curiosity of the uninitiated. Sadly, much of this eclectic and interesting information is buried in the main segment of the work, titled "Speller and Checker,” on correct everyday usages. An attempt at better classification would have greatly enhanced the value of this handsomely brought out volume. Another point. The use of standard phonetic symbols would have been far more helpful than using capital letters in the middle of words to indicate emphasis for correct spelling and pronunciation. But none of this should detract from the commendable effort of the compiler.

The publishers of the handbook, Maharashtra Association For Education have recorded their deep debt to The Office of the Trustees of the Parsi Punchayet Funds and Properties, Bombay and Jayashree Charity Trust, Calcutta for partly sponsoring this project.

Mistry is a man of many accomplishments. He has authored several books on taxation, is an eminent speaker and contributor of articles to professional journals. He has also created a first-of-its-kind Windows based program, FIMAT (Financial and Industrial Management Analysis Techniques) to provide a professional and practical approach to varied problems that could crop up in the complex business and finance world of today, as stated in the "About the author” section.

Sherene Vakil