The American Language by H. L. Mencken

The American Language, first published in 1919, is H. L. Mencken's book about the English language as spoken in the United States. Mencken was inspired by "the argot of the colored waiters" in Washington, as well as one of his favorite authors, Mark Twain, and his experiences on the streets of Baltimore. In 1902, Mencken remarked on the "queer words which go into the making of 'United States.'" The book was preceded by several columns in The Evening Sun. Mencken eventually asked "Why doesn't some painstaking pundit attempt a grammar of the American language... English, that is, as spoken by the great masses of the plain people of this fair land?" It would appear that he answered his own question.

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The 261st greatest nonfiction book of all time

This book is on the following lists:

- 9th on The Modern Library | 100 Best Nonfiction (The Modern Library)
- The 100 Best Nonfiction Books of All Time (The Guardian)

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Name	Binding	Sales Rank	Lowest New	Lowest Used	Published
The American Language: An Inquiry into the Development of English in the United States	Hardcover	4427799		$2.69
The American Language	Hardcover	10478840		$8.97
The American Language A Preliminary Inquiry into the Development of English in the United States	Paperback	2582557	$11.87	$10.08	2016
American Language Supplement 1	Kindle Edition	3051696	$29.99		2012
The American Language: An Inquiry into the Development of English in the United States	Audible Audiobook	31461	$22.49		2021
American Language Supplement 1 & 2 2 Volumes	Hardcover	2024233		$18.92	1961
The American Language: An Inquiry Into the Development of English in the United States	Kindle Edition	805749	$5.99		2011
Amer Language Abridged	Hardcover	3342788	$29.85	$3.90	1963
American Language Supplement 2 (American Language No. 1)	Kindle Edition	1009826	$39.99		2012
The American Language a Preliminary Inquiry Into the Development Ment English (Classic Reprint)	Paperback	4957423	$9.59		2012
American Language	Hardcover	1286845	$22.99	$22.00	2011
The American Language Fourth Edition Plus Two Supplements [3 Volumes]	Hardcover	699863		$22.95
The American Language, Supplement 2	Hardcover	1319246	$9.90	$4.99
The American Language: An inquiry into the development of English in the United States	Hardcover	4039096		$4.99
The American Language: An Inquiry Into the Development of English in the United States (Dodo Press)	Paperback	10017213	$27.00	$21.84	2008
American Language: An Inquiry into the Development of English in the United States, 4th Edition	Hardcover	367376	$37.94	$8.73
American Language	Kindle Edition	1309128	$37.99		2012
The American language; a preliminary inquiry into the development of English in the United States	Paperback	7165942	$25.19		2012
The American language; a preliminary inquiry into the development of English in the United States	Paperback	10536886	$19.48		2010
The American Language (Illustrated)	Kindle Edition	89706	$0.99		2013
The American language; a preliminary inquiry into the development of English in the United States	Paperback	1255524	$11.78		2020
The American Language: An Inquiry into the Development of English in the United States.	Hardcover	1537216		$30.01
The American Language Supplement 1 :The American Language: An Inquiry Into the Development of English in the United States	Hardcover	2875382	$47.00	$3.33	1945
The American Language; a Preliminary Inquiry Into the Development of English in the United States	Hardcover	6068391	$17.83	$41.45	2015
The American Language	Paperback	1400242	$14.00	$8.54	2011
H.L. Mencken Collection 7 Books The american credo, The american language, The philosophy of friedrich Nietzsche, A book of burlesques, A book of ... Damn! A book of calumny, In defense of women.	Paperback	940951	$19.95		2017
The Best Works of H. L. Mencken: The american credo, The american language, The philosophy of friedrich Nietzsche, A book of burlesques, A book of ... Damn! A book of calumny, In defense of women.	Paperback	1479238	$17.93		2019
The American Language: an Inquiry Into the Development of English in the United States	Hardcover	3009577		$1.95	1946
THE AMERICAN LANGUAGE: A Preliminary Inquiry into the Development of English in the United States [Illustrated edition]	Kindle Edition	1409506			2016
The American Language; an Inquiry Into the Development of English in the United States	Hardcover	6236594		$5.00
The American Language : An Inquiry Into the Development of English in the United States : Fourth Edition, Corrected, Enlarged and Rewritten	Hardcover	11158489		$15.48
American Language: An Inquiry Into the Development of English in the United Sta	Hardcover	3248556		$1.45
Seven books: The american credo, The american language, The philosophy of friedrich Nietzsche, A book of burlesques, A book of prefaces, Damn! A book of calumny, In defense of women.	Paperback	964212	$22.95		2016
The American Language: A Preliminary Inquiry Into the Development of English in the United States	Hardcover	10620530	$39.99	$35.99	2010
The American Language: An Inquiry into the Development of English in the United States	Paperback	4050732	$47.24	$3.00	1977
The American Language: An Inquiry Into the Development of English in the United States	Hardcover	6813617		$4.15	1919
H. L. Mencken - Premium Collection: The American Language, The American Credo, The Philosophy Of Friedrich Nietzsche	Kindle Edition	464539	$0.99		2022
American Language Supplement 2 (American Language No. 1)	Hardcover	3957378	$41.22	$3.09	1948
The American Language: An Inquiry Into the Development of English in the United States	Paperback	4949452	$22.33	$28.23	2010
The American Language: An Inquiry Into the Development of English in the United States,	Paperback	7067119	$28.49		2009
The American Language	Kindle Edition	309418	$0.99		2017
The American Language: A Preliminary Inquiry into the Development of English in the United States	Paperback	3123547	$14.42	$10.42	2009
The American Language, Second Edition	Paperback	298486	$16.95	$16.95	2013