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David Crystal

David Crystal
David Crystal is known throughout the world as a writer, editor, lecturer, and broadcaster on language. He has published extensively on the history and development of English, including Begat: The King James Bible and the English Language (2010), The Story of English in 100 Words (2011), Spell It Out: The Singular Story of English Spelling (2012), Wordsmiths and Warriors: The English-Language Tourist's Guide to Britain (with Hilary Crystal, 2013), The Oxford Dictionary of Original Shakespearean Pronunciation (2016), and The Story of Be: A Verb's-Eye View of the English Language (2017).


“Bookworm, Cliché, Deadline…” And Other Unexpected Etymologies

David Crystal Explores the Unlikely Stories Behind Some Common Turns of Phrase
June 27, 2025  By David Crystal
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Some of the Earliest Written Dialogues Were in Middle English Literature

David Crystal on Quarrels, Secrets and Other Exchanges
July 28, 2020  By David Crystal
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