Whether you're boating, biking or beaching this summer, tote along one of these new books about words and language.

Take a refreshing dive into a crystal lake with "Do I Make Myself Clear? Why Writing Matters" by Harold Evans (Little, Brown, $27).

Evans, a renowned editor who once headed Random House, skewers verbosity ("We are of the opinion" for "We think"), marketing puffery (swim caps sold as "hair management systems"), redundancies ("close proximity") and the passive voice ("A meeting will be held by the board of directors").

While relaxing in a chaise longue, enjoy perusing "You're Saying It Wrong" by Ross Petras and Kathryn Petras. (Ten Speed Press, $14.99). Despite its authoritarian title, this book is a delight, providing not only a guide to commonly mispronounced words but also explanations of how the correct pronunciations evolved.

You'll learn that the recommended rendering of "chaise longue" is "shays LAWHN(g)," reflecting its original meaning in French — "chair long."

Want to be dazzled? Skip the summer fireworks and read "Talking Back, Talking Black" by John McWhorter (Bellevue, $19.99). McWhorter, a professor of linguistics at Columbia, presents a strong case for the sophistication and subtlety of black English, a dialect often dismissed as inferior to standard English.

Black speakers, for instance, use "up" very selectively to indicate intimacy and comfort. So saying, "We was sittin' up at Tony's" signals that Tony is a close friend.

Rainy day? No problem. Settle down with "Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries" by Kory Stamper (Pantheon, $26.95).

A veteran lexicographer at Merriam Webster, Stamper guides us through the esoteric — and sometimes even erotic — process of crafting definitions, ranging from "set" (with more than 50 meanings) to "sex kitten" (one meaning) to the nonstandard "irregardless," which is in the dictionary, she explains, because it appears often in edited prose.

Headed for the Midwest? Take along "How To Speak Midwestern" by Edward McClelland (Belt, $16.95). You'll explore this region's three dialects: Inland North (think "Da Bears" from the old SNL skits); Midland (think Mr. Rogers' "progrum" for "program"); and North Central (think "you betcha" from "Fargo").

And don't forget to enjoy a "hot dish" (casserole) in Minnesota, a "Mettwurst" (cold-smoked ring sausage) in Iowa, and a "tenderloin" (pork fritter sandwich) in Indiana.

Bon appetit!

Rob Kyff, a teacher and writer in West Hartford, Conn., invites your language sightings. Send your reports of misuse and abuse, as well as examples of good writing, via e-mail to [email protected] or by regular mail to Rob Kyff, Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254.