Bloomer Aileen, Griffths Patrick, Merrison Andrew John. Introducing Language in Use: A Coursebook

Routledge, 2005. — 491 p.Each unit has been written so that it can be read fairly independently of the others, but frequent cross referencing (indicated by this symbol$) indicates how one area of language analysis might impinge on many others at the same time. The cross
referencing also shows how the units link in sequences other than the order in which they are presented in the book – sequences which you will find explained later in this section where we suggest other routes through the material.
Each unit contains activities which you should carry out. Students very often learn better through an active approach to the material and we recommend very strongly that you should have a go at each of the activities. Do read the commentaries (indicated by the symbol#) after you have tried to do the activity – they can include additional material on the topic that does not appear elsewhere in the unit.
Some units are likely to be easier to read than others. Some present the more technical concepts that you need for analysing language in use, making precise statements about it and understanding the work of professional linguists. Other units show you how to apply that core knowledge. This is clarified later in this unit where we show you different possible ways to access the material. Many units suggest that you use a good dictionary. It is not our place to prescribe which dictionary you should use – though the Oxford English Dictionary or Webster’s would certainly be good starting points. Whichever you choose to use, we would recommend that:
the bigger the version of the dictionary, the better. Small dictionaries are unlikely to contain enough detail for the work you will be doing.
the newer the dictionary, the better. It will then contain the most recent usages of different words.
if you want to use a dictionary based on a corpus of English usage, Collins COBUILD is well worth considering.
All units follow conventional bracketing and notation systems which are listed on pages xix-xx.