Primer, Manual and Handbook

Primer, Manual and Handbook Primer, Manual and Handbook Primer, Manual and Handbook By Maeve Maddox In American usage, the word primer has two pronunciations, according to whether it refers to a beginning reading book [PRIM-ur] or to an undercoat of paint [PRY-mur]. In British usage, it’s pronounced the same way for both [PRY-mur]. This post is about the word primer [PRIM-ur] as it applies to a source of elementary instruction. The first primers were devotionals or instructional manuals written for Christian church members. They contained prayers and explanations of doctrine. Because primers were often used for the secondary purpose of teaching children to read, later church primers contained a section with the ABCs. In 1545 primers intended specifically for children began to be published under the title The A.B.C. Primers. By 1600, the word primer referred chiefly to books intended for beginning reading instruction. When I was in grade school, I had a textbook that showed pages from The New England Primer, the first elementary textbook published in the American colonies. It contained the alphabet with a verse for each letter. One that springs to mind after all these years is the unforgettable verse for the letter X: Xerxes must die and so must I. The meaning of primer as a beginning reading textbook or a book of religious instruction has not entirely disappeared, as can be seen in these modern titles available at Amazon: A Gospel Primer for Christians Alpha-Phonics: A Primer for Beginning Readers The term has evolved to mean a small introductory book on any subject. For example: A Primer of Assyriology The Puppy Primer Loom Knitting Primer Cheese Primer The Pantry Primer C++ Primer Plus A Primer for the Mathematics of Financial Engineering In extended use, primer can include things other than books: Along the way, their work [that of the Coen brothers] has served as a primer of American history- their films are almost uniformly period pieces- especially as reflected onscreen. Fights with the enemy were a given, though as it turned out the Iraq War served as a primer for Afghanistan, where Scheuer was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service in combat. Altogether, the [Barlow] campaign served as a primer in Catskills history. Originally, primers were quite small. Here are three other English words for books that contain basic information and are small enough to carry about: manual noun (classical Latin manualis, â€Å"held in the hand, of a size to fill the hand†): a book containing in concise form the principles, rules, and directions needed for the mastery of an art, science, or skill. Example: The acronym IAEFRTM stands for â€Å"If All Else Fails, Read the Manual.† handbook noun (literal English translation of Latin manualis): a concise reference book covering a particular subject or field of knowledge. Example: His favorite gift was A Handbook to Help Identify Hudson River Fish Larvae. vade mecum noun:  (Latin imperative: â€Å"Go with me!†): A vade mecum is a small book convenient for carrying about. Example: Dr. Thaddeus William Harris prepared a catalogue of insects that served as the vade mecum of the working entomologist in the northeastern part of the United States for at least fifty years. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:7 Classes and Types of PhrasesPeople versus PersonsThe Difference Between "Un-" and "Dis-"