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If there's a grad or dad on your giving list this June, consider one of these new books about words.

In "Pronoun Trouble: The Story of Us in Seven Little Words" (Avery, $28), esteemed linguist John McWhorter tracks the escapades of English pronouns through the centuries and explains how these wriggling rascals lie at the very foundation of human expression. With wit, warmth and cultural references ranging from Shakespeare to Sesame Street, he guides us through the quirks of pronoun use and shows us how these lilliputian linchpins secure the framework of our language.

How did did the growls and screeches of our primate ancestors become the complex languages we use today? In "The Language Puzzle: Piecing Together the Six-Million-Year Story of How Words Evolved" (Basic Books, $36), Steven Mithen blends archeology, anthropology and neuroscience to trace the intriguing process of this linguistic evolution. He explains, for instance, how variations in the brain sizes and vocal structures explain the linguistic divergence of hominids and chimpanzees.

Laura Spinney continues this fascinating linguistic story in "Proto: How One Ancient Language Went Global" (Bloomsbury, $29.99) as she traces the origin and evolution of Proto-Indo-European. This language, which began on the steppes of the Caucasus after the last Ice Age, expanded to become the shared linguistic source for hundreds of languages in Europe, which explains, for instance, why the Bulgarian, German and Icelandic words for "to stand" are "stoya," "standa" and "stehen," respectively.

The rise of artificial intelligence has upended the world of writing, but John Warner offers teachers, students and editors a survival guide that's both reassuring and practical. In "More Than Words: How to Think About Writing in the Age of AI" (Basic Books, $30), he writes: "Only humans can read. Only humans can write. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise." Warner offers tips on detecting AI-generated essays, crafting AI-proof prompts and approaching writing as a process of thinking and feeling.

In "Don't Say Um: How To Communicate Effectively To Live a Better Life" (Hachette, $30) Michael Chad Hoeppner provides practical advice, psychological strategies and nifty exercises to improve public speaking skills, e.g., rehearse your speech out loud; vary the pace and intonation of your delivery; project confidence even if you're feeling nervous.

Valedictorians, salutatorians and dads, take note.

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Rob Kyff, a teacher and writer in West Hartford, Connecticut, invites your language sightings. His book, "Mark My Words," is available for $9.99 on Amazon.com. Send your reports of misuse and abuse, as well as examples of good writing, via email to WordGuy@aol.com or by regular mail to Rob Kyff, Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254.

Copyright 2025 Creators Syndicate Inc.