Tell me more ×
English Language & Usage Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 0 down vote favorite

What would be the right sentence to use to say that I am reading a book about cooking?

  • I am reading a cooking book
  • I am reading a cook book

Please explain the reason for the choice.

share|improve this question
Why not "cookbook" (one word)? – Carlo_R. Oct 11 '12 at 6:53
Thats why am asking to learn :) – Issa Qandil Oct 11 '12 at 7:22
Everyone says 'cookbook'; no one says 'cooking book'. – Mitch Oct 11 '12 at 12:30

closed as general reference by Marthaª, Cameron, MετάEd, tchrist, Mark Beadles Oct 17 '12 at 14:34

This question is too basic; it can be definitively and permanently answered by a single link to a standard internet reference source designed specifically to find that type of information. See the FAQ for guidance on how to improve it.

3 Answers

up vote 8 down vote accepted

A cooking book would be an odd thing to say. Cook-book (with or without a hyphen, and with or without a space) is fine, and so is cookery book.

share|improve this answer
I agree, a cooking book seems to imply the book is an ingredient. I would always call such a book a cookery book. – Matt Oct 11 '12 at 10:49
1  
In American English, cooking book, cook-book and cookery book are virtually unknown; see ngram – bib Oct 11 '12 at 12:40
1  
@bib ngram shows cookbook really came into being around 1910 in AmE. Till then it was predominantly cookery book. (books.google.com/ngrams/…) – Kris Oct 11 '12 at 13:04
up vote 4 down vote

Reading a book about cooking, reading a cookbook, reading a cook book, and reading a cooking book could potentially be four different things:

  1. A book about cooking is generally an instructional book or informational book like a textbook, book on the history of cooking, etc. It may have recipes as well, but the focus will be on cooking as a subject.
  2. A cookbook is generally a book of recipes. There may be a few other things, but the recipes are the primary focus.
  3. A cook book is somewhat awkward, and might want to be avoided, as there's the chance it could be interpreted as a book about cooks rather than cooking or recipes (at the very least it's ambiguous)
  4. A cooking book is even more awkward, as it could potentially bring to mind an image of reading a book that is sitting in a pot, simmering with the stew.
share|improve this answer
up vote 0 down vote

A book about cooking and includes recipe can be called Recipe Book or Cookery Book.

share|improve this answer

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.