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This question was closed without grading. Reason: Errant question
Jan 2, 2021 14:43
3 yrs ago
52 viewers *
English term

Culinary books

Non-PRO English Other Cooking / Culinary
Hello all. I was wondering if this phrase(culinary books) looks natural to a native English speaker. Thanks.
Responses
5 +1 cookbooks
5 Cook Book/ Cookery Book
4 Cookery books, cook books or recipe books
4 Books of culinary arts

Discussion

Yvonne Gallagher Jan 3, 2021:
@ Asker what are you trying to say? Without context it is impossible to decide on the best answer!
Yvonne Gallagher Jan 3, 2021:
@Phil I seem to recall several lectures from you about (not) using Ghits to back up arguments. "Culinary" is not just about cooking or cookbooks but about lots more besides such as kitchen techniques. We were given no context to know what exactly the asker is trying to say but I assumed it was about books containing recipes where "culinary books" does NOT work for this native. Anyway, I try not to waste my time on questions that have no context so never proposed an answer for that reason. I see one of the answerers has decided they are books about the culinary arts LOL
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culinary
writeaway Jan 3, 2021:
Not enough context Is this a book about the art of cooking/cuisine or is it a book with recipes?
Tony M Jan 3, 2021:
@ Phil Yes, as I said, it does depend on the context and the way it is being used: if this were just a recipe / cookery book, then I still maintain that 'culinary book' is out of register, on the limit of being pretentious; however, if the book is broader in treatment, then it could be appropriate in some contexts. For example, I would consider my "Larousse Gastronomique" to be a book on culinary subjects, whilst by no means being a 'cookery book'!
As ever, it comes down to the proper context — but Asker's simplistic question seems to suggest a simple, everyday solution is what is required here.
philgoddard Jan 3, 2021:
Yvonne/Tony I disagree. "Culinary books" gets plenty of hits. It means books about food, of which cookbooks/recipe books are a subset.
Tony M Jan 2, 2021:
@ Asker 'Culinary' is more appropriately used to describe the nature of something, rather than the subject matter of a book — for example, one might find "suitable for culinary use"
So one might say "a book about culinary techniques", for example.
Do also note that it is arguably a tad more formal in register than 'cooking' etc. — so could come across as pretentious, though might be found in something like 'A Culinary Compendium' which would probably be a humorous title!

Depending on what it contains, it might be best described as a 'Recipe Book', or 'Handy Kitchen Hints', etc.
Yvonne Gallagher Jan 2, 2021:
@ Asker simple answer: No. Seen more commonly as culinary arts or profession or school/course

Responses

5 mins

Cookery books, cook books or recipe books

There is nothing wrong with culinary books, but I would much rather use any of the above.

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Note added at 7 mins (2021-01-02 14:51:10 GMT)
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If I had to choose one, I would go for cookery book
Peer comment(s):
neutral Tony M : 'cookery book' is fine for EN-GB, but unfamiliar in EN-US.
11 mins
neutral Yvonne Gallagher : first out of the hatches and probably OK (though "cookbook" is 1 word) But w/o context no point
23 hrs
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5 hrs

Books of culinary arts

"Books of culinary arts" if you want to sound fancy. "Culinary books" is fine.
Peer comment(s):
neutral Tony M : The register is rather higher here, so might not suit depending on context. Culinary books isn't really suitable / idiomatic in EN, and doesn't necessarily mean books about cooking.
8 mins
neutral Yvonne Gallagher : this would appear to be twisting the meaning if asker is talking about recipes as seems to be the case
17 hrs
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10 hrs

Cook Book/ Cookery Book

A cook book/ cookery book is a kitchen reference containing recipes.
Peer comment(s):
neutral Yvonne Gallagher : answer already given at 5 mins and it's cookbook
12 hrs
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+1
13 hrs

cookbooks

that's the way we say it

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Note added at 13 hrs (2021-01-03 03:54:04 GMT)
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or: recipe books

either would be ok

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Note added at 13 hrs (2021-01-03 03:56:54 GMT)
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"cookbooks" would be ok for both UK and US markets

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Note added at 13 hrs (2021-01-03 03:57:46 GMT)
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perfectly understood in both environments

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Note added at 13 hrs (2021-01-03 03:59:08 GMT)
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The Best Cookbooks of 2020. Despite everything, it's been a hell of a year for cookbooks. Here are ten of the best.

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Note added at 13 hrs (2021-01-03 03:59:59 GMT)
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and not "cook book"

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Note added at 13 hrs (2021-01-03 04:00:49 GMT)
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has another meaning in English
Peer comment(s):
neutral writeaway : 100% CL is OTT and misleading since cookery book is also fine. It is indeed cookbook and not cook book
8 hrs
neutral Yvonne Gallagher : 100% is OTT with no context. "that's the way we say it". Really? I'd say "recipe book" just as frequently and "cookery book" is also fine. All offered at 5 mins
10 hrs
agree Tina Vonhof (X)
13 hrs
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