Jump to content


10 mispronunciations that make you sound stupid


5 replies to this topic

#1 CrazedLlama

    P2L Jedi

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 861 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Brazil
  • Interests:Photography, Music, Guitar, Basketball

Posted 07 August 2008 - 11:13 PM

Quote

#1: Realtor

Many people — I’ve even heard it from people on national TV — pronounce this word REAL-uh-ter. Is this a case of wide-spread dyslexia, transposing the a and the l? It’s REAL-tor. That’s it. You’d think only two syllables would be easier to pronounce, but apparently not.

#2: Nuclear

Do you know how tough it is to be an advocate for the correct pronunciation of this word (NU-clee-er) when the president of the United States pronounces it NU-cu-lar? I don’t buy that it’s a regional thing. Ya’ll is a regional thing; nu-cu-lar is not.

#3: Jewelry

It’s not JOO-la-ree, it’s JOOL-ree. Again with the making things harder by turning a word into three syllables. What’s with that?

#4: Supposedly/supposably

The latter is a nonexistent word.

#5: Supposed to/suppose to

I think this one is more a matter of a lazy tongue than of ignorance. It takes an extra beat in there to emphasize the d at the end, but it’s worth it. And never omit the d if you’re using the term in a written communication or people will think you were raised in a hollowed-out tree trunk somewhere.

#6: Used to/use to


Same as above.

#7: Anyway/anyways

There’s no s at the end. I swear. Look it up.

#8: February/Febuary


As much as it galls me, there is an r between the b and the u. When you pronounce the word correctly it should sound like you’re trying to talk with a mouthful of marbles — FEB broo ary.

#9: Recur/reoccur

Though the latter is tempting, it’s not a word. And again, why add another syllable if you don’t need it?

#10: Mischievous/mischievious

I know, I know, it sounds so Basil Rathbone to say MIS cha vous, but that’s the right way. Mis CHEE vee us is more commonly used, but it’s wrong.

And last but not least, my personal all-time pet peeve — the word often. It should be pronounced OFF un, not OFF tun. The t is silent.

Source:
http://digg.com/educational/10_Mispronunci...ou_Sound_Stupid

Im guilty of most:/

Edited by CrazedLlama, 07 August 2008 - 11:13 PM.


#2 rc69

    PHP Master PD

  • P2L Staff
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 3,827 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Here
  • Interests:Web Development

Posted 08 August 2008 - 12:34 AM

My thoughts:

1. Guilty of mispronouncing
2. Depends on the context, most of the time i say it correctly.
3. I've never heard the "incorrect" pronunciation...
4. Agreed, the latter doesn't exist.
5. Am inclined to say i say it correctly.
6. Again, depends on the context with me.
7. The latter is just more fun to say.
8. Am lazy, and it affects my spelling of it... Seriously, you have no idea how long it took for me to figure out there was an extra 'r' in there.
9. You mean those aren't two different words?
10. Can't recall the last time i used the word, but the incorrect version just sounds right for some reason.

#3 N4Z.

    Call me Yoda

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 3,016 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:127.0.0.1
  • Interests:Designing, Apple Fan Boy, Music Production and Weekends!

Posted 08 August 2008 - 06:56 AM

haha some of those im guilty of... jewelry for one :rolleyes:

#4 Donna

    Retired P2L Queen!

  • P2L Staff
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 12,330 posts
  • Gender:Female
  • Location:B.C Canada

Posted 08 August 2008 - 01:10 PM

guilty of a few as well, having a accent is a great excuse in a foreign country. :rolleyes:

#5 SebLev

    Forum Whore is what I am today!

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 1,514 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Toronto, ON, Canada

Posted 15 August 2008 - 01:17 AM

also guilty of a few but I tend to cover it up and blame it on me being French :hitit: even if it really isn't because of it haha

#6 sez318

    P2L Jedi

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 660 posts
  • Gender:Female
  • Location:Dayton, OH

Posted 23 August 2008 - 05:11 AM

Definetly guilty of the February one :closedeyes: Im always saying Feb-U-ary





1 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users