Monday, January 25, 2010

Mispronunciations Galore!

I've been thinking about my pet peeves a lot lately. Maybe it's because I'm over tired and irritable this past weekend. Maybe it's just because I'm a terrible person. I tend to agree with the first statement. None the less, mispronunciations are at the top of my pet peeve list!


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Let me start by admitting that I am not perfect. Nor am I an English professor or a Professional Linguist. However, this girl is highly annoyed with mispronunciations and misspellings of common every day sayings and words. I also tend to get annoyed with short versions of words that are used in text messaging. Is it really that much more time consuming to write out “good” instead of “gud?” I don’t get that, at all. Anyway, recently I’ve been keeping track of the mistakes that bother me the most.

Expresso. This one makes my skin crawl! I suppose it’s because I spent quite a few years as a barista. There is no X in this word. In fact, the real word is ESPRESSO. I would now like to express my love for espresso!

*Ahem* that was good, right? Oh, it wasn’t? Ok, note taken.



Acrossed/Acrosst. I agree that the double “s” sound is awkward for the end of a word, but it is just that! There is no “t” or “ed!”



Axs. I really don’t understand this one. I suppose I should look it up. Until then, I’ll just set the record straight and say that the correct way to spell this word is ASK so it should be pronounced as spelled!



Dialate. There is only one “a” in that word. It is simply DILATE.



Excetera. I am guilty of mispronouncing this word every now and again. However, I have made a great effort to think about the word in enough time to say ET CETERA. Hence the abbreviation of this word being ETC not EXC!



Febyuary. Maybe I’m a bit partial to this word because I’m a FEBRUARY baby. Or, maybe it just bugs me. Whatever the case, there are two “rs!”



This next one REALLY gets meAre you ready?







Irregardless! Oh, the nerve! My first thought is that this word is a double negative! How is it possible to have “less” and “ir” in the same word!? So, this word should mean: not without regard? Hmmm… I’m confused! This spelled it out perfectly, I think.



Libary. There are definitely two “rs” in this word!



Perscription. How is it that a Doctor could PRESCRIBE a PERscription? Doctors only prescribe PRESCRIPTIONS!



Probly. This is another mispronunciation that I am guilty of. It is just way easier to say PROBLY or PROLLY than to actually sound out PROBABLY! I'm definitely working on this one!



Reel-a-tor. My mom has been a REALTOR for twenty years. The Association of Realtor’s radio and TV ads even mispronounce it! Oh my gosh!




Nucular. I once was guilty of saying this word incorrectly but have since corrected myself! Now, it drives me nuts when people don't say NUCLEAR!



Last but not least… The one that drives me the most insane!


Supposably. Maybe someone accidentally write their “d” backwards one day and that’s how this mispronunciation was born. I can’t come up with any better suggestions! Supposedly, someone just started saying it incorrectly and it stuck!




I love laughing until my guts hurt with my mom and her sister about these. They crack us up! Well, after they annoy us, that is. What are your word/spelling/grammar/mispronunciation pet peeves!? Please share so I feel better about myself!!!

5 comments:

Jenny DB said...

OK love this post and agree.. just a couple things.. people say supposively alot to.. rather than supposedly, notice that one?? ALSO, i think Febyuary vs. February is a tough one because no one actually says the "R" it's almost like the 'correct' pronunciation (even though it's spelled otherwise) is "Feb-you-ary" i mean, have you ever heard anyone say "Feb-Roo-Ary" ?? i haven't..

Jen S. said...

I'm brand new to your blog, and I LOVE IT!
Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving me a comment (and thanks also for being a follower!)
I work in an Elementary School lunchroom, and if I had a nickel for every child that asked for a nakin instead of a napkin, I'd be a rich gal :) Another one that bugs the heck out of me is punkin instead of pumpkin.
Thanks for letting me get that off my chest! :)

THE Stephanie said...

LOL. Irregardless is one my major pet peeves!! It's not even a word!! Just say REGARDLESS!! LOL

Chelsi said...

I'm so glad I'm not the only one! Thanks for the comments!

Jenny, ahhhh! Supposivly too! Crazy talk I swear! I see your point with February but the r is a quick sound, I don't emphasize it much!

Jen, punkin drives me batty too! I totally forgot that one! Welcome!

Stephanie, irregardless is SO lame!

Courtney said...

Thanks for the comment... Yay - Oly Bloggers! Love the mis-spellings and mis-pronunciations. I expecially hate when people order expresso... hahaha. Glad I'm not the only one to focus on this stuff! Cute blog...