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You're Saying It Wrong: A Pronunciation Guide to the 150 Most Commonly Mispronounced Words--And Their Tangled Histories of Misuse
You're Saying It Wrong: A Pronunciation Guide to the 150 Most Commonly Mispronounced Words--And Their Tangled Histories of Misuse | Ross Petras, Kathryn Petras
22 posts | 5 read | 66 to read
For word nerds and grammar geeks, an illustrated guide to the most commonly mispronounced words, along with their correct pronunciations and pithy forays into their fascinating etymologies and histories of use and misuse. With wit and good humor, this handy little book not only saves us from sticky linguistic situations but also provides fascinating cocktail-party-ready anecdotes. Entries reveal how to pronounce boatswain like an old salt on the deck of a ship, "trompe l'oeil "like a bona fide art expert, and haricot vert like a foodie, while arming us with the knowledge of why certain words are correctly pronounced the "slangy" way (they came about before dictionaries), what stalks of grain have to do with pronunciation, and more. With bonus sidebars like "How to Sound like a Seasoned Traveler" and "How to Sound Cultured," readers will be able to speak about foreign foods and places, fashion, philosophy, and literature with authority.
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Reviewsbylola
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Anyone else burnt out? I only read two books, and then spent the evening doing other things. Now I‘m trying to decide on Book 3 and nothing is grabbing me. I picked up the tagged book out of desperation. I don‘t know if I can handle something with an actual plot right now. 😂 At least I‘m enjoying my second bath of the day. I figured during a readathon, anything goes. 🤣🤣🤣 #24in48 #bathandbook

L_auren I‘ve still got energy but ask me tomorrow 😜 7y
Samplergal I had to put one book down. Just wasn‘t grabbing me. I have finished two. Win win! 7y
emilyhaldi What‘s your time so far? I‘m 7.5 hrs in and I‘m burnt out already... how does anyone make it to 24?!?! 🤯 7y
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Reviewsbylola I decided not to time myself this time. Too much stopping and starting with the kids. @emilyhaldi 7y
Mdargusch Yes! @emilyhaldi and I stopped reading after 8 hours. It‘s exhausting. 😅 7y
minkyb Love your style! 7y
121 likes6 comments
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Hooked_on_books
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Pickpick

This book is fascinating. It covers commonly mispronounced (or misused) words and phrases in (primarily) American English. I was using some of these words correctly but definitely pronouncing others wrong! This book is especially good for readers who have seen words in print but never heard them spoken. #dogsofLitsy

Reviewsbylola I for sure need to read this! 7y
69 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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Hooked_on_books
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I‘m learning a lot from this book and there are definitely a few “really?!?” moments. How can I have been mispronouncing Dr Seuss all this time? 🤭

BookKenz Oh, wow. That's interesting. 7y
Magpiegem We went on a cruise last summer and the kids club had a Doctor Seuss theme. They were marching round saying “Dr Seuss is on the loose” ... definitely would of had to come up with a new chant if they had realised the mistake! 7y
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Hooked_on_books
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While I would disagree that I was saying this wrong, as I‘ve never said it, I certainly appreciate knowing the correct pronunciation. Now how do I work this into a conversation? 🤔

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Hooked_on_books
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Alright British people, where do all the syllables go?!? And how does Cholmondely become Chum-lee? Clearly I would be a terrible Brit.

LeahBergen FAN-shaw?? I mean, come ON. 😂😂 7y
julesG @LeahBergen That came up in The Watchmaker of Filigree Street. 7y
julesG I need this book. British pronunciation is such fun. (I'm glad I knew how to pronounce half the words on this list.) 7y
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Lindy This is amusing. 😀 7y
Natasha.C.Barnes It just looks like someone got really drunk and started talking about places with his mouth full and everyone went along with it?! 7y
Tanisha_A This is hilarious! 😂 7y
cariashley The Featherstonehaugh one kills me!!! 😂 (edited) 7y
BookwormM Ok I am obviously a failure as a Brit as I would not say all of that list how they say you should 7y
DGRachel @LeahBergen @cariashley Seriously, what is up with Featherstonehaugh/FAN-shaw? How? 😂 7y
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rabbitprincess
Pickpick

A great resource that is laid out well, with many fun sidebars and contains just the right amount of humour. Note, however, that the "default pronunciation" is American...although it does mention British variations where applicable.

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rabbitprincess
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One of my hobbies is infuriating my best friend with non-intuitive British pronunciations of place names. This is a great resource 😂

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MartiW
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Book Haul! #bookhaul

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PenguinInFlight
Pickpick

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5!! This was fantastic! Grammar goddesses and word nerds rejoice...this is a book for you. I was surprised by some entries, because I had no idea that people mispronounced those words frequently, but I was equally surprised to see how many I slaughter the pronunciation of, haha. 🤦🏻‍♀️ A fun and informative read.

Ruri_kaichou My husband tucked away his copy somewhere and I didn't see where so I haven't been able to read more of it 😅 But I'm dying to read more! 8y
PenguinInFlight @Ruri_kaichou I think my husband thought I lost my mind, as I was reading a lot of words out loud so I could hear how they were supposed to sound. I could hear him chuckling at his computer at me. LOL. 😂❤ 8y
Ruri_kaichou 🤣🤣😂😂 8y
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PenguinInFlight
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Loving this book from @Ruri_kaichou ❤📚 Cuddled up with a cup of tea and my #Oliver #littenkitten #kittenlitten, it's a much needed relaxing ending to an emotionally draining day. #catsoflitsy #grammarmakesmehappy

Joybishoptx Cutie pie kitty! 🐱 8y
PenguinInFlight @Joybishoptx thank you!! 💖 8y
rubyslippersreads Adorable kitty! 😸 8y
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LauraBeth I ❤ ginger cats 😻 8y
PenguinInFlight @LauraBeth me too! My first kitty ever was a ginger kitty, and when he chose me at the shelter when I went to "just pet them" this past March, I knew it was meant to be. ❤ 8y
PenguinInFlight You can't see it here, but he has a Darth Vader collar on that says "Join the Dark Side". ?? 8y
Ruri_kaichou I'm so glad you're enjoying it! And that it's cheering you up on a hard day. Kitty cuddles help with that too, so you are in good paws. 8y
PenguinInFlight @Ruri_kaichou It's fantastic! ☺👍🏻 8y
britt_brooke 💕💕💕 8y
43 likes10 comments
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PenguinInFlight
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It's 330am here in NY...and I decided to go open #secretsantagoespostal #wintersolsticebookexchange package by Christmas tree light! ❤📚My Secret Santa did an amazing job of picking my gifts! A book tote, FanGirl by Rainbow Rowell, and You're Saying It Wrong (GRAMMAR 😍). She also made the adorable penguin tag, which is now on my tree. Thank you SO MUCH, @Ruri_kaichou ! ❤❤It's perfect! I love it all! ☺ @BookishMarginalia thanks for organizing!

SaturnDoo Loving it 😍😍 8y
LeahBergen Wonderful! 8y
Ruri_kaichou Yay! I'm so glad you like them! I was having slight anxiety you were going to buy/read the books before you opened the package 😂 Enjoy! And happy reading 📚 8y
69 likes3 comments
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WanderingBookaneer
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Lola 😂😂😂😂😂😂AGREED!!!!!! 8y
OSChamberlain I believe I've just died. 8y
brilliantglow Oh boy. So wrong. 😂😂😂😂 8y
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Bambolina_81 😂😂😂 this book is amazing ! 8y
Reecaspieces 😂😂😂😂❤️️ 8y
Bookish.Heart Lol I need this book! I've heard some pronounce "faux" as "fox." True story! ? 8y
LeahBergen I was watching a Byron documentary and they pronounced it that way! 8y
Jeanette Omg Don Juan is hilarious, or it was to me in grad school 10 years ago. 8y
tjwill I took a class on Byron in college. In his poem, he did intend it to be pronounced Don Jew-an as a satirical kind of thing. I don't have the book in front of me to note it, but my professor used the first instance of the name, with what it was supposed to rhyme with, as the proof. 8y
MrBook 😂😂😂👏🏻 8y
DrJAdMerricksson 😂😂 8y
wen4blu All I hear is the line from Les Miz: "But here he comes like Don Jew-an, it's better than an op-er-a" 8y
tricours Isn't that how it would be pronounced in American English? 8y
WanderingBookaneer @tricours : I thought you guys said it something like "who AN" 8y
tricours We? I think people in Scandinavia may try to pronounce it more in a Spanish way, but I've definitely heard the Jew-version, which I would think would be inspired by how English speakers would say it. Not sure though. 8y
BethM American English would still pronounce it fairly close to the Spanish. 8y
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WanderingBookaneer
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ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Ooo! Me too! Good one! 8y
tpixie I took an Etymology course in college and loved it! 8y
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WanderingBookaneer
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angrylilasian 😂 I still don't know how to say it! 😂 8y
cariashley 😂😂 so on point 8y
Reviewsbylola Lmao!! 8y
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AshleyS I thought I knew how to say it, but after seeing this, I'm not so sure 8y
MicheleinPhilly I'm just going to say Cholula, like the hot sauce, and leave it at that. 8y
Mimi28 Very confusing 8y
Bambolina_81 I've been saying Kuthuloo all these years...my mind is now thrown into confusion. Even more than usual! 🤔 8y
8little_paws @MicheleinPhilly 😹 the Cholula monster I love it 8y
TrishB We're learning a lot from this book 😄😄 8y
Ruri_kaichou So I got married under Cthulhu. Did this mean we weren't since our officiate said his name wrong? 8y
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WanderingBookaneer
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BookishMarginalia I still say that just sounds wrong! 8y
Lindy @BookishMarginalia It wasn't until I moved away from the rural Francophone community where I was raised, that I was laughed at for the way I pronounced English words. Like cocoa. Ko-ko-a (edited) 8y
Lola This was my favorite word to (over)use as an insufferable know-it-all teenager 😂😂 8y
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Abby-J I've never heard it pronounced wrong. That's so weird because St. Louis, where I'm from, has a hard time pronouncing so many other words. 8y
Ruri_kaichou I got my husband this book for Christmas. It's so his thing 😂😂😂😂. Especially when it comes to the word 'foyer'. 8y
Laura317 I was in my 40s when I learned Aigner was pronounced AHN-neigh and not AG-ner like we always thought. 😳 I'm guessing I ain't much fer all that culture. 😜 8y
MrBook ??? It's "al" as in Al Roker ?. 8y
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WanderingBookaneer
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Laura317 Sounds cool! I'll have to look for that. I always wanted to sound like I was from across the pond. 8y
MrBook This is really cool 😎👍🏻. 8y
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WanderingBookaneer
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Round 2!

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Ruri_kaichou
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Day 1 #GivingAsGifts This book is right up my husband's alley. He loves grammar stuff and nitpicky things. I read a few pages and it's great! it's going to be really hard not to read it before I wrap it! Also, it's OK for me to share this because he is not on Litsy (not as bookish as I am). #12DaysOfXmasPhoto @LibrarianRyan

Hooked_on_books Oooo, that looks good! 8y
RiotMom 😂 8y
Ruri_kaichou @Hooked_on_books check it out! It's very friendly to read. Each word has a one page explanation and other things like a list of British names with unexpected pronunciations. Super fun! 8y
36 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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readordierachel
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Still happens to me regularly, although less since I discovered that Merriam-Webster online has an audible pronunciation option. I wish I could just pause conversations like in an 80s sitcom, go listen to the word, and then pop back in sounding all smart.

#booknerdproblems #photoadaynov16
@RealLifeReading

rachellayown I love this! 💜 8y
Varshitha Happens all the time, I have Merriam-Webster app in all the devices I have so I can look up the word but sometimes it is hard to stop reading to go look it up.. 8y
chlobee Oh the amount of laughter I've endured because of this problem... 😂 8y
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Smangela I still have to really think if I try to say the word "vehemently" aloud... that silent h is a killer haha ? 8y
BookDragonNotWorm I, too, suffer from this syndrome . . . Although why it took me the second time watching The Three Musketeers movie to realize that "Dee-art-a-gon" was the same character as "D'Artangon" remains a mystery. 8y
readordierachel @Varshitha Yeah, it's nicer not to have to stop and interrupt the reading flow. 8y
60 likes7 comments
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KrisConstantReader
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Pickpick

Excellent book, way better than you'd think. Very informative and interesting. And you WILL find words that you're saying wrong for sure. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5 Stars

KrisConstantReader Read my full review and add me on Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1751560092 8y
DiruVamp @callunakeep this sounds like it could be right up our geeky alley! 🤓 8y
Chessa I both want to and am afraid of giving this to my husband. He can get a little "well, actually..." ?? 8y
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MrBook Added! 8y
KrisConstantReader @Chessa @MrBook it's so good! Also, I think it's still available on Netgalley if you guys are on there. 8y
TheWordJar I love this kind of book! 8y
callunakeep @DiruVamp oh heck yes!! MUST HAVE!! 8y
Dogearedcopy Ooh! Part of my work is researching pronunciations of words! This would be a great addition to my work library! 8y
KrisConstantReader @Dogearedcopy yes, definitely. I got the ARC on kindle but I actually feel like buying the actual book now. 8y
Pamtherunner Ok this is too awesome! 8y
Chessa Just got the galley! 8y
KrisConstantReader @Chessa yay! Hey, fyi in case you didn't notice, I think the archive date is in around 3 days or so. But it's not a hard book to review, just do it asap. 8y
shawnmooney The book sounds so interesting but I question the premise: the more I teach English as a second language the more I realize that British people and North American people pronounce hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of words completely differently, especially syllable stress. Never mind the vast regional differences within America and Canada, etc. There is no such thing as correct pronunciation beyond the micro level. 8y
KrisConstantReader @shawnmooney those are excellent points. Even with all that, I did like this book a lot...I always enjoy learning new things, especially dealing with language, books or reading. 8y
shawnmooney 👍👍👍👍👍👍💓💓💓 8y
mamaguru Perfect for this word nerd. 8y
Chessa OK I'm actually suffering from the real pronunciation of Dr. Seuss! I mean, I took German in college and high school, so I get it. BUT NOOOOOOOOOO!!!! 😱😨😁😭 8y
Chessa @shawnmooney So true! They highlight some of the differences in British/American English but default to American. One thing I've realized too is that knowing the *right* pronunciation of things is really quite an academic discussion, if the point is to communicate effectively. Like, I know that forte (strength) is pronounced "fort" not "for-tay" but it just isn't understood in conversation as clearly, so I default to the incorrect way for clarity. 8y
KrisConstantReader @Chessa that one really surprised me. Especially the fact that he himself started saying it the way everyone else does. 8y
80 likes20 stack adds20 comments
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KrisConstantReader
Pickpick

Excellent book, way better than you'd think. Very informative and interesting. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5 Stars

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StephAuteri
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Pickpick

Maybe it's the word nerd in me, but this book about commonly mispronounced words proved itself to be more addictive than one might expect. There were multiple entries where I was all "No way!" Also, I was reading this on a Friday night. Make of that what you will.

Ais This is so up my alley! 8y
alholstrom I need this in my life. 8y
WordWaller Okay this looks so good 8y
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