Language is what separates us from the animals. Only humans have the ability to use a vocabulary of words to communicate, and yet there are plenty of words that we frequently mispronounce. When we do that, do people think less of us? Here are 10 of the most often mispronounced words, along with some notes on how to avoid saying them incorrectly.
1. Athlete
Incorrect Pronunciation: ath-a-lete
Correct Pronunciation: ath-leet
Remember, there’s no vowel between the “H” and the “L” in the word. I’ve even heard announcers on ESPN get this one wrong.
2. Et Cetera
Incorrect Pronunciation: ex-set-err-uh
Correct Pronunciation: et-set-err-uh
English speakers seem to have a weakness for changing an “S” to an “X” when it follows an “E” sound. Some linguistics professors will tell you this is due to laziness on the part of the speaker. I’m not nearly that judgemental.
3. Nuclear
Incorrect Pronunciation: nuke-u-lerr
Correct Pronunciation: nu-clee-err
This one always tripped up George W. Bush, and he had degrees from Yale and Harvard! Or at least he said he did. Just keep in mind the word is spelled exactly the way it should be pronounced, and you’ll do fine. Oh, and stay away from Dubya.
4. Prescription
Incorrect Pronunciation: purr-scrip-shun
Correct Pronunciation: pre-scrip-shun
This is the one that I find myself messing up most often. I go to the pharmacy and silently pray I don’t make a total fool of myself. I am so self-conscious of this that I will frequently say, “I’m here to pick up a scrip,” so I can avoid the mispronunciation. You’re probably not as anxiety-ridden as I am in this regard, so no doubt you’ll wonder how I manage to function on a daily basis. Trust me, it ain’t easy.
5. Utmost
Incorrect Pronunciation: up-most
Correct Pronunciation: utt-most
The theory on why we miss this one when speaking is that we mentally picture a high mountain peak, which makes us say “up” instead of “ut.” Nice theory, but I’m not sure it’s accurate. I hear this one most frequently from people who live in the Northeastern United States.
6. Candidate
Incorrect Pronunciation: can-uh-dett
Correct Pronunciation: can-da-dett
Grammarians advise us to master this one by recalling this device: “It’s always wise to have a good candidate for your Candy Date.” Hope that helps you without making you snicker out loud in an important meeting.
7. Sherbert
Incorrect Pronunciation: sherr-bert
Correct Pronunciation: sherr-bet
So tempting to add that extra “R,” especially when you’re undergoing brain freeze from a frozen dessert.
8. Awry
Incorrect Pronunciation: aww-ree
Correct Pronunciation: uh-rye
Yes, I know you hardly ever hear this one mispronounced. I agree. But then a couple of weeks ago I heard three separate people mess it up big time in the same day! It caught my attention, I can assure you.
9. For All Intents and Purposes
Incorrect Pronunciation: For all intensive purposes
Correct Pronunciation: For all intents and purposes
OK, let’s get this out of the way: this is a phrase, not a word, but I hear it said incorrectly so often that I had to add it to this list. I once heard a Nobel Prize winning author I admire flub this one. I was depressed for three days afterwards. Hey, this one is easy to mess up, but it doesn’t have to be.
10. Often
Incorrect Pronunciation: off-ten
Correct Pronunciation: off-en
Yes, the “T” is supposed to be silent, but we seem to have a need to put it in there because we see it in the word. This may be the one I hear the most on a daily basis, and it’s the one that tends to make others think we don’t understand the English language. So repeat after me once more: The “T” is silent.
