When speaking, proper pronunciation is critical to how you are perceived by others. Mispronounce any of the following words and rest assured, it will be noticed, and this is not the kind of notice that one should strive to gain. Here’s a link to the original article from Prime Magazine (thank you Justin Brown, and thank you Keith F. for sharing the link with me).
ATHLETE
Incorrect pronunciation: ath – a – leet
Correct pronunciation: ath – leet
ESCAPE / ESPRESSO / ET CETERA
Incorrect pronunciation: ex – cape / ex – presso / ex – set – err – uh
Correct pronunciation: ess – cape / ess – presso / ett – set – err – uh
NUCLEAR
Incorrect pronunciation: nuke – you – ler
Correct pronunciation: new – clee – er
PRESCRIPTION / PREROGATIVE
Incorrect pronunciation: purr – scrip – shun / purr – og – uh – tiv
Correct pronunciation: pre – scrip – shun / pre – rog – uh – tiv
UTMOST
Incorrect pronunciation: up – most
Correct pronunciation: ut – most
CANDIDATE
Incorrect pronunciation: can – uh – det
Correct pronunciation: can – da – det
SHERBET
Incorrect pronunciation: sher – bert
Correct pronunciation: sher – bet
AWRY
Incorrect pronunciation: awe – ree
Correct pronunciation: uh – rye
FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES
Incorrect pronunciation: “for all intensive purposes”
Correct pronunciation: “for all intents and purposes”
OFTEN
Incorrect pronunciation: off – ten
Correct pronunciation: off – en
And, being a librarian, I must add the following (Justin mentions it in his article [along with February and arctic], but doesn’t put it on his official list):
LIBRARY
Incorrect pronunciation: lie – berry
Correct pronunciation: lie – brair – ee
Tags: English, Justin Brown, Language, Mispronounce, Prime Magazine, Pronunciation, Words
