Heimlich (1920- ).
heighth
height
The analogy with \pronunciation of this word.
'erb
herb
Does, ''My friend Herb grows 'erbs,'' sound right to you? This is a US oddity generated by the melting pot (mixed dialects). Initial [h] is always pronounced outside America and should be in all dialects of English.
hi-archy
hierarchy
Remember, hierarchies go higher than you might think. This one is pronounced \archy.\
I
in parenthesis
in parentheses
No one can enclose an expression in one parenthesis; at least two parentheses are required.
interpretate
interpret
This error results from the back-formation of
\interpretate\isn't needed; we already have \
irregardless
regardless
\repeat the same sentiment with \
idn't
isn't
Again, the struggle of [s] before [n].
J
jewlery
jewelry
The root of this word is \for either \syllable: \
jist nor dis
just
As opposed to the adjective \
unaccented, which encourages vowel reduction. However, it sounds better to reduce the [ê] rather than replace it with [i].
K
Klu Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan
Well, there is an [l] in the other two, why not the first? Well, that is just the way it is; don't expect rationality from this organization.
L
lambast
lambaste
Better to lambaste the lamb than to baste him梤emember, the words rhyme. \with it.
larnyx
larynx
More metathesis. Here the [n] and [y] switch places. Mind your [n]s and [y]s as you mind your [p]s and [q]s.
Laura Norder
law and order
The sound [aw] picks up an [r] in some dialects (also \her place.
leash
lease
Southern Americans are particularly liable to confuse these two distinct words but the confusion occurs elsewhere. Look out for it.
libel
liable
You are liable for the damages if you are successfully sued for libel. But don't confuse these discrete words.
libary
library
As mentioned before, English speakers dislike two [r]s in the same word. However, we have to buck up and pronounce them all.
long-lived long-lived This compound is not derived from ''to live longly'' (you can't say that) but from ''having a long life'' and should be pronounced accordingly. The plural stem, live(s), is always used: \
M
masonary
masonry
We have been told that masons are most likely to insert a spare vowel into this word describing their occupation but we know others do, too. Don't you.
mawv
mauve
This word has not moved far enough away from French to assume an English pronunciation, [mawv], and should still be pronounced [mowv].
mannaise
mayonnaise
Ever wonder why the short form of a word pronounced \mannaise\should be pronounced \what would mayonnaise be without \
miniture
miniature
Here is another word frequently syncopated. Don't leave out the third syllable, [a].
mute
moot
The definition of \the pronunciation: [mut] and not [myut].
mis'chievous
'mischievous
It would be mischievous of me not to point out the frequent misplacement of the accent on this word. Remember, it is accented the same as mischief. Look out for the order of the [i] and [e] in the spelling, too梐nd don't add another [i] in the ending (not mischievious).
N
nother other Misanalysis is a common type of speech error based on the misperception of where to draw the line between components of a word of phrase. \comes from misanalyzing \good. Not good.
nucular nuclear The British and Australians find the American repetition of the [u] between the [k] and [l] quaintly amusing. Good reason to get it right.
nuptual nuptial Many speakers in the US add a spurious [u] to this word, too. It should be pronounced [nêpchêl], not or [nêpchuêl].
O
often
ofen
We have mastered the spelling of this word so well, its spelling influences the pronunciation: DON'T pronounce the [t]! This is an exception to the rule that spelling helps pronunciation.
ordinance
ordnance
You may have to use ordnance to enforce an ordinance but you should not pronounce the words the same.
orientate
orient
Another pointless back-formation. We don't need this mispronunciation from \have \
ostensively Ostraya
ostensibly Australia
Be sure to keep your suffixes straight on this one. This pronunciation particularly bothers Australians themselves, most of whom can manage the [l] quite easily, thank you.
P
parlament
parliament
Although some dictionaries have given up on it, there should be a [y] after [l]: [pahr-lyê-mênt]
perculate
percolate
Pronouncing this word as \(Also, remember that it means ''drip down'' not ''up.'')
pottable
potable
The adjective meaning \\means \
perogative
prerogative
Even in dialects where [r] does not always trade places with the preceding vowel (as the Texan pronunciations \differnce,\vetern,\switched.
perscription
prescription
Same as above. It is possible that we simply confuse \
persnickety
pernickety
You may think us too pernickety to even mention this one. It is a Scottish nonce word to which U.S. speakers have added a spurious [s].
preemptory
peremptory
The old pre-/per- problem. Do not confuse this word with \
prespire
perspire
\\don't need to.
plute
pollute
This one, like \plice\spose [suppose], and others, commonly result from rapid speech syncope, the loss of unaccented vowels. Just be sure you pronounce the vowel when you are speaking slowly.
(probly, prolly)
probably
Haplology is the dropping of one of two identical