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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

common mis-pronunciations

364 replies

wherethewildrosesgrow · 25/08/2016 14:40

Since using Facebook, I've noticed a lot of people pronounce things wrongly,
Discusing instead of disgusting
Pacific instead of specific
Brought instead of bought
Tenderhooks instead of tenterhooks
and this ones my favourite....
chester draws instead of chest of drawers

It make me wonder if I'm unknowingly guilty of some without knowing ?
list the ones you've noticed, don't forget to own up to any your guilty of, I will.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
ChocolateFuzz · 27/08/2016 00:34

lurkingfromhome
I didn't get the information from the Internet initially but it's the only way I can think of backing up my point right now

PolkadotsAndMoonbeams · 27/08/2016 00:54

It's pronounced like a fort , but that might just be to make it rhyme.

(Oh, and in Mary Poppins, Mr Banks had dreams of "carving his 'nitch' in the edifice of time", although I notice the new musical soundtrack used 'neesh').

RhodaBorrocks · 27/08/2016 00:57

Que instead of queue or cue. I always read it in Spanish so think they're asking "What".

My Mum says "Inmature" instead of "Immature". I don't think it's a word in English?

Also - Unkempt. We used to use the word a lot when I worked with vulnerable children and I adopted the saying it like it was written approach, like everyone else. My Mum insisted it was "unkept" and the m was silent. It's bothered me for years.

Are instead of Our or vice versa.

Balling instead of Bawling. Bawling is crying, if you say you're Balling over your Grandmother's death I'll think you've got major issues. Confused

Teapot13 · 27/08/2016 00:58

"Nucular" is absolutely not acceptable in American English. It's new-clear.

We say CONtroversy, a pp said something else. Adjective is controVERsial though.

We do say "click" for clique though. Obviously I know that wouldn't be right in French but I'd never heard anybody say "cleek."

Bloodybridget · 27/08/2016 01:11

Sorry haven't RTWT (have vague hopes of getting back to sleep at some point) but reigns instead of reins for toddlers aaargh!
I never knew one's forte should be pr. fort tho' - who'd have thunk?

Bloodybridget · 27/08/2016 01:16

H'm, I see forte is under discussion. So perhaps I don't need to feel embarrassed about mispronouncing it all these years.

FoxesOnSocks · 27/08/2016 06:16

One thing I'm not sure of is 'another think coming' or 'another thing coming'. Not sure if it's an incorrect spelling/saying or they are both correct and mean different things.

Also not sure about this. I've a feeling it might be 'think' (based purely on how it appears in books I've read - the books were the standard of English was high it was 'think'). But I get think because 'thing' has been used for so long that it is now also acceptable.

Caffeinator · 27/08/2016 06:48

I know this isn't a mispronunciation but I have just seen "in grossed" on FB. I've never seen that one before.

ShowOfHands · 27/08/2016 09:43

It is another think coming. Thing is wrong.

acasualobserver · 27/08/2016 10:51

It is another think coming. Thing is wrong.

Although, as I'm sure you'll know, thing is more commonly used. And, if enough people use thing for long enough, thing will become correct. Some would argue it already has.

clam · 27/08/2016 10:52

Nooooooooo! Don't start up with the "another think/thing coming" malarky!!! We had a whole thread recently about it and it ended up in Classics.
(By the way, it's definitely "think," but a lot of ignorant people have misheard it over the years and are trying to pretend it can be either).

clam · 27/08/2016 10:52

"Thing" is not more commonly used.

RhodaBorrocks · 27/08/2016 10:54

It's another think coming, as in, "you need to think again".

Just saw someone ask on fb "Are summer uniforms aloud when the kids go back?"

PeachesAndCream1 · 27/08/2016 10:57

It's pronounce
But pronunciation

That's the correct on both.
Stupid though

DelicatePreciousThing1 · 27/08/2016 11:04

Language rocks! I love threads like this.
Someone mentioned rein/reign in. People should think about what they are writing. Only rein in could make actual sense. Jeez

chough · 27/08/2016 11:08

lurkingfromhome, thanks for clearing up the forte trouble.
I will be going with what you say, as you seem to know what you're talking about.

acasualobserver · 27/08/2016 11:08

"Thing" is not more commonly used.

Yes, it is.

TheDowagerCuntess · 27/08/2016 11:10

No it's not. It's think.

clam · 27/08/2016 11:10

Says who?

TheDowagerCuntess · 27/08/2016 11:11

The majority.

clam · 27/08/2016 11:16

Sorry, Dowager, my "says who?" was to acasualobserver.
I agree with you that it's "think."

DelicatePreciousThing1 · 27/08/2016 11:18

You have got another THINK coming makes sense. But I agree with posters who say that THING is more commonly used.

clam · 27/08/2016 11:19

Read the thread in Classics, if you've got some time to waste.

GirlOverboard · 27/08/2016 11:26

I've noticed a lot of people online saying 'I could care less' when talking about something they have no interest in. It makes no sense. If you could care less then you already care a certain amount. I think it's an Americanism that has crept over here.

TheDowagerCuntess · 27/08/2016 11:27

I know clam - we're in agreement!