pronounce Archives – A Way with Words

Little Pitchers

Posted by Grant Barrett on July 19, 2014 · 1 Comment

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Pronouncing “Won”

Posted by Grant Barrett on January 12, 2013 · 1 Comment

How do you pronounce the word won? Does it rhyme with sun or Juan? Some people, depending on their regional dialect, may hypercorrect their vowels and pronounce certain words in an unusual way. This is part of a complete episode.
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Clean as a Whistle

Posted by Grant Barrett on December 24, 2012 · Add Comment

Finding that special bottle of wine can be tough, and even tougher if you’re not fluent in winespeak. “Strawberries, rhubarb, and hints of leather are present in the nose.” Say what? Plus, many folks wish each other “Merry Christmas.” But why don’t we use the word merry with anything else? Anyone ever wished you a [...]
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Pronouncing “Scone”

Posted by Grant Barrett on December 22, 2012 · 2 Comments

Do you pronounce scone to rhyme with Joan or John? In Canada, about 40 percent of English speakers go for the soft o sound, as in John, compared to two third of those in the U.K. But in the United States, 90 percent rhyme it with Joan. This is part of a complete episode.
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Chicanery

Posted by Grant Barrett on December 18, 2012 · Add Comment

How do you pronounce chicanery? Do you soften the a, as in Chicano? No! This term, meaning “trickery” or “disturbance of the peace,” is etymologically unrelated to Chicano. It is, however, a linguistic relative of the name of those concrete parking lot barriers called chicanes. This is part of a complete episode.
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Pie in the Sky

Posted by Grant Barrett on December 17, 2012 · 2 Comments

Looking for a book to read with the kids, or maybe a guide to becoming a better writer? Why are leg cramps called charley horses? And where’d we get a phrase like pie in the sky? If you happen to be tall, you’ve no doubt heard plenty of clueless comments from strangers. A listener who’s [...]
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