Do You Correct People Who Mispronounce or Use a Word Incorrectly?

[why]

nm

 

[Teacher]

Originally Posted by rach2jlc

Were we on the wrestling team together?

I was, in fact, a wrestler. Were you that handsy guy...?

 

[RSS]

Do I correct people who mispronounce a word?

--If the person is a member of my family ... yes I do ... preferabley in a private setting.
--If the person works for my firm ... yes, again ... and without others present.
--If any person mispronounces my name ... I correct them immediately ... and politely.
--Otherwise ... no.

Do I correct people who use a word incorrectly?

--If the person is a member of my family ... yes I do ... preferably in a private setting.
--If the person works for my firm ... yes, again ... and without others present.
--Otherwise ... no.

 

[Teacher]

Originally Posted by RSS

Do I correct people who mispronounce a word?

--If the person is a member of my family ... yes I do ... preferabley in a private setting.
--If the person works for my firm ... yes, again ... and without others present.
--If any person mispronounces my name ... I correct them immediately ... and politely.
--Otherwise ... no.

Do I correct people who use a word incorrectly?

--If the person is a member of my family ... yes I do ... preferably in a private setting.
--If the person works for my firm ... yes, again ... and without others present.
--Otherwise ... no.

Ah, but what if they use your name incorrectly?

 

[SkinnyGoomba]

Originally Posted by Douglas

My father has gotten to a point in his life where he has begun mispronouncing words he used to pronounce correctly all his life. It drives me nuts, so much to the point that I even went online to see if it was a sign of some neurological disorder or something. I can't think of a good example right now but I will remember and edit my post.

One word I can never get much consensus on is "flaccid." Everything seems to suggest it should be pronounced with a "k" sound in it (think of every other cc word you know) and there's a book of "Beastly Mispronunciations" that mentions it as well, but say flaksid in conversation and everyone will think you are a moron. It doesn't help that this word tends only to come up in loaded situations anyways...

I knew an older person who used to do this on purpose as well, he used to use it as a tool to see who would be the person to correct him.

Its something you can get away with at a certain age and social status, but if you arent, than people will think you're an idiot.

 

[Agnacious]

If I ever met Wilford Brimley I am not sure I could stop myself from mentioning diabetes just so I could correct him.

 

[RSS]

Originally Posted by Teacher

Ah, but what if they use your name incorrectly?
I share my name with a significant corporate thief ... so I'm used to it.

EDIT: I just Googled myself ... 250K hits ... mostly his, for which I am truly thankful.

 

[Brian278]

Originally Posted by Douglas

My father has gotten to a point in his life where he has begun mispronouncing words he used to pronounce correctly all his life. It drives me nuts, so much to the point that I even went online to see if it was a sign of some neurological disorder or something. I can't think of a good example right now but I will remember and edit my post.

One word I can never get much consensus on is "flaccid." Everything seems to suggest it should be pronounced with a "k" sound in it (think of every other cc word you know) and there's a book of "Beastly Mispronunciations" that mentions it as well, but say flaksid in conversation and everyone will think you are a moron. It doesn't help that this word tends only to come up in loaded situations anyways...

My dad does this too on occasion. Drives me nuts, especially because the mispronunciations are not so glaringly far off to warrant a gentle correction. He generally just speaks more imprecisely than he used to, as far as I can remember, which can be exasperating because I consciously try to be exact with my words so I notice everything.

Correcting him just results in mild annoyance and has no effect, though, so I've mostly just taken to confirming what he meant and moving on with the conversation.

 

[Rusty G.]

Probably best to correct somebody privately if you're going to do it.

 

[Teacher]

Originally Posted by RSS

I share my name with a significant corporate thief ... so I'm used to it.

EDIT: I just Googled myself ... 250K hits ... mostly his, for which I am truly thankful.

 

[Gravitas]

Originally Posted by Douglas

One word I can never get much consensus on is "flaccid." Everything seems to suggest it should be pronounced with a "k" sound in it (think of every other cc word you know) and there's a book of "Beastly Mispronunciations" that mentions it as well, but say flaksid in conversation and everyone will think you are a moron. It doesn't help that this word tends only to come up in loaded situations anyways...

Hahaha, I don't think i've ever heard someone pronounce it that way. I have always said/heard it pronounced rhyming with acid (and the internets confirm this).

Anyway, I find misuse and mispronunciation, coupled with poor spelling and grammar to be huge turn-offs.

 

[RSS]

Originally Posted by Douglas

Oh, I remember now - the worst one is that he says "Viagra" like vee-AHH-grah. Which, like flaccid, falls into the awkward category, and is further compounded by the fact that it's my FATHER talking about a drug for ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION.
Not to worry ... you too will talk of it one day.

 

[HomerJ]

A friend used to mispronounce genre as "jenner".

I left it alone and he figured it out eventually, how, I'm not sure.

 

[voxsartoria]

Originally Posted by RSS

EDIT: I just Googled myself

- B

 

[AR_Six]

Occasionally I blurt out the right pronunciation as an impulse and then feel bad about it. Generally, no. However if you write it down somewhere, on a sign or an announcement, check your spelling and grammar. That's not casual conversation. I will correct that in loud, red ink if I have a pen handy.