Things people say wrong...a lot.

[redrosesix]

A lot of people here, including my DD, call them Reesies -- I think it might be a geographical thing in some cases.

For me, it's the incorrect expressions eg. "I could care less" -- when I see that one in the forums, I'm not sure what their meaning is until I re-read it.

I couldn't care less about what other people say, really -- just hate it when DD says something like "can I have a popsicle?" -- no matter how many times I correct her

 

[Tamarap]

My two biggest pet peeves in this area are "conversate" and "libary". For some reason people drop the first "r" in library and I don't know where conversate came from but the first time I heard someone use it was a fellow student in my masters program I have heard it several times since then. I even heard my sister use that word! I am sure there are more but those two get under my skin.

 

[momof1princess]

"nuc-u-lar" really makes me cringe. i work with the public and another one that really gets me is "urinary track" it's TRACT! i'm sure i'll think of more, but those are two biggies.

 

[moburg]

I've noticed several people say the name of Reese's peanut butter cups wrong. As far as I know, it only has the ONE way to say it. It's not like the word 'route,' or 'tomato' where you can say it two ways. And yet, I hear people pronounce Reese's as 'Ree-sees.' It's pronounced the way it looks on the package.

WHY do people pronounce it this way? What in the world makes them look at the word REESE'S and pronounce it as REE-SEES?!!

When I hear the word "REE-SEES" in person it irks me in a way that the mispronounciation of a candy shouldn't, but it does. That word is just too annoying.

And then you have REESE'S PIECES. Again, pronounced as read. But one person I know is adamant about saying it as REE-SEES PEE-SEES. Ree-sees Pee-sees! Why pronounce 'pieces' as 'pee-sees'?

Um...that turned into a strangely cathartic rant.

Your turn! What is something you hear that's not said the way it should be? (Your name, a character's name, a location's name, etc...)

Irregardless, they are tasty.

 

[moburg]

I cringe anytime someone says nuke-you-ler, but when one of our presidents said it that way (who will remain nameless, so I don't get points ) my head would almost explode.

There are at least 2 Ex Presidents who said it wrong, one Dem and one Rep.

 

[kimmar067]

My MIL calls her incontinence pads - Poseys, instead of Poise. Drives me bonkers.

...at least it's better'n "wee-wee pads"....

 

[kimmar067]

When I worked in a bridal shop so many customers would call the little boy who carried the ring "ring barrier". AH!!! Drove me crazy. It's ring bearer.

Don't even get me started on how they pronounced cumberbund.

My inlaws used to live in a town named after Oliver Wendell Holmes. The town name is Wendell. EVERYONE pronounces it Wen-dale (with a very southern accent). It should be pronounced like Wendle.

My grandma has trouble prounouncing a lot of stuff but we don't really correct her. Korea is Kor-rear. Aunt Karen is Aunt Kay-ren.

...okay, sooooooo, this is WA-A-A-AY off-topic, but HOW [and WHY??!!?!?] did your son get bacon for Christmas????

 

[merryweather20]

IN actuality using he rules of syllabication, Reese looks like a two syllable word that would be divided after the second e which is a double vowel and would long and se in the second syllable is an open syllable(vowel not closed in by a consonant like the word "me") thus making the e long. So if people mispronounce it they are just dividing it according to the rules of syllabication that they most likely generalized when they learned to read. People who pronouce it as RESE are interpreting it as a vowel consonant e pattern and make the first e long because of the final e at the end. As for the word piece that is an exception to the rule and the ie is actually a vowel digraph.


It is not the common pronounciation but it is understandable. AS far as Reese's Pieces I think they are just forcing a rhyming pattern where none exists.

While this might be more than you wanted to know it does answer the question why some people do not use the common pronounciation.

I have to call shenanigans on your post. I have never heard anyone pronounce it incorrectly and I live in a very diverse area with many English as a second language speakers.

The fancy pronounciation book I got when I was learning to read woul donly require a pronounciation like the OP suggested if it was spelled with two e's at the end.

 

[kimmar067]

Irregardless, they are tasty.

[...BTW ~ MY pet peeve is whole-nuther....]

 

[PebblesMK]

Irregardless, they are tasty.

Ha Ha!

I am annoyed when people ask if I can "borrow" them something. I'm sorry, you can borrow it FROM me, but I can not borrow it TO you. I only loan or lend things.

Also, how is nuclear supposed to be pronounced? New-clear?

 

[moburg]

Ha Ha!

I am annoyed when people ask if I can "borrow" them something. I'm sorry, you can borrow it FROM me, but I can not borrow it TO you. I only loan or lend things.

Also, how is nuclear supposed to be pronounced? New-clear?

Nu-cle-er

Not sure where Carter and Bush got Nu-cu-ler. Actually, Carter was more Nu-cyu-ler.

But as we all see every day, even otherwise intelligent people mispronounce some words for inexplicable reasons.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

"asterick" - no, it's asteriSk.
"Wallmark" - no, it's WalmarT (DH does this and it drives me crazy)
"potater" - no, it's potatO
"Sundee" - no, it's SunDAY

uh oh...I say asterick....asteriSk is too hard to say

Irregardless, they are tasty.

LOL...um...
I was going to say my pet peeve word is 'irregardless'... a lady at my work says it Allll the time. The word is Regardless...

And, my girls and I laugh at how my boyfriend says "Pinch"... he says "Peanch"

 

[Grandmouse]

Those who use the word "prostrate" instead of prostate (gland) when speaking about health issues, or when someone wants to "ax" me a question.

Or how about I "left" it go, instead of I "let" it go, and I "wore" a pink dress on my daughter today.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Nu-cle-er

Not sure where Carter and Bush got Nu-cu-ler. Actually, Carter was more Nu-cyu-ler.

But as we all see every day, even otherwise intelligent people mispronounce some words for inexplicable reasons.

FYI - Carter was assigned to Nu-cyu-ler subs while in the service after graduating from the Naval academy.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

Those who use the word "prostrate" instead of prostate (gland) when speaking about health issues, or when someone wants to "ax" me a question.

Or how about I "left" it go, instead of I "let" it go, and I "wore" a pink dress on my daughter today.

LOL..I have another girl at work who says 'I wanna ax you a question'.. She also has a hard time saying STR words... she always throws a *K* in there. I don't get it. Strikepoint becomes Skrikepoint.

And, I'll tell on myself, but for the longest time I always thought the phrase was "Up and Adam".. I didn't get it..but ohwell. LOL. I just recently learned its "Up and At Em' "

 

[mill4023]

Ha Ha!

I am annoyed when people ask if I can "borrow" them something. I'm sorry, you can borrow it FROM me, but I can not borrow it TO you. I only loan or lend things.

Also, how is nuclear supposed to be pronounced? New-clear?

new - clee - urh

 

[HardShell]

This may just be Southern, but....

I can't stand to hear people say ath-a-lete...

We can add a superfluous syllable to any word -- it's a veritable requirement down here (pronounced HE'-ah).


(BTW, I see you're in Montgomery -- that's where I work. Howdy! [pronounced HIDE'-ee for those of you elsewhere] )

 

[HardShell]

I could care less. Tomato, ta-mah-to....really don't care. And yes I say REE-SEEs. I also say HOR-SKIS for horses.

One of my personal pet peeves...

 

[sbell111]

The one thing that confuses me is this: When you are speaking of more than one peanut butter cup, is it Reese'ses ? I say it that way . As in, "I ate two Reese'ses." But it just isn't right in writing. I guess " I ate two Reese's." But I'm still gonna say "Reese'ses" .

I kinda prefer Reesees. They come in packs of two, so they are already plural. "Do you want a Reesees?" "I ate ten Reesees, then I hurfed in the car."

My inlaws used to live in a town named after Oliver Wendell Holmes. The town name is Wendell. EVERYONE pronounces it Wen-dale (with a very southern accent). It should be pronounced like Wendle.

I came from a small town in New York where Versailles Plank Road was pronounced as Ver-sails. I work in Nashville, where Demonbreun Street is pronounced Dimunbree-Un.

What can you do?

Those who use the word "prostrate" instead of prostate (gland) when speaking about health issues, or when someone wants to "ax" me a question.

My wife is the Music Driector and Director of Litergy in our church. Not too long ago, she had a cantor who, in front of a packed house, said "We prostate ourselves before the Lord".

LOL..I have another girl at work who says 'I wanna ax you a question'.. She also has a hard time saying STR words... she always throws a *K* in there. I don't get it. Strikepoint becomes Skrikepoint.

Often, I find myself interviewing people for lower level positions. Those who cannot pronounce 'Ask' or 'Frustrate' don't get hired.

 

[sbell111]

My in laws say Eye-tal-yun. Ugh.