Say It Right: The Top 12 Words We Often Mess Up!

Now, we all know English can be a tricky beast. This language has more rules and exemptions than an inner-city parking lot. Some people end up giving their own spin on words, and before they know it, we’re all walking around, spouting sentences worse than a curved flat tire.

So, let’s break down these common words people mispronounce, and hey, who knows, you might just learn something new!

12.Niche

Woman Is Shocked
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A specialized segment of the market or a comfortable or suitable position in life – that’s a “niche” (rhymes with “itch”), not “neesh.” Let’s find your niche in the world of correct pronunciation.

11. Artic

Arctic
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“Arctic,” referring to the region around the North Pole, is often mispronounced as “ar-tik.” The correct way to say it is “ark-tik,” with the emphasis on the first syllable. Many people mistakenly pronounce the “c,” making it sound like “arctic.” To navigate the cold and frosty waters of the pronunciation of this word, stick to “ark-tik.”

10. Pronunciation

Man Talking
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An ironic start to our list, don’t you think? Most people will try to say pro-noun-ciation, but that isn’t the revival ticket. It’s pro-nun-ciation. Let’s keep it simple, like a burger with just the good stuff: meat and bun. None of that fancy, British English nonsense with the extra fillings.

9. Hunger Pains

Woman Hungry
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Here’s one we’ve all felt. But it isn’t “hunger pains”; it’s “hunger pangs.” Like a pang of guilt, you know. After all, hunger doesn’t exactly feel like a pleasure cruise.

8. Doggy Dog World

Confident Businessman
Photo Credit: Shutterstock, Photographer: Dean Drobot.

This one’s chuckle-worthy. Not sure how many worlds are run by dogs, but for us two-legged types, it’s a “dog-eat-dog world”, not a “doggy-dog world”. 

7. Take me for Granite

Upset Woman
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Unless they’re being turned into a kitchen countertop, no one should be taken for granite. The correct phrase is “Take me for granted”, unless you’re chatting with Michelangelo while he’s chiseling away on a new statue.

6. Pre-Madonna

Middle Aged Confident Woman
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Except if we’re referring to the time before Madonna introduced the cone-shaped clothing item, then it should be “primadonna.” Don’t know much about pop music history? No worries, “primadonna” is an Italian word that, when pronounced in Italian, means ‘first lady.’ No need for pop stars.

5. Proply

Woman Sitting
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This one sounds like a mispronounced dish at a Greek restaurant. It’s “properly”, properly pronounced, not “proply”. Order up!

4. Fowl Swoop

Man Curious
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Unless you’ve got a chicken performing aerial acrobatics, it isn’t a “fowl swoop”. The correct phrase is “one fell swoop”. Leave the poultry out of this one.

3. Without Further Adieu

Man Thinking
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If you’re not in the middle of a French serenade saying goodbye, it’s without further ado, not adieu. Don’t let them pull the wool over your eyes with foreign words!

2. Pedal to the Medal

Pedal Gas D
Photo Credit: Deposit Photos, Photographer: AndrewLozovyi.

Last I checked, bikes don’t go on medals. Kick that sentiment to the curb; the phrase is “Pedal to the metal.” You’re stepping on the gas, not an Olympic prize.

1. Perscription

Doctor Prescription D
Photo Credit: Deposit Photos, Photographer: [email protected].

This one lands us right in the doctor’s office. Those medical notes they hand out are prescriptions, with a healthy ‘P’, not perscriptions. Remember, an apple a day keeps the mispronunciations away. I bet some of these words are pronounced wrongly by you too! Isn’t it?

Language is full of nuances, and it’s easy to get tripped up by tricky pronunciations. However, with a little practice and attention to detail, you can ensure that you’re saying these words and phrases correctly.

First Name Fails: Prepare for Misspelling Madness!

Man Confused
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Do you ever scratch your head over which way to spell a common first name? I know we will have missing ones from the list too, so comment and tell us, what is the misspelled first name you are dealing with!  Or did your parents get really creative with spelling, and you’ve been suffering your whole life! Tell us!

Misleading Vocabulary: 10 Words Confusing Us All

Woman Confused
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This is interesting because there are words in the English language that, due to their subtle nuances or contradictory interpretations, leave even the most seasoned language enthusiasts scratching their heads.

College Woes: 12 Things I Didn’t Do as a College Student

College Student
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College is frequently hailed as the prime phase of one’s life, marked by self-discovery, learning, and personal development. It’s a season when the world appears brimming with opportunities, and each day presents a chance to acquire fresh knowledge. Nonetheless, it’s also a period when numerous individuals, in retrospect, ponder the mistakes they made and consider alternative choices.

10 Things You Start to Lose Interest in as You Get Older:

Bored Woman
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Things are awesome when you are young — especially when you are a teenager. Nothing beats sharing passion about discovering something new with your best friends. However, this changes as we age for some people. They are flocking to a recent online post that asks aging Internet users to share what no longer excites them?

10 Things That Have Disappeared in America, Did You Notice?

Woman Shocked And Removing Specs 1
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With the passage of time comes change. Some of these changes are noticed almost immediately. Still, others are so gradual they’re only realized once someone points them out. The members of an online community were asked to identify the things that have vanished from American culture, and their replies will have you searching your memory banks.

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Cassity has had a love of blogging since 2007, when she started her first blog Remodelaholic.com Since then as her interests have grown, and so has her need to share more things that she loves. Tipsaholic was born to share interesting lifestyle, family, kids, travel and financial topics, plus a bunch of stuff in between. I hope you learn some great tips and share them with those you love!

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