I'm pretty solid on these, except the very last ("often"). And I'll note there that Dictonary.com says, "Although it is still sometimes criticized, often with a [t] is now so widely heard from educated speakers that it has become fully standard once again." So there. #ddtb
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10 Words You Mispronounce That Make People Think You’re an Idiot
It's been said, though we're not sure by whom, that it is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. But sometimes we've got to open our mouths so use…
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I hate word Nazis. LOL While sometimes I think they are justified, I also think that they nitpick way to much (like often-I really don't think people think you are an idiot of you say it with a T).
They left out “neh-goh-see-ate.”
I swing both ways on this — I can be a grammar and spelling Nazi, especially on the job, because being correct conveys professionalism and improves clarity. On the other hand, as a historian, I recognize that these things evolve over time, no matter how irksome they may be, and that dictionaries are mostly descriptive, not prescriptive.
The one on the list that drives me batty is the popular mispronunciation of "nuclear." I comfort myself (and give contemporary presidents some slack) slightly with the knowledge that Jimmy Carter — who served as an engineering officer on a nuclear submarine, pronounced it "nucular," too.
One might think that saying "nook-you-lar" makes one sound like a dumbass, but one would be wrong. At least, not nearly as much as saying "one" repeatedly where pronouns would be a better fit.
I say this because Jimmy Carter always said "nook-you-lar" and he had a degree in nuclear engineering.
I must admit to annoyance at people who mix up tenses, plurals, possessives, etc. Especially when they're me.