Unionized and Unionized 
Unionized : as in belonging to a Union
Unionized : as in not ionized (For some reason, the second word is more appealing to me)
I have blanched, slivered almonds to put on my cereal. I’m not tempted to say “silvered”, but my brain always thinks “balanced” almonds.
There’s a subtle difference between subtleties and subtitles.
That’s an interesting word because, until you know what it means, you cannot know whether the indefinite article is “a” or “an”. Anybody know another word like that?
I believe it was Asimov who pointed out that “unionized” functions as a shibboleth to distinguish chemists from everybody else.
ETA: While trying to verify this by checking the Wikipedia entry for shibboleth, I found this photo taken at a protest in New Orleans;
Upon looking that up, my first instinct as to how to pronounce “Tchoupitoulas” turned out to be the correct one.
Quixotic should be, in my mind, pronounced key-hot-ic.
Dude’s name was Don Key-hote-eh. Not Quicks-ah-tee. If that makes any sense…
Yeah, because of the j in Quijote.
The only way I can remember the UK spelling manoeuvre is to hear it in my head as mano-ayOO-vre.
I didn’t see outlier mentioned. I always think and offer say it as OUT-lee-er.
I’m also dubious that there aren’t a lot of people who say OB-fyuh-skate. I picked up that pronunciation from hear it, not reading it. I wouldn’t naturally add the Y.
What’s up with UK spellings that have extra vowels, in combinations that aren’t normal for English? Things like “encyclopaedia” or “paedophile”? That spelling makes me want to pronounce it as en-cy-clo-pay-ee-dee-uh.
I knew the word “shoulder” a long time before I saw it spelled out. I’m in the car and ask, “What is should-er?” Big laffs at my expense. I still see it as should er.
Don’t get me started on “solder.”
I don’t “read” it wrong, exactly, but in my head I always call Benjamin Netanyahu “Benjamin Netscape 'n Yahoo”.
The name Heather in print is, to me, always heat her.
mmm
I mentioned panache in that thread from a month ago-“pan-Nock”- seemed pretty logical, if “ache” is said with a k sound, plus the harder sound matches the boldness of the definition. So I’ll keep saying it that way, at least in my mind.
As a birdwatcher, I likewise got another one: buteo. I’ve typically heard it said as BUTE-e-o, but for a badass mofo bird of prey that sure sounds weak, doesn’t it? No it’s not a breakfast cereal/cosmetic product (“Beauty-Ohs, when you need that glowy sexy complexion for a killer night out-and it is also a part of this complete breakfast!”).
No, it’s bu-TEY-oh, much more fitting for a flying diving killing machine. Gonna stick with that one too.