# Grammer & Pronunciation Nazi's Please Report to the Courtesy Phone. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 10, 2006, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324 "2006-01-10T16:08:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324/1 "2006-01-10T16:08:15Z")
It.is. **Li-brar-ee.** Not **Li-barry**. There seems to be an epidemic of \* Libary\* around me and I’m about to have a stroke. Thank you and have a nice day. ---
**Author:** ![TommyTutone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@TommyTutone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TommyTutone)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324/2 "2006-01-10T16:09:24Z")
It is gramm **a** r, not grammer **e** r. Sorry, just had to. ---
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324/3 "2006-01-10T16:10:06Z")
It’s also Nazis, with no apostrophe. It’s a plural, not a possessive. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324/4 "2006-01-10T16:19:09Z")
> [@TommyTutone](#): > > It is gramm **a** r, not grammer **e** r. > > Sorry, just had to. **Gaudere** strikes again! ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324/5 "2006-01-10T16:30:55Z")
> [@TommyTutone](#): > > It is gramm **a** r, not grammer **e** r. > [@Malacandra](#): > > **Gaudere** strikes again! **Gaudere** is, in fact, having quite the field day. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324/6 "2006-01-10T16:44:11Z")
I’m not really strict, but I’m annoyed by _Feb-yoo-ary_ and the omnipresent _nuk-yoo-lar_. It must be genwetic. My daughter MilliCal was correcting someone about _Pointsettia_ the other day. Gotta remember that “i” before the final “a”. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324/7 "2006-01-10T16:46:22Z")
I’m not really strict, but I’m annoyed by _Feb-yoo-ary_ and the omnipresent _nuk-yoo-lar_. It must be genetic. My daughter MilliCal was correcting someone about _Pointsettia_ the other day. Gotta remember that “i” before the final “a”. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324/8 "2006-01-10T16:50:58Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > It must be genwetic. My daughter MilliCal was correcting someone about _Pointsettia_ the other day. Gotta remember that “i” before the final “a”. There are only two 't’s in poinsettia. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324/9 "2006-01-10T16:58:44Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > It must be genetic. My daughter MilliCal was correcting someone about _Pointsettia_ the other day. Gotta remember that “i” before the final “a”. No ‘t’ sound in the first syllable; _poinsettia_. ---
**Author:** ![Hoodoo\_Ulove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/58956e/32.png) [@Hoodoo\_Ulove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoodoo_Ulove)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324/10 "2006-01-10T17:32:44Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > I’m not really strict, but I’m annoyed by _Feb-yoo-ary_ and the omnipresent _nuk-yoo-lar_. > It must be genwetic. Feb-yoo-ary is the preferred pronunciation in the dictionaries I checked. "Feb-roo-ary sounds really funny to me. Now nuk-yoo-lar is another story, though it has its defenders. The fact that Bush says it that way counts agin it in my book. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324/11 "2006-01-10T17:41:08Z")
> [@Robot Arm](#): > > No ‘t’ sound in the first syllable; _poinsettia_. For that matter, I’ve never heard anyone pronounce the second “i”; I grew up in my mom’s flower shop, and it was always pronounced “poin-SETT-uh.” That’s how I say it. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324/12 "2006-01-10T18:03:15Z")
> [@jackelope](#): > > For that matter, I’ve never heard anyone pronounce the second “i”; I grew up in my mom’s flower shop, and it was always pronounced “poin-SETT-uh.” That’s how I say it. Merriam-Webster confirms that either pronunciation is correct, although the pronunciation with the second “i” is given first. I’ve always said it without the second “i”, but I don’t know where I picked that up. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324/13 "2006-01-10T18:13:58Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > Merriam-Webster confirms that either pronunciation is correct, although the pronunciation with the second “i” is given first. I’ve always said it without the second “i”, but I don’t know where I picked that up. Really? From [www.m-w.com](http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/poinsettia): > [@](#): > > Pronunciation: poin-'se-tE-&, ÷point-, ÷-'se-t& and from their [pronunciation guide](http://www.m-w.com/help/pronguide.htm): > [@](#): > > \ ÷ \ The obelus, or division sign, is placed before a pronunciation variant that occurs in educated speech but that is considered by some to be questionable or unacceptable. This symbol is used sparingly and primarily for variants that have been objected to over a period of time in print by commentators on usage, in schools by teachers, or in correspondence that has come to the Merriam-Webster editorial department. **CalMeacham** , sorry if we’re coming down too hard on MilliCal, but you know how heated these grammar debates can become. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324/14 "2006-01-10T18:34:28Z")
> [@Robot Arm](#): > > Really? From [www.m-w.com](http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/poinsettia): \…and from their [pronunciation guide](http://www.m-w.com/help/pronguide.htm):\ Your point is taken, and my calling it confirmed was a mistake. But while they did not provide an audio example of the second pronunciation (where the first “t” is enunciated), they did provide an audio example of the third version (without the second “i”). I will certainly grant that the fact it’s used “in educated speech” doesn’t make it correct. But apparently, it can’t definitively be said to be wrong, either. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324/15 "2006-01-10T18:35:21Z")
> [@](#): > > Feb-yoo-ary is the preferred pronunciation in the dictionaries I checked. "Feb-roo-ary sounds If that’s true, it’s a recent change. When I was frowing up it was the “roo” sound. Don’t worry about harming MilliCal’s feelings. I’m just amazed that she’s pedantic on this point – I never talked to her about it, and I don’t think Pepper Mill did, either. I don’t know where kids pick up this stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324/16 "2006-01-10T18:40:58Z")
> [@TommyTutone](#): > > It is gramm **a** r, not grammer **e** r. > > Sorry, just had to. Yes, yes, thank you. Right after I hit enter, I realized that Guadere was laughing at me. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![brownie55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f14d63/32.png) [@brownie55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brownie55)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324/17 "2006-01-10T18:50:51Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > If that’s true, it’s a recent change. When I was **frowing** up it was the “roo” sound. > > Don’t worry about harming MilliCal’s feelings. I’m just amazed that she’s pedantic on this point – I never talked to her about it, and I don’t think Pepper Mill did, either. I don’t know where kids pick up this stuff. When I “frow up” it makes a RETCH sound… ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324/18 "2006-01-10T19:21:23Z")
I say ‘lie-bree’. And the Cambridge Dictionary says I can, which is good enough for me. ---
**Author:** ![Imasquare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Imasquare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imasquare)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324/19 "2006-01-10T23:05:52Z")
> [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > It.is. **Li-brar-ee.** Not **Li-barry**. > There seems to be an epidemic of \* Libary\* around me and I’m about to have a stroke. > Thank you and have a nice day. What about Libree? There’s a lot of that where I am. Also battree. This sort of stuff used to annoy me a lot more than it does now. It really isn’t that important, just trivial differences in accent. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324/20 "2006-01-11T07:04:06Z")
**Asimovian** and **Robot Arm** , I’m really surprised by this “poinsettia” thing. Not only have I always pronounced it “poin-SETT-uh,” but I’m the type who pays close attention to word variants in speech and such, and I’m pretty certain I’ve never heard ANYONE pronounce the second _i_. Very curious. “Accepted” pronunciation or not, I don’t think I’ll be changing any time soon. I doubt I’ll get kicked out of any clubs for mispronouncing it–especially the kind that would have someone like me as a member. 😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324.md?page=2)