# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324/21 "2006-01-11T15:10:15Z")
> [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > Yes, yes, thank you. Right after I hit enter, I realized that Guadere was laughing at me. > > šŸ˜ƒ Who? ---
**Author:** ![xcheopis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bc8723/32.png) [@xcheopis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xcheopis)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324/22 "2006-01-11T15:18:04Z")
Fructose = Fruk-tose Flaccid = Flak-sid Iodine = Io-deen ---
**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324/23 "2006-01-11T15:32:02Z")
How is ā€œzoologyā€ supposed to be pronounced? ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324/24 "2006-01-11T15:37:25Z")
zo/ology Long o, like ā€œboatā€ NOT zu/ology. Who is/was **Gaudere**? I am with the OP re libRary and FebRuary. I donā€™t like Poinsettias, so Iā€™ll abstain. I too have noticed a slurring and softening of libRary into liberry. It makes my teeth itch. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324/25 "2006-01-11T17:44:42Z")
Just read [this.](http://bvio.ngic.re.kr/Bvio/index.php/Godwin's_law) As a special added bonus you also get ā€œGodwinā€™s Law.ā€ Irregardless, Godwin is besides the point. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324/26 "2006-01-11T22:03:01Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > If thatā€™s true, itā€™s a recent change. When I was frowing up it was the ā€œrooā€ sound. Thatā€™s the way itā€™s listed (feb-yoo. . . ) in my 1980 M-W. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324/27 "2006-01-11T22:07:35Z")
> [@Inigo Montoya](#): > > Irregardless, Godwin is besides the point. [nitpick] itā€™s ā€œregardlessā€ or ā€œirregardfulā€, not irregardless[/nitpick] ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324/28 "2006-01-11T22:18:54Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > ā€¦or ā€œirregardfulā€ā€¦ You sure about that? ---
**Author:** ![Cerowyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/82dd89/32.png) [@Cerowyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerowyn)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324/29 "2006-01-11T22:21:45Z")
> [@xcheopis](#): > > Flaccid = Flak-sid I have never, ever heard _flaccid_ pronounced this way. Miriam-Webster says that itā€™s ā€œalsoā€ acceptable, but that was news to me. Nonetheless, correcting people who pronounce it the more usual (and correct) way is probably not going to win you any friends. ---
**Author:** ![Cerowyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/82dd89/32.png) [@Cerowyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerowyn)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324/30 "2006-01-11T22:24:28Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > [nitpick] itā€™s ā€œregardlessā€ or ā€œirregardfulā€, not irregardless[/nitpick] I think you done be whooshed. šŸ™‚ Two errors (ā€œirregardlessā€ and ā€œbesidesā€) in a post that links to Gaudereā€™s Law makes me think 'tis intentional. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324/31 "2006-01-11T22:37:04Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > [nitpick] itā€™s ā€œregardlessā€ or ā€œirregardfulā€, not irregardless[/nitpick] he he heā€¦irrespective of the OP, I do believe that thereā€™s so much play going on in here itā€™s going to be difficult to say whatā€™s a prank/whoosh and whatā€™s a genuine err. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324/32 "2006-01-11T23:09:16Z")
> [@Cerowyn](#): > > I have never, ever heard _flaccid_ pronounced this way. Miriam-Webster says that itā€™s ā€œalsoā€ acceptable, but that was news to me. Nonetheless, correcting people who pronounce it the more usual (and correct) way is probably not going to win you any friends. Kelsey Grammar (sp?) was on Leno or Letterman awhile back and went on and on and on about mispronunciation of this word. First Iā€™d heard about it, and Iā€™m really old and I **live** with various flaccid things. I donā€™t know about the rest of you, but Iā€™m chicken about using correct pronunciation when everyone around me is saying the word incorrectly. I donā€™t mind being corrected, but Iā€™m not comfortable correcting other people. The ā€œflak-sidā€ pronunciation is gaining ground though. I heard it on TV just this week, but I donā€™t remember where. Somebody else must have watched Grammar that night. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324/33 "2006-01-11T23:13:19Z")
> [@jackelope](#): > > **Asimovian** and **Robot Arm** , Iā€™m really surprised by this ā€œpoinsettiaā€ thing. Not only have I always pronounced it ā€œpoin-SETT-uh,ā€ but Iā€™m the type who pays close attention to word variants in speech and such, and Iā€™m pretty certain Iā€™ve never heard ANYONE pronounce the second _i_. Very curious. Must be a Mid-Atlantic thing - they pronouce the second ā€œiā€ here. ā€œPoin-sett-ee-uhā€ ---
**Author:** ![xcheopis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bc8723/32.png) [@xcheopis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xcheopis)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324/34 "2006-01-12T02:05:30Z")
> [@Cerowyn](#): > > I have never, ever heard _flaccid_ pronounced this way. Miriam-Webster says that itā€™s ā€œalsoā€ acceptable, but that was news to me. The English professors who taught at my middle-school (& college) and the Oxford Dictionary disagree with you. > [@Cerowyn](#): > > Nonetheless, correcting people who pronounce it the more usual (and correct) way is probably not going to win you any friends. Oh, horrors! Random strangers who mispronounce words might not like me! What_ever_ shall I do? Also, could you list all the times outside this thread that Iā€™ve corrected people on the pronunciation of this word? Thanks ever so. ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324/35 "2006-01-12T03:22:04Z")
And whilew weā€™re on the subject, whatā€™s the deal with people who pronounce **ancient** thusly: [ANX shent]. A friend of mine does this and when I gently try to correct him, he has no idea what Iā€™m talking about. No X! threres no X in the word, dammit! He doesnā€™t hear the difference at all. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324/36 "2006-01-12T04:23:02Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > Kelsey Grammar (sp?) . . . Gramm **e** r (not to be confused with the improper noun ā€œgrammar,ā€ which is, in fact, proper) ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324/37 "2006-01-12T04:30:32Z")
> [@jackelope](#): > > **Asimovian** and **Robot Arm** , Iā€™m really surprised by this ā€œpoinsettiaā€ thing. Not only have I always pronounced it ā€œpoin-SETT-uh,ā€ but Iā€™m the type who pays close attention to word variants in speech and such, and Iā€™m pretty certain Iā€™ve never heard ANYONE pronounce the second _i_. Very curious. Iā€™ve only ever heard it pronounced in the four syllable version: poin-sett-ee-uh. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324/38 "2006-01-12T07:10:28Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Iā€™m not really strict, but Iā€™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 ā€œiā€ before the final ā€œaā€. _Websterā€™s New Collegiate Dictionary_ says both pronunciations are correct. That would be that the final ā€œiā€ may or may not be silent. As does _Random House Websterā€™s College Dictionary_ and the _Merriam-Webster_ at the local library. ---
**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 12, 2006, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324/39 "2006-01-12T13:01:39Z")
> [@](#): > > Asimovian and Robot Arm, Iā€™m really surprised by this ā€œpoinsettiaā€ thing. Not only have I always pronounced it ā€œpoin-SETT-uh,ā€ but Iā€™m the type who pays close attention to word variants in speech and such, and Iā€™m pretty certain Iā€™ve never heard ANYONE pronounce the second i. Very curious. Ahh, kids these days. Johnny Carson used to talk about it every Christmas season on The Tonight Show, it seems. ---
**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324/40 "2006-01-12T14:29:39Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > zo/ology > Long o, like ā€œboatā€ > > NOT zu/ology. Thanks! The author (or the guy doing the revision) complains about it in _Modern American Usage_; however, the proper pronounciation (sp?) is never given. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammer-pronunciation-nazis-please-report-to-the-courtesy-phone/339324.md?page=3)