# It's pronounced "pre-scrip-tion, **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 13, 2007, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-pronounced-pre-scrip-tion/407927 "2007-06-13T23:26:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2007, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-pronounced-pre-scrip-tion/407927/41 "2007-06-15T23:23:25Z")
[QUOTE=Jamaika a jamaikaiaké] I think you are missing the point, here. “These mis-speaking people” are not misspeaking. Nor are they speaking incorrecly. Why do you think that your personal preferred pronunciation is what the actor should use? They may sound funny to you, but you probably sound funny to them. Why do you assert that they are incorrect while you are correct? What exactly do you mean when you say that those who say ain’t are wrong? That you personally don’t like it? You are not dating yourself, no. This criticism of “ain’t” is over 100 years old. Are you over 100 years old? [/QUOTE] Your criticisms are a little difficult to address, because they’re rooted in casual speech. Would you spell the word “perscription” because many people in your area say it that way? All the sources I’ve checked would have you pronounce it “pre-”. I’m offering an opinion, a personal perspective, on the word’s pronounciation. Not a rule. Your second arguement befuddles me. The word “ain’t”, as far as I know, was only recently (what, forty years?) admitted [http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/prescriptionry](http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/prescriptionry)", although they said it tongue-in-cheek. Please, don’t let the :mad: offend you. Would a :rolleyes: be better? Tell _The Boss_ I said “hi” if you see him. Peace, mangeorge BTW; I know most of you mis-pronouncers have already checked [here](http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/prescription), but go ahead, bravely click the little red speaker thingy. 🙂 Peace, mangeorge, who loves you all anyway. ---
**Author:** ![shamrock227](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@shamrock227](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shamrock227)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2007, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-pronounced-pre-scrip-tion/407927/42 "2007-06-16T03:02:41Z")
Since we’ve already nailed down the pre-scrip-tion thing, may I just add that the place with the books is the li-b **r** ary NOT the li-berry. See that “r” in there? It’s not silent. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2007, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-pronounced-pre-scrip-tion/407927/43 "2007-06-16T03:13:45Z")
[QUOTE=shamrock227] Since we’ve already nailed down the pre-scrip-tion thing, may I just add that the place with the books is the li-b **r** ary NOT the li-berry. See that “r” in there? It’s not silent. [/QUOTE] What shamrock said! ---
**Author:** ![StuffLikeThatThere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@StuffLikeThatThere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StuffLikeThatThere)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2007, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-pronounced-pre-scrip-tion/407927/44 "2007-06-16T13:52:07Z")
[QUOTE=mangeorge] Talk about an apropos username. 😃 [/QUOTE] I’m sad to admit it, but I don’t get this at all. I was trying to ignore it, but it’s bugging me that I can’t figure it out. Can someone enlighten me? ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2007, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-pronounced-pre-scrip-tion/407927/45 "2007-06-16T14:22:04Z")
[QUOTE=StuffLikeThatThere] I’m sad to admit it, but I don’t get this at all. I was trying to ignore it, but it’s bugging me that I can’t figure it out. Can someone enlighten me? [/QUOTE] This thread is about, you know, improper grammer and stuff like that there. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2007, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-pronounced-pre-scrip-tion/407927/46 "2007-06-16T14:26:24Z")
[QUOTE=Indistinguishable] It’s definitely spelled “prescription”; on that, there’s no real debate. But, clearly, for many communities of speakers, that word is pronounced in the manner of “perscription”. We even have some representatives of such communities here, apparently. If a particular pronunciation is the norm in some speech community, how can you claim it is wrong? Or do you not believe in the legitimacy of dialectal variation? [/QUOTE] So where do you stand on the “nucular” issue? ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2007, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-pronounced-pre-scrip-tion/407927/47 "2007-06-16T15:07:51Z")
[QUOTE=mangeorge] I’m offering an opinion, a personal perspective, on the word’s pronounciation. Not a rule. [/QUOTE] I’m offering helpful advice that the noun based on “pronounce” is spelled _pronunciation_. Also, “grammer” is an improper spelling of _grammar_. 😃 **StuffLikeThatThere** : Here is a brief discussion of the difference between the appropriate uses of [_apropos_ and _appropriate_.](http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/apropos.html) ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2007, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-pronounced-pre-scrip-tion/407927/48 "2007-06-16T15:14:36Z")
Everyone I know pronounces it “script” Like you walk into the chemist (pharmacist) and say, “Can I get these scripts filled, I’ll be back in half an hour?” and he/she says, “Do you want the repeats filled now or later?” ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2007, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-pronounced-pre-scrip-tion/407927/49 "2007-06-16T15:55:14Z")
[QUOTE=mangeorge] Not “per-scrip-tion”! Dang! :mad: Peace, mangeorge [/QUOTE] You, sir, are shoveling sand against the tide. Trying to hold back the wind. Pushing a car with a chain. The labor of Syssifus. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2007, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-pronounced-pre-scrip-tion/407927/50 "2007-06-16T16:42:20Z")
[QUOTE=Runs With Scissors] Until a week ago, I went 30 years thinking it was “perogative.” [/QUOTE] Oh, no, no, no. Perogative means “pertaining to a Cajun canoe.” It also means “pertaining to a certain Polish pastry.” [QUOTE=Thudlow Boink] So where do you stand on the “nucular” issue? [/QUOTE] If something has become cool only recently, it is nucular. Things that were cool before your mother was born, though she was born a long, long time ago, are not nucular. 😉 I dare not give an example of something that is newly cool. I’m obsolete, so anything I tell you is newly cool, no longer is. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2007, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-pronounced-pre-scrip-tion/407927/51 "2007-06-16T16:47:30Z")
Hey, I’m 84 years old and until two or three years ago I thought enmity was spelled emnity. Rookies. ---
**Author:** ![StuffLikeThatThere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@StuffLikeThatThere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StuffLikeThatThere)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2007, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-pronounced-pre-scrip-tion/407927/52 "2007-06-16T16:57:29Z")
[QUOTE=Sternvogel] I **StuffLikeThatThere** : Here is a brief discussion of the difference between the appropriate uses of [_apropos_ and _appropriate_.](http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/apropos.html) [/QUOTE] Thank you. But I was trying to figure out why my username mattered. Which I have done while writing this response. I was trying way too hard and missing the obvious. I’m fine now. Thank you for your patience. I’ll just slink back into my corner. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2007, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-pronounced-pre-scrip-tion/407927/53 "2007-06-16T17:32:03Z")
I like Va-nilla ice cream. I hate vi-nella. I see movies in the theater, not a Thee-ater. I’m on the war path against “I seen it.” “woof” for wolf. The grand prize winner: people putting questions marks after statements, e.g. “I wonder if he’ll be back soon?” ---
**Author:** ![8675309](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/8/ea5d25/32.png) [@8675309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/8675309)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2007, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-pronounced-pre-scrip-tion/407927/54 "2007-06-16T18:06:31Z")
I call it a scrip. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2007, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-pronounced-pre-scrip-tion/407927/55 "2007-06-16T18:12:29Z")
[QUOTE=Sternvogel] I’m offering helpful advice that the noun based on “pronounce” is spelled _pronunciation_. Also, “grammer” is an improper spelling of _grammar_. 😃 **StuffLikeThatThere** : Here is a brief discussion of the difference between the appropriate uses of [_apropos_ and _appropriate_.](http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/apropos.html) [/QUOTE] Not when I’m speaking of my grammer Eileen! 😃 And I’ve probably been corrected fifty times on the spelling of “pronunciation”. Thank you for the reminder. Maybe it’ll stick this time. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2007, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-pronounced-pre-scrip-tion/407927/56 "2007-06-16T18:21:13Z")
[QUOTE=IntelSoldier] I like Va-nilla ice cream. I hate vi-nella. I see movies in the theater, not a Thee-ater. I’m on the war path against “I seen it.” “woof” for wolf. The grand prize winner: people putting questions marks after statements, e.g. “I wonder if he’ll be back soon?” [/QUOTE] Isn’t your grand prize winner allowed in crerative writing? I think it expresses doubt. IANAW, BTW, so YMMV. Who still says purdy (or perdy) for pretty? ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2007, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-pronounced-pre-scrip-tion/407927/57 "2007-06-16T18:32:07Z")
[QUOTE=8675309] I call it a scrip. [/QUOTE] Well knock it off! Thinking back, I believe the medical and pharmacy people all say “prescription”. I need to pick one up on Monday. I’ll pay attention. I’ll hold up my little bag and say “What’s this”. Someone will surely say “That’s your ? -scription, sir”. Tricky, eh? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2007, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-pronounced-pre-scrip-tion/407927/58 "2007-06-16T19:32:33Z")
[QUOTE=David Simmons] Hey, I’m 84 years old and until two or three years ago I thought enmity was spelled emnity. Rookies. [/QUOTE] Wow, me too, until scant moments ago. And I often said to myself “Why are the ‘n’ and ‘m’ in the opposite orders in ‘enemy’ and ‘emnity’?” Well, that’s one question (dis)solved. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2007, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-pronounced-pre-scrip-tion/407927/59 "2007-06-16T19:33:36Z")
[QUOTE=IntelSoldier] The grand prize winner: people putting questions marks after statements, e.g. “I wonder if he’ll be back soon?” [/QUOTE] Know what’s worse. People leaving off the question mark, thus turning what should be a question into an imperative. ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2007, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-pronounced-pre-scrip-tion/407927/60 "2007-06-16T19:35:30Z")
[QUOTE=mangeorge] Isn’t your grand prize winner allowed in crerative writing? I think it expresses doubt. [/QUOTE] I don’t think he’s talking about writing, but rather describing, in his way, an intonation contour, the [high rising terminal](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_rising_terminal), in which pitch rises towards the end of a phrase, in a manner popularly associated with asking a question. ETA: Well, actually, on second thought, I think he actually is talking about writing, considering the example he used, where the question mark can indeed express doubt in some styles. I just assumed it was a bash on HRTs, since I see that with some frequency, but apparently not this time. Carry on, then… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-pronounced-pre-scrip-tion/407927.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-pronounced-pre-scrip-tion/407927.md?page=4)