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There are spelling rules in English, even if they are difficult to understand, so pronouncing a word correctly
usually does help you spell it correctly. Here are the 100 most often mispronounced English words
("mispronunciation" among them).
Do you get confused between Antarctic and Antartic? Only one is correct, and the same goes for the rest of
these pairs of mispronounced words that begin with A.
This list of commonly confused words may be a blessing in disguise! Take a look at these commonly
mispronounced words that begin with B.
• Do say: barbed wire | Don't say: bob wire (or barb wire)
No, this word wasn't named for anyone called Bob or Barb. It should be barbed wire, indicating that
the wire has tiny barbs on it.
• Do say: barbiturate | Don't say: barbituate
Many people leave out the [r] sound when pronouncing this word. However, the
word barbiturate comes from the class of drugs made with barbituric acid.
• Do say: a blessing in disguise | Don't say: a blessing in the skies
This phrase is no blessing if it comes from the skies. Pronounce it correctly and help maintain the
disguise.
• Do say: business | Don't say: bidness
The change of [s] to [d] before [n] is from the dialect of the Southern United States. But it’s
especially important to pronounce this word correctly in business contexts.
Some people consider mispronounced words to be a cacophony on their ear! Develop a cache of perfectly
pronounced term with this list of words that start with C.
There’s no escape from judgement if you mispronounce a word incorrectly. However, studying this list of
commonly mispronounced words that start with D and E can help you out, especially when speaking in front
of a crowd.
Several words on this list are mispronounced because people think they require a French flair. However,
words like foyer are pronounced just as they’re spelled in American English.
It can be difficult for others to interpret your meaning when they hear you mispronounce basic words. Scan
these words to see which others you might be mispronouncing.
Learning how to speak English correctly means that you’re liable for any miscommunication caused by
pronouncing words incorrectly. Get your pronunciations straight with these words that start with J and L.
It may feel mischievous to pronounce words like nuclear and moot as nucular and mute. However, these
pronunciations can confuse your listener. Take a look at this list of commonly mispronounced words that
start with M and N.
Need to orient yourself in these commonly confused words? Once you learn how to pronounce them, you’ll
find ways to say them often!
If you feel like this list is a bit pernickety, you’re probably right. But it’s never a bad idea to let the correct
pronunciation of a word percolate for a bit longer before you say it out loud.
Regardless of what you’re talking about, pronouncing words correctly is always a relevant skill. See how
many R words you've been mispronouncing.
Hearing common words said in the wrong way supposedly makes English teachers stamp their feet. Keep
your teacher happy by clearing up these words that start with S and T.
When working on your verbiage, try your utmost to make your meaning as clear as possible to listeners.
There may be more commonly mispronounced words that start with U and V than you think.
Did this alphabet of commonly mispronounced words whet your appetite for more? If so, examine your own
speech and see how many words you may be pronouncing incorrectly.
• Do say: wasn't | Don't say: wadn't
That pesky [s] before [n] again. See "bidness" and "idn't."