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Title details for You're Saying It Wrong by Ross Petras - Available

You're Saying It Wrong

A Pronunciation Guide to the 150 Most Commonly Mispronounced Words—and Their Tangled Histories of Misuse

by Ross Petras
Kathryn Petras
Audiobook (Includes supplementary content)
1 of 1 copy available
Borrow Listen to a sample Listen to a sample
1 of 1 copy available
For word nerds and grammar geeks, a witty guide to the most commonly mispronounced words, along with their correct pronunciations and pithy forays into their fascinating etymologies and histories of use and misuse.
With wit and good humor, this handy little book not only saves us from sticky linguistic situations but also provides fascinating cocktail-party-ready anecdotes. Entries reveal how to pronounce boatswain like an old salt on the deck of a ship, trompe l'oeil like a bona fide art expert, and haricot vert like a foodie, while arming us with the knowledge of why certain words are correctly pronounced the "slangy" way (they came about before dictionaries), what stalks of grain have to do with pronunciation, and more. With bonus sidebars like "How to Sound like a Seasoned Traveler" and "How to Sound Cultured," readers will be able to speak about foreign foods and places, fashion, philosophy, and literature with authority.
*Includes a downloadable PDF of the complete “How To Sound Like” sections from the book

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    January 17, 2023

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9780593683477
      • File size: 126447 KB
      • Duration: 04:23:25

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Library Journal

      Starred review from March 1, 2023

      Those who have avoided ordering mascarpone or moussaka, used "entryway" in favor of "foyer," or otherwise evaded tricky terminology will be well pleased with this book. Its sibling writing team (That Doesn't Mean What You Think It Means), famed for their word-related wit and wisdom, have compiled a collection of the most mispronounced words in American English. Is "irregardless" nonstandard or nonsense? Which is duller: dishwater or ditchwater? Narrated by the authors, audio is the ideal format for this guide to precarious pronunciation. The words run the gamut from literary, such as Dr. Seuss and Don Juan, to culinary, such as croissant and crudit�s, and everything in between. Some of the words may seem mundane (hats off to those who can handle Hermione or hegemony), but many undoubtedly will be unfamiliar. There are even some words that "humans aren't physically able to" pronounce (looking at you, Cthulhu). Each entry is concise and clever. VERDICT This audio will appeal to linguaphiles looking for a quick nonfiction listen that is amusing and informational.--Lauren Hackert

      Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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