Mispronouncing Words Can Damage Your Credibility

Have you ever feared sounding stupid? You probably don’t realize it, but common mispronunciations can rob you of respect. If you’re mispronouncing a few key words, people may peg you as less intelligent than you really are.

I spend nearly every business day in recording studios, projecting page after page of marketing scripts for corporate clients. I read thousands of pages out loud every year. As a voice artist, my words are heard and not seen.

I’ve learned how important proper pronunciation is and heard how easy it is for a sloppy tongue to ruin an otherwise sparkling image. I’ve resolved to help business professionals overcome these bad habits.

I’ve put together my top ten list to help solve these credibility killers. It’s easy to retrain your vocabulary. Just take note of the right pronuncia- tions and practice saying them out loud correctly.

Work them into your conversations for the next week and you can change your habits. This communication challenge can help you learn which words may be damaging your credibility:

Ten most commonly mispronounced words

1. “R” instead of “Our”
“R” is a letter. “Our” is a complete word. Don’t slip past the “ou” – it’s pronounced like “ouch.”

2. “Probly" for “Probably”
Don’t forget to pronounce the “ab” in the middle. It’s sounds like “uh” in the middle.

3. “Fur" for “For”
Would you like to go “fur” ice cream? Not exactly. “For” is pronounced like the number four.

4. “Tuh" instead of “To”
Did you go “tuh” to the mall? Why not go to the mall?

5. “Jist" instead of “Just”
“Jist a minute?” Do you see the letter “i?” Instead, substitute a soft “u” like “uh” and you’ll have it right.

6. The lost letter "L"
Did you do “aw-right?” Does your wife “aw-ready” have diamond stud earrings? Don’t lose the “l” in words like already!

6. The added"X"
Do you say “excape,” “expecially,” or “excetera?” Do you drink “expresso?” Axe the “x” and give them the “s” they deserve.

8. “Feb-you-ary" instead of “February”
Think beer. Remember to pronounce the “brew” in the middle of the sweetest month.

3. “D" for “T”
A common example of this is to say “qualidy” when you really mean “quality.”

3. “Pitcher" for “Picture”
The first one’s bound for the Hall of Fame. Chances are you mean to say the one that hangs in the hallway or sits on your desk. Remember the “c” in picture.

Congratulations on the words you pronounced correctly! If you found some weaknesses, substitute the right pronunciations and you can retrain your tongue. Soon, you’ll overcome bad habits and begin to Communicate like a Pro.™

© Copyright Connie Dieken 2006-2009. All Rights Reserved.

Connie Dieken, the president of onPoint Communication, is an executive communication advisor and coach. She is the winner of a 2006 NAWBO Top Ten Women Business Owners Award, an inductee of the Radio and TV Broadcasters Hall of Fame, and the co-author of Communicate Clearly, Confidently and Credibly. She conducts workshops, keynotes, and coaching sessions and can be reached at 800.505.9480 or via e-mail at connie@onpointcomm.com.

Some Related Articles:

How to Cure a Verbal Virus
Six Sloppy Speech Habits
My Top 10 Peeves in Spoken Communication
Word Stress: Does It Really Matter?