How Well Do You Speak the English Language?

So you think you can speak the English language well. You believe you can speak without difficulty and can write confidently. But do you think everyone understands you? Are you sure you are speaking English with the correct pronunciation and the right accent as well as using the right words when writing? Learning the correct pronunciation and meaning is important to avoid vocabulary dissonance. Let us try to check the common words mistakenly spoken and written especially by people learning English as second language.

Accept / Except – to Accept [AKSEPT] meaning to receive, while Except [EKSEPT] and not [EGZEPT] meaning to take or leave out.

Aegis – this word is pronounced as [EE-JIS] and not [EY-JIS]. 

Accessory – don’t say [AS-SES-SORY] but [AK-SES-SORY], it has double C with the first C pronounced hard.

Anyway – the problem with this word is not so much with the pronunciation but by the addition of an S to make it sound “anyways”. Never add an S because the word is ANYWAY.

Ask – the S comes before the K so say ASK not AKS.

Cache – this is pronounced as [KASH] and not [KASHAY]. A cache is a hiding place or something that is being hidden.

Chaos – the word with CH can be pronounced in 3 different sounds in English such as [TCH] in Church, [K] in Christmas, and [SH] in Chef. But Chaos is pronounced as [KA-YOS] and not [CHA-YOS]. 

Cloth / Clothes – the first word is pronounced as [KLOTH] but the second word is pronounced as [KLOWTHZ], where the Z sound is being emphasized.

Counsel / Council – they are both pronounced the same [KAUN-SIL] but they have different meaning. Counsel means to advice while Council means a group that consults or advises.

Drowned – this is the past participle of Drown. Don’t say [DROWNDED] but say [DROWND].

Espresso – sometimes spelled as Expresso but this is pronounced as [E-SPRES-SO].

Elicit / Illicit – [I-LI-SET] - first word meaning to draw or bring out, second word meaning illegal or unlawful.

Eminent / Immanent / Imminent – [E-MIN-NENT] / [I-MEN-NENT] – Eminent means famous or respected, Immanent means inherent or intrinsic, and Imminent means ready to take place.

February – this is pronounced as [FEB-ROO-ARY] and not [FEB-YU-ARY].

Forte – this is not silent E. Say [FOR-TAY].

Its / It’s – Its means of or belonging to it, while It’s is a contraction of “it is”.

Illinois – a state in the US. Just like Arkansas, the final S is not pronounced. Say [I-LI-NOY] and [AR-KAN-SAW]. However, Kansas is pronounced as [KAN-SAS].

Lead / Led – they are both pronounced as [LED] but they have different meaning. Lead is a noun that is a type of a metal, while Led is the past tense of the verb Lead but pronounced as [LEED] meaning to guide on a way.

Lose / Loose – Lose is pronounced as [LUZ] meaning to misplace or not win, but Loose is pronounced as [LUS] meaning not tight or to release.

Niche – this is pronounced as [NEESH] and not [NITCH] that means a recess in a wall especially for a statue.

Precede / Proceed – Precede [PRI-SEED] means to come before while Proceed [PROW-SEED] means to go forward.

Pronunciation – this is commonly mistaken as "Pronounciation" since the root word is Pronounce. Say [PRO-NUN-SE-YEY-SHUN] and not [PRO-NAWN-SE-YEY-SHUN].

Stationary / Stationery – [STAY-SHU-NI-REE] - pronounced the same but the first word means standing still or immobile while the second word means a paper for writing.

Suit / Suite – Suit [SUT] is an outfit or garment, or a verb meaning to be proper for. Suite [SWEET] means a group of rooms occupied as a unit.

There / Their – [THEYR] – There indicates location, while Their is a possessive form or They.

There are lots of English words that are mispronounced and misspelled other than these written above. The best way to use it correctly is to look at its meaning at the dictionary or listen how it sounds through Merriam Webster online.

Speaking the English language properly can boost self confidence and can give you a better career or a brighter future. No matter how intelligent you are, no matter how excellent your grades were, but if you cannot speak the English language fluently during a job interview, you will lose an opportunity you might deserve to have. You will have a problem when you travel abroad as well. Learn the correct pronunciation and proper diction of the English Language at an English language school or school for ESL (English as Second Language).