Commonly Mispronounced Words - On the News and Everywhere

While watching some news clips today, I found several instances of the newscasters mispronouncing words. The words were all among the most commonly mispronounced words in America. These words and phrases also show up in writing.

In the case of some phrases or words, it is easy to understand the mistake. One commonly mispronounced phrase is 'Card Sharks' which is incorrect. The correct phrase is 'Card Sharp', which is a phrase I have never heard. I have always heard this phrase incorrectly used with the word 'shark' instead of 'sharp'. Wordorigins.org has some interesting history on this conflict.

As I reviewed the lists today to check my own speaking and writing, I found one in particular of which I am guilty:

'Chomp at the bit' is WRONG. The phrase in its correct form is 'champ at the bit'. However, with how commonly this phrase is misspoken, the incorrect version is becoming more commonly accepted and does appear in some dictionaries.

One that I hear constantly that is like nails on a chalkboard to me is "Old-timers Disease". There is no such thing. The correct name of the disease is "Alzheimer's Disease".

Want to check yourself? The following links will give you more information regarding proper pronunciation and proper phrases for better speaking and writing, along with the history of my troublesome phrases. Though some of the words make all the lists below, there are some words unique to each list, too.

100 Most Often Mispronounced Words and Phrases in English from YourDictionary.Com

Fun with Words: Commonly Mispronounced Words by Rinkworks (includes pronunciation guide)

Do You Speak American? Beastly Mispronunciations from PBS.ORG website

Commonly Mispronounced Words at Infoplease.com

Card Sharp vs. Card Shark at Wordorigins.org

Champ at the bit vs. Chomp at the bit on The Grammarphobia blog

Want to brush up your skills? Get free email lessons on various aspects of the English language and Grammar:

Englishtown

Though set up as an "English as a Second Language" aid, the esl section of About.com is very helpful to anyone wishing to improve their language and grammar skills. For the emailed lessons, click HERE to choose your choice of lesson area(s).


If you don't want email, there are still resources out there you can use to improve your skills:

30+ Online Resources to Expand Your English Vocabulary from MakeUseOf.com

Shots Fired - Campus Training Video on Viriginia Tech Shootings Anniversary

Photo © Chance Agrella
On the one year anniversary of the trgaic Virginia Tech shootings, campuses across the country are utilizing a training video to help staff and students stay safe.

Titled 'Shots Fired', the video helps viewers to know what to do if they ever end up in the midst of a shooting at work, school, or elsewhere.

Though it comes with a hefty price tag, the video presented by the Center for Personal Protection and Safety does offer special licensing rates for entities such as colleges.

For more information:

Shots Fired Website with Video Trailer

Press Release at Safe Travel Institute Website about Shots Fired Video

Reuters Article about Shots Fired Video

Deseret News Article Focused on Shots Fired Video and Utah Campuses

CNN Article: Utah is Only State to Allow Guns on All Public College Campuses

Virginia Tech Remembers - Virginia Tech Website

France Sings for the USA - Pangea Day Project - May 10, 2008

May 10th has been declared Pangea Day, and the project for this day is to unite the world through film. On YouTube, many tributes are popping up featuring one nation singing the national anthem of another nation.

Thus far, there are clips with:
Kenya singing for India
Japan singing for Turkey
Australia singing for Lebanon
and France singing for the USA (Full-Length version)

There is a shorter version of the French singing video which is just most of the first verse of the anthem. The full-length version features clips of the singers learning the first two verses as well as singing it, which is more than most Americans know. Not only did these French singers learn the first two verses of our anthem, but they learned it in another language - English.

I wept as I watched the video of the French singing to the USA. It is powerful, beautiful, and moving. I have posted the short version here, but recommend that you watch the full-length version, too.

France Sings for the USA



For more information:

Pangea Day Project Page on YouTube
Pangea Day Website
Star-Spangled Banner Lyrics and Info

It will be interesting to see how this turns out, and how much of an impact this effort will have upon the world.

Finding Truth on the Campaign Trail: Which Statements are True and Which are False?

With the latest reports coming out about candidates lying about various issues, its difficult to know what is just political bashing with no basis, and what is verifiable fact.

A few examples may be found in this short video clip from FoxNews with a contributing reporter/researcher to Politifact.Com:



For more information about fact and fiction from and about the candidates, check out Politifact.Com from the St. Petersburg Times/CQ.

Global Warming: Fact or Fiction?

We hear about it a lot - this theory of global warming caused by man. But, where did it start, how much is fact, and how much is fiction? The natural history of the world indicates that temperatures much higher and much lower than they are currently are part of the natural cycle of this planet.

For your review, a few sources of information that should help explain the theory, the climate history of the world, and the current alarm being sounded:

Book: Climate Confusion: How Global Warming Hysteria Leads to Bad Science, Pandering Politicians, and Misguided Policies That Hurt the Poor
by Roy Spencer

Article: Definitive Proof: Majority of Scientists Do Not Support Man Made Warming Theory

Article Series: Climate Changes - The Deniers

Video: CBC - Global Warming Doomsday Called Off (almost 44 minutes long)

Video: Greenhouse Conspiracy (made in 1990 - less than 52 minutes)

Video: Global Warming or Global Governance? (less than 6 minutes - with many clips from the below special)

Video: The Great Global Warming Swindle (each segment of this 8-segment special is less than 10 minutes)

Segment 1:

Segment 2:

Segment 3:

Segment 4:

Segment 5:

Segment 6:

Segment 7:

Segment 8:

Tips for Buying Organic

Photo © Chance Agrella
I created a post the other day regarding Sustainable Living, Eating Local Foods, and Co-Ops.

Today, I came across this great little segment from a local news station featuring tips for buying organic food. The text and short video clip (on the same page - may be watched on that page) may be viewed by clicking HERE.

Some of the tips include knowing the best foods to focus on, what labels to look for, how to save money, and warnings about 'misting' in grocery store produce sections.

Seeing Racism Where There is None - LeBron James Vogue Cover

To some, the heart and root of the racism issue is largely created and fed into by those who continue to stir it up - and accuse others of the racism they, themselves, paint everything with.

A recent example of this is the honor bestowed upon basketball athlete LeBron James. He was asked to appear on the cover of Vogue magazine - as just one of three men ever to grace its cover.

He and model, Giselle, were 'playing around' during the shoot, and it was determined that the best shot taken in the session was one that featured him as he is seen on the basketball court: fierce in expression and bouncing the basketball.

Now the news and online community is afire with people crying 'racism' because they choose to see the cover as portraying him as 'King Kong' with the 'white woman'. Technically, Brazilian model Giselle is not 'white', but that is not what is seen by the racists who only see things in 'black and white' with a racist undertone across the board.

See what I mean in this video from FoxNews:



The really sick and sad thing about the race-war-mongers of every race is that to them, everything is about race. Had it been a white man chosen for the cover in that same pose it would have been classed as racist for NOT featuring a black man. How long before we hear from the other racial hate-mongers about how they were 'dissed' (yet again) because their race was not represented on the cover?

There is no way to win with those who come in after the fact, spinning everything said and done into an attack on their race. Their hate and victim mentality is sad, sick, and dangerous. It further divides our country despite their 'claims' that what they want unity and equality.