Annoying words

ColleenMc · Post by **ColleenMc** » February 10th, 2021, 5:10 am

Precipitately...ugh it took me TEN attempts to get that one out. Dude, just say "quickly" or "hastily" or, as we say here in the South, "right quick."

Colleen

ColleenMc · Post by **ColleenMc** » February 10th, 2021, 5:11 am

KevinS wrote: ↑
February 9th, 2021, 8:26 pm

dronald wrote: ↑
February 9th, 2021, 8:15 pm
"Sects"

Reading mostly theology and church history, this word drives me nuts. The singular is easy but the plural sounds like a different word. I tried at least 12 times to say it right until I gave up and assumed it probably doesn't sound that bad to someone listening.
Say 'insects,' then drop the 'in.'

Oooh if you say it slowly or with the pause in the middle, it's an easy edit. Great tip!

Colleen

Post by **TriciaG** » February 10th, 2021, 7:01 am

KevinS wrote: ↑
February 9th, 2021, 8:26 pm

dronald wrote: ↑
February 9th, 2021, 8:15 pm
"Sects"

Reading mostly theology and church history, this word drives me nuts. The singular is easy but the plural sounds like a different word. I tried at least 12 times to say it right until I gave up and assumed it probably doesn't sound that bad to someone listening.
Say 'insects,' then drop the 'in.'

Sounds the same as the slurred "sects" to me. I don't pronounce the T when I say "insects". *shrug*

I think it is one of those words that people will understand in context.

ColleenMc · Post by **ColleenMc** » February 10th, 2021, 7:09 am

Another from the piece I'm editing == "shouldst" In this case, it's historic archaic language. Words like that or like "hither" "thither" etc. really irritate me in fiction where it's a stylistic choice to make it sound "old-timey" and it would be just as easy to use modern language.

Colleen

KevinS · Post by **KevinS** » February 10th, 2021, 7:47 am

TriciaG wrote: ↑
February 10th, 2021, 7:01 am

KevinS wrote: ↑
February 9th, 2021, 8:26 pm

dronald wrote: ↑
February 9th, 2021, 8:15 pm
"Sects"

Reading mostly theology and church history, this word drives me nuts. The singular is easy but the plural sounds like a different word. I tried at least 12 times to say it right until I gave up and assumed it probably doesn't sound that bad to someone listening.
Say 'insects,' then drop the 'in.'
Sounds the same as the slurred "sects" to me. I don't pronounce the T when I say "insects". *shrug*

I think it is one of those words that people will understand in context.

Yes, that's the point. But this imagining removes, one hopes, the unwanted imagery. Unless you are deathly afraid of insects. That would be a problem!

JayKitty76 · Post by **JayKitty76** » February 10th, 2021, 2:18 pm

KevinS wrote: ↑
February 9th, 2021, 8:26 pm

dronald wrote: ↑
February 9th, 2021, 8:15 pm
"Sects"

Reading mostly theology and church history, this word drives me nuts. The singular is easy but the plural sounds like a different word. I tried at least 12 times to say it right until I gave up and assumed it probably doesn't sound that bad to someone listening.
Say 'insects,' then drop the 'in.'

Hahahaha I’m with Tricia- I say insects..... not that clearly.

Typical Californian, lazy pronounciation, I suppose

“Sects”, however, I pronounce pretty clearly with a break between the t and the s. If you say it carefully enough, it won’t sound wrong.

KevinS · Post by **KevinS** » February 10th, 2021, 3:58 pm

JayKitty76 wrote: ↑
February 10th, 2021, 2:18 pm
“Sects”, however, I pronounce pretty clearly with a break between the t and the s. If you say it carefully enough, it won’t sound wrong.

hahaha! Well, I've tried for a couple of minutes now and I just can't pronounce it that way.

anneflebari · Post by **anneflebari** » February 11th, 2021, 3:34 pm

Oh "SLOUGH"! When you come across it unexpectedly and have to work out is it rhyming with "bough" (noun) or"tough" (verb)

..."the slough of avowal" for goodness sake!!! Anne F

Post by **TriciaG** » February 11th, 2021, 3:49 pm

anneflebari wrote: ↑
February 11th, 2021, 3:34 pm
Oh "SLOUGH"! When you come across it unexpectedly and have to work out is it rhyming with "bough" (noun) or"tough" (verb)..."the slough of avowal" for goodness sake!!! Anne F

Huh - I'd pronounce it to rhyme with "flu", if its context was a mire or swamp (such as the slough of despond in Bunyan).

KevinS · Post by **KevinS** » February 11th, 2021, 3:49 pm

anneflebari wrote: ↑
February 11th, 2021, 3:34 pm
Oh "SLOUGH"! When you come across it unexpectedly and have to work out is it rhyming with "bough" (noun) or"tough" (verb)..."the slough of avowal" for goodness sake!!! Anne F

I would rhyme it with 'off.' Haha!

Post by **TriciaG** » February 11th, 2021, 3:50 pm

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/slough?s=t

anneflebari · Post by **anneflebari** » February 11th, 2021, 4:04 pm

TriciaG wrote: ↑
February 11th, 2021, 3:49 pm

anneflebari wrote: ↑
February 11th, 2021, 3:34 pm
Oh "SLOUGH"! When you come across it unexpectedly and have to work out is it rhyming with "bough" (noun) or"tough" (verb)..."the slough of avowal" for goodness sake!!! Anne F
Huh - I'd pronounce it to rhyme with "flu", if its context was a mire or swamp (such as the slough of despond in Bunyan).

Had never come across "slew" pronunciation! But this character is definitely in Bunyan's slough (bough) of despond:) Guess she'll just have to slough (tough) it off ....thanks for the thoughts, English can be rough and now I've got a cough so that's enough!!! Can't believe I missed "dough"...just not thorough enough!

ColleenMc · Post by **ColleenMc** » February 12th, 2021, 8:40 am

This one took me forever to learn -- "slough" as a verb is "sluff" like sloughing off of dead skin cells. "Slough" as a noun is as you all said above "slew" or "sloo"...in fact when someone refers to a bunch of things as a "slew" they usually use this spelling ("She had a slew of problems") but I think it was originally meant to be "slough" like the slough of despond.

The varying pronunciations of "ough" must drive English as a second language learners batty. Makes me remember the Dr Seuss title "The Tough Coughs as He Ploughs the Dough"...

Colleen

maxgal · Post by **maxgal** » April 5th, 2021, 8:44 am

"Cancel" and "culture" together... even worse than "political" and "correctness."
Thank the literary deities that LV materials almost certainly would never feature these odious pairings.

But I dream in dread of sects that gasped in the slough.

JoannaHoyt · Post by **JoannaHoyt** » April 6th, 2021, 6:02 pm

"Of value." The concept indicated by the phrase is not inherently meretricious, but the doubled-up v sounds are properly vexing; either they slur together or I slow down with a jerk in a spot that does nothing to help comprehension....

I used to think of "slough" in the noun sense as rhyming with "bough" but have heard "slew" more recently... maybe it's a regional thing? I see both listed online. (I'm from New England...)