standard english doesn't mean they're dumb; it just means they don't speak standard english. Xander on December 2, 2008 7:15 pm Disagree with "jewelry." It has 2 syllables, not 3. It is /JULE-REE/. Nobody pronounces jewel /JEW-ELL/, it's /JULE/, hence /JULE-REE/. aravah on December 2, 2008 7:21 pm Are people who say preventative mispronouncing preventive or are they correctly using and pronouncing the word preventative ? Euthyphro on December 2, 2008 7:24 pm Nice bit overall, but I have to agree that it does come off as regional. One problem with the "Realtor" pronunciation, though, the term is a trademark of the NRA (National Realtor Association) according to their own pronunciation and documentation it is a two syllable word "REEL-TOR" not a three syllable word. Cheers Clare Lynch on December 2, 2008 7:27 pm I have to say, some of these do seem overly prescriptive and a bit snooty to me. One example that sticks out is February. For a start, since when has spelling been a helpful guide to correct pronunciation? And the fact that, as you acknowledge, everyone says it without the "r" suggests that the "r"-less pronunciation is now standard. Neither I nor anyone I know pronounces the "r" (and I have three degrees, including one from the University of Cambridge, so there!) If I came across anyone consciously trying to pronounce the "r" I'd think them socially insecure and affected. Like an American trying to be a bit too English and getting it wrong, in fact.