Words at Play : 10 Words With Confusing Pronunciations
#3: Often
Pronunciation:
\ˈȯ-fən, ÷ˈȯf-tən\
Definition:
: many times : on many occasions
About the Word:
When people look up the pronunciation of often, they may overlook the obelus mark (also known as the division sign). The obelus is used in the dictionary to mark a pronunciation that occurs in educated speech but is considered by some to be questionable or unacceptable. Pronouncing the "t" in often is one such variant, although in the seventeenth century, that was the preferred pronunciation.
More Words at Play
