Everyone has a word or phrase that when you hear it pronounced “incorrectly”, it just drives you nuts. What’s yours?

Irregardless, ladies and gentlemen, is a word. I learned this due to a discussion I had with my partner about words used specifically in South Florida.

Initially, I was in complete denial. Irregardless, in my mind, was not a grammatically correct word. And yet, after doing some due diligence, I came to find out that the word is indeed an official, grammatically correct, and accepted word. I decided to share the news with others who, like me, were uniformed.

The response was very passionate. Some people were thrilled to hear a word that they use was being validated, and some rejected it wholeheartedly.

This made me think: What are my trigger words?

What words do I hear, cringe, and (unintentionally) judge as “wrong” or grammatically incorrect?

One example is: Valentimes. Of course, I understand what the speaker is trying to communicate. But in my head, I make the following face…

So what can we do to listen with more intention and less judgment?

As listeners, it is normal to note when something sounds different from what you expected. It is even normal to question the “correctness” of a word or phrase. We live in a society that loves to make us think that there is a “right” and “wrong” way to do everything, including speaking a language.

However, we as listeners have an opportunity to notice our thoughts in those moments to challenge how we think about language. Is it “wrong,” or is it different from how I learned it was pronounced? And even if it is wrong, does it matter for this conversation? Do I understand what the other person is trying to communicate? If so, maybe I should focus on the overall message rather than trying to create a hierarchy of who is the most grammatically correct person at the local bagel shop.

Dr. Anne Curzan, language historian and professor of English at the University of Michigan, has coined the term “Grammando” to describe this internal desire to correct the language of others.

Grammando: (Gruh-MAN-doh), n., adj. 1. One who constantly corrects others’ linguistic mistakes. “Cowed by his grammando wife, Arthur finally ceased saying ‘irregardless’.”

Dr. Curzan makes a strong case for being curious about how language is used. The title of her book even encourages play with words by using a term that is often judged: “Says who? A Kinder, Funner Usage Guide for Everyone Who Cares About Words by Anne Curzan, Ph.D..

With that said, I am on a mission to notice those words that have my inner “Grammando” distracted from the fun we can have when we get creative with language.

Do you have any trigger words that you plan to let go of?

Dr. Xiomara Rivera Pagán

Additional Resource:

Anne Curzan TED Talk: What make a word “real”?