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Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Mispronouncing mischievous is now acceptable, reveals Susie Dent... but do YOU know how to say it?
Countdown's Susie Dent has claimed that the common mispronunciation of mischievous as 'mischiev-i-ous' is actually now acceptable. Despite the pronunciation being deemed 'non-standard' by the Merriam-Webster dictionary, Dent believes it is a good example of how language evolves. In the English language, only mischievous and grievous end with 'ievous', while at least 10 words end in 'vious', including commonly-used words like 'previous' and 'devious'. Dent, who has been working on Countdown since 1992, put the mispronunciation down to a confusion or mimicry of the words 'devious' and 'previous', reports the Times. Speaking at the Hay Festival, Dent said: 'Something which used to rile me was people pronouncing "mischievous" as "mischiev-i-ous". But now it's everywhere and there is a very good reason why people do. 'It's the way English people have always pushed out a pronunciation that is no longer familiar to them. We don't have any "ievous" words any more, and they're pushing it to something that they do know, and that's "evious". 'So I have now decided it's a fascinating snapshot of how language works and it doesn't really bother me, not anymore.' However, the mispronunciation is pet peeve for many. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Richard Dawkins wrote: '"Mischievous" has no third "I" and is pronounced with the stress on the first syllable. 'But a mutant 'I' + stress on 2nd syllable is spreading. As a mischievous memeticist, I'm curious about the selection pressure driving it. Is it easier to say? Or is some celebrity being copied?' Also taking to social media to share his frustration last week was author and children's laureate, Frank Cottrell-Boyce. He shared a post that read: 'Even people on Radio 4 can't pronounce "mischievous" now.' The pronunciation and spelling of 'mischievous' dates back to the 16th century, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. 'Our pronunciation files contain modern attestations ranging from dialect speakers to Herbert Hoover,' it added. During her talk, Dent also revealed the words that she loves but are no longer used as much. This includes the word 'respair', the word opposite to 'despair' and commonly heard in the 16th or 17th century, meaning fresh, hope or recovery. She also included 'ipsedixitism', which means a dogmatic assertion that something is true without providing supporting evidence or proof. The Countdown star went on to say that she believes people are afraid of dealing with her in case they take her of a 'a bit of linguistic pedant'. She revealed she once had a builder tell her that he 'could never bring himself to text me' because he thought she 'needed semi-colons in my text messages'. Dent previously spoke to MailOnline about the historic words she wants to see back in the English language. One of her many favourites is 'nodcrafty' which, despite being from the 19th century, is perfect 'for any Zoom meeting'. 'To be nodcrafty is to have the knack of nodding your head as if you're really following along but actually you tuned out ages ago,' she said. 'I think that's quite an important skill.' Another little-know word, 'apricity', describes 'the most perfect feeling' – the warmth of the sun on your back on a winter's day. 'There's only one record of it in the dictionary, from 1623,' Susie explained. 'It's almost like a linguistic mayfly – it just survived for a day it seems and disappeared. 'But weather forecasters are beginning to use it which is brilliant.' Commonly mispronounced words in English This list outlines an array of terms that people often find themselves stumbling over, or incorrectly pronouncing, according to literacy expert Mubin Ahmed. Mischievous Mispronunciation: mis-CHEE-vee-us Correct pronunciation: MIS-chiv-us 'Many people add an extra syllable, pronouncing it as 'mis-CHEE-vee-us,' but the correct pronunciation is 'MIS-chiv-us,' with only three syllables,' said the literacy expert. Schedule Mispronunciation: SKED-yool Correct pronunciation: SHED-yool Mubin said: 'In British English, 'schedule' is traditionally pronounced as 'SHED-yool.' However, the American pronunciation 'SKED-yool' is becoming more common due to cultural influences.' Pronunciation Mispronunciation: pro-nounce-ee-A-shun Correct pronunciation: pro-nun-see-A-shun 'Ironically, the word 'pronunciation' is often mispronounced. The correct form is 'pro-nun-see-A-shun,' not 'pro-nounce-ee-A-shun,' insisted Mubin. Espresso Mispronunciation: ex-PRESS-oh Correct pronunciation: es-PRESS-oh 'There is no 'x' in 'espresso.' The correct pronunciation is 'es-PRESS-oh', said the literacy expert. Arctic Mispronunciation: AR-tic Correct pronunciation: ARK-tik The literacy expert claimed: 'The word 'Arctic' has two 'c's,' and both should be pronounced. The correct pronunciation is 'ARK-tik'. Nuclear Mispronunciation: NOO-kyoo-lar Correct pronunciation: NOO-klee-ar 'The word 'nuclear' is often mispronounced as 'NOO-kyoo-lar.' The correct pronunciation is 'NOO-klee-ar', said Mubin. February Mispronunciation: FEB-yoo-air-ee Correct pronunciation: FEB-roo-air-ee 'Many people skip the first 'r' in 'February,' but the correct pronunciation includes it: 'FEB-roo-air-ee,' explained Mubin. Quinoa Mispronunciation: kee-NO-ah Correct pronunciation: KEEN-wah 'This superfood's name is often mispronounced. The correct pronunciation is 'KEEN-wah', insisted the literacy expert. Often Mispronunciation: OFF-ten Correct pronunciation: OFF-en 'While both 'OFF-ten' and 'OFF-en' are technically correct, the traditional pronunciation in British English is 'OFF-en,' where the 't' is silent,' explained the literacy expert. Zebra Mispronunciation: ZEE-bra Correct pronunciation: ZEB-ra 'In British English, 'zebra' is pronounced 'ZEB-ra,' with a short 'e' sound, unlike the American pronunciation 'ZEE-bra',' said Mubin. Library Mispronunciation: lie-BERRY Correct pronunciation: LIE-brer-ee 'The word "library" is often mispronounced as "lie-BERRY," but the correct pronunciation is "LIE-brer-ee"', Mubin explained. Salmon Mispronunciation: SAL-mon Correct pronunciation: SAM-uhn 'The "l" in "salmon" is silent. The correct pronunciation is "SAM-uhn",' revealed the literacy expert from UK-based Awesome Books. Almond Mispronunciation: AL-mond Correct pronunciation: AH-mund 'The "l" in "almond" is also silent. The correct pronunciation is "AH-mund"', claimed the expert. Debris Mispronunciation: DEB-ris Correct pronunciation: de-BREE 'The correct pronunciation of "debris" is "de-BREE," with the "s" being silent,' insisted Mubin. Controversy Mispronunciation: con-TROV-er-see Correct pronunciation: CON-tro-ver-see 'In British English, "controversy" is pronounced with the stress on the first syllable: "CON-tro-ver-see."', explained the literacy expert.
Telegraph
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
It's fine to mispronounce ‘mischievous' now, says Susie Dent
It is one of the most mispronounced words in the English language, causing purists to despair. A sizeable percentage of the population pronounces 'mischievous' as 'mischiev-i-ous', with the mistake even making its way onto the BBC. And now these grammar miscreants have found an unlikely champion in Susie Dent, the Countdown star and lexicographer, who has declared that 'mischievious' is now an acceptable word and we should accept the extra syllable. At the Hay Festival, Dent said: 'Something which used to rile me was people pronouncing 'mischievous' as 'mischievious'. But now it is everywhere and there is a very good reason why people do. 'It's the way English people have always pushed out a pronunciation that is no longer familiar to them. We don't have any 'ievous' words any more, and they're pushing it to something that they do know, and that's 'evious'. 'So I have now decided it's a fascinating snapshot of how language works and it doesn't really bother me, not anymore.' Purists who do object to the mispronunciation include Frank Cottrell-Boyce, the author and Children's Laureate. He shared a social media post last week which lamented: 'Even people on Radio 4 can't pronounce 'mischievous' now.' Other people annoyed by the usage include Richard Dawkins, the evolutionary biologist, who asked on social media: ''Mischievous' has no third 'I' and is pronounced with the stress on the first syllable. But a mutant [sic] 'I' + stress on 2nd syllable is spreading. As a mischievous memeticist, I'm curious about the selection pressure driving it. Is it easier to say? Or is some celebrity being copied?' Dent also spoke about words she loves, but have fallen out of use. One is 'respair', a word that was used in the 16th or 17th century meaning fresh or hope or recovery, and the opposite of 'despair'. Another is 'ipsedixitism' – the dogmatic insistence that something is true because someone else said it, despite a lack of any other evidence. Dent, who joined Countdown's dictionary corner in 1992 and combined the job with working for the Oxford University Press, said people worry about dealing with her because they mistake her for 'a bit of a linguistic pedant'. She said: 'I did have a lovely, lovely builder once say that he could never bring himself to text me because he thought I needed semi-colons in my text messages. Which is completely untrue.'
NZ Herald
12-05-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Law & Society: UK Supreme Court decision reverberates around the world
Whether NZ courts adopt a similar approach to the UK remains to be seen. Photo / Getty Images One of the important judicial functions is the interpretation of statutes. Judges must determine what Parliament meant when it used certain words in a statute. The UK Supreme Court recently undertook an example of that exercise in the case: For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers. The statute under consideration was the Equality Act 2010, which prohibits discrimination based on age, gender, disability, race and other characteristics. Its decision has reverberated around the world. The question before the court was straightforward: whether the act treats a trans woman who has a full gender recognition certificate (as opposed to the sex stated on a birth certificate) as a woman for all purposes within the scope of its provisions, or, when it speaks of a 'woman' and 'sex,' does it simply refer to a biological woman and biological sex? The court unanimously decided that the terms 'man', 'woman' and 'sex' in the act refer to biological sex. 'The definition of sex in the Equality Act 2010 makes clear that the concept of sex is binary,' it ruled. 'A person is either a woman or a man.' Some provisions in the act refer to biological women. The Scottish court suggested that in provisions relating to pregnancy and maternity, Parliament was referring to biological sex only. However, the Scottish appeal court suggested that in other situations, 'woman' and 'sex' could refer to certificated sex as well. The Supreme Court decision last month disagreed with this second point. Interpreting 'sex' as certificated sex would cut across the definitions of 'man' and 'woman,' creating inconsistencies that, in some instances, the law would struggle to deal with. The court ruled the act must be interpreted in a clear and consistent way. This ensures groups such as employers can identify people with relevant characteristics and meet their obligations under the act. The effect of the decision is that the biological interpretation of 'sex' is necessary for the act to function sensibly. This applies across numerous contexts and examples, including separate spaces and single-sex services such as changing rooms and medical services, and communal accommodation. It also affects single-sex higher education institutions, single-sex associations and charities. The same is true for women's participation in sport, the public sector's duty of employment equality, and the armed forces. English commentator Joshua Rozenberg KC observes that 'the thrust of the judgment … is that trans women cannot insist on being treated in the same way as biological women, even if they have a gender recognition certificate. So the ruling is likely to make it harder for trans people to insist on being treated in exactly the same way as those who have not transitioned.' Evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins was more acerbic. In a post on X, he said, 'Yes, the science was settled in the Precambrian [era]. Nice that the law has finally caught up.' The court did make an important observation: 'It is not the role of the court to adjudicate on the arguments in the public domain on the meaning of gender or sex, nor is it to define the meaning of the word 'woman' other than when it is used in the provisions of the Equality Act 2010. It has a more limited role which does not involve making policy.' Once upon a time, decisions of the UK Supreme Court (formerly the House of Lords) were highly persuasive for our courts. Whether our courts (including our Supreme Court) adopt a similar approach remains to be seen. However, this clear precedent on the limits of judicial policymaking provides a powerful reminder of proper judicial restraint. It might hopefully stem the tide of judicial overreach in New Zealand. David Harvey is a retired district court judge.
BBC News
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Swindon Festival of Literature returns for 32nd year in a row
A town's festival is back for the 32nd year in a seven day Swindon Festival of Literature begins on Monday and runs until Sunday, with events ranging from readings to open-air festival style performance has run since 1994, including a virtual festival in 2020 because of Covid-19, and focused on not only literature, but performance and Richard Dawkins, poet George Szirtes and impressionist Alistair McGowan were among the names set to appear. The festival's founder, Matt Holland, who still runs it, said: "It's unbelievable - when we started it, we didn't think there'd be 32, but here we are and it's great."There will be a total of 31 events over the course of the week, some of which are free to attend, while others carry an entry first event on Monday is the Dawn Chorus, a free event at 5:30 BST in Lawn Woods near Old Town, with poetry, dance, music and lasts for an hour or more."Of all the events, it brings the biggest variety of people together," said Mr festival also manages to attract some big evolutionary biologist, Professor Richard Dawkins, will appear on Wednesday, as will the Kings Gold Medal for Poetry-winner George comedian Ivo Graham will take to the stage on Friday, as will impressionist Alistair are 26 more events across the week."I defy anyone not to find something they like among the events," said Mr Holland.
Forbes
01-05-2025
- Science
- Forbes
What Would A 1925 Time Traveler Think Of Today's ‘Meme Culture'? A Psychologist Explains
Ironically, the word meme predates the internet. It was coined in 1976 by British evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, who used it to describe how ideas spread from mind to mind, much like genes pass traits from body to body. He pointed to things like melodies, catchphrases and architectural techniques as early examples of 'memes' — carriers of culture that replicate, mutate and survive through imitation. The earliest memes may have been gestures, patterns carved into stone or phrases passed down orally that carried more than just its literal meaning. What is new about today's internet meme culture is the speed, format and absurd specificity with which they now travel. Today, a meme can reference a global event, an existential mood and a pop culture trope — all at once, in under two seconds. Just saying the word 'doge' reliably triggers an entire emotional script, from irony to nostalgia to economic anxiety. It may even conjure bureaucratic reform: In 2025, the U.S. government launched the Department of Government Efficiency — officially abbreviated as DOGE — complete with a logo nodding to the Shiba Inu meme that once symbolized crypto-fueled chaos. In a twist no one saw coming, a meme is now embossed on federal documents. But to someone from 1925, who lived in a world of slow information, telegrams and typewritten letters, that kind of information density would be nearly indecipherable. Not because they weren't intelligent, but because they lacked the context scaffolding we now take for granted. When the internet first entered public consciousness in the 1990s, its adoption was gradual and far from universal. Like early personal computers, the web was initially explored by a small, tech-savvy minority. It took years before it became a daily fixture of modern life. When it finally became a daily fixture, the internet evolved into a vast digital mirror of human culture. The early Web 1.0 era was static and text-heavy — home to personal blogs, bulletin boards and clunky HTML pages. But even then, it hinted at what was coming: a world where jokes, beliefs and shared moments could spread like wildfire. The introduction of image files (like GIFs and JPEGs) into browsers allowed users to share visual content — from scanned photos to rudimentary graphics — marking the early foundations of meme culture. Even with nothing more than ASCII characters and raw imagination, internet users at the digital frontier were creating absurdly relatable, experimental forms of humor. Text-based memes like 'roflcopter' (see image below) spread through message boards. It captured a uniquely internet-native blend of irony, randomness and communal in-joke. By the mid-2000s, broadband connections and platforms like YouTube (launched in 2005) unlocked a new phase: internet culture became visual-first. Short clips, reaction images and viral videos quickly became the internet's new emotional currency. This visual leap was pivotal. For the first time in human history, people could react to global events with a shared visual language — one that was remixable, fast-moving and capable of carrying tone, timing and irony in a single frame. It's easy to imagine someone from 1925 struggling to decode a modern meme. But their confusion would stem from a lack of meme literacy, not a lack of raw mental horsepower. This isn't just about internet familiarity. It's about the brain's ability to process layers of meaning at speed. Psychologists refer to this as context-dependent cognition — our ability to make sense of new information based on prior cultural exposure. Meme comprehension demands an internal library of references: political events, celebrity scandals, generational slang, even the rhythm of how memes 'usually' flow. Without that scaffolding, the punchline falls flat. This is exactly why modern IQ tests are calibrated by age, education and exposure. Intelligence is shaped by the cultural operating system we grow up with. Decades of research on the 'Flynn effect,' the observed rise in IQ scores by roughly three points per decade, show that intelligence test performance is highly sensitive to changes in environment, education and cultural complexity. In other words, the mind adapts to the world it grows up in. A meme, then, is like a joke that assumes you already know the setup. Eerily, Meta billionaire Mark Zuckerberg, whose platforms helped fuel meme culture, doesn't seem to think so. In a recent appearance on comedian Theo Von's podcast This Past Weekend, Zuckerberg had this to say: 'I think a big part of the internet is that stuff just gets more fun and funnier and the memes get weirder and more specific. That's advancement too, right? The ability to express these complicated ideas in a very simple piece of media… I think we're going to get better and better at that. And that advances our understanding of ourselves as a society. I think we'll get superintelligence, and I would guess that it will be a continuation of this trend.' Whether we find this take strangely comforting or downright frightening, one thing seems to be clear: Just as someone from 1925 would struggle to keep up with memes today, we might be even more lost if we were suddenly dropped into the meme culture of 2125. And if our progress over the past century is any indication, tomorrow's memes will irreversibly reshape the way humans think, feel and connect. Most of us consume and share memes on our phones. Want to know if you might be a little too attached? Take the science-backed Nomophobia Questionnaire to find out.
