• Skip to main content
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer

The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World…Word by Word

The Steve Laube Agency

The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World Word by Word

  • Home
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Interview with Steve Laube
    • Statement of Faith
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
  • Guidelines
  • Authors
    • Who We Represent
    • Awards and Recognition
  • Resources
    • Recommended Reading
    • Christian Writers Market Guide Online
    • Christian Writers Institute
    • Writers Conferences
    • Freelance Editorial Services
    • Copyright Resources
    • Research Tools
    • Selling What You Write
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Twitter
  • FaceBook
  • RSS Feed
  • Get Published
  • Book Proposals
  • Book Business
  • Writing Craft
    • Conferences
    • Copyright
    • Craft
    • Creativity
    • Grammar
  • Fun Fridays
Home » Humor » Page 2

Humor

Words I Can Spell but Mispronounce

By Bob Hostetleron December 16, 2020
Share6
Tweet
4

A couple years ago I was enjoying a small family reunion with my two older brothers. We were playing a card game, and for some reason I used the word chimera in the conversation. Unfortunately, I failed to take into consideration three things:

  1. I had (to my recollection) never heard the word spoken but had only read it.
  2. My brothers are both smarter than me.
  3. My brothers would never hesitate to ridicule me (or, to be fair, each other).

I think I used the word correctly, but I pronounced it “shimmer-uh.” They leaped. They pounced. They swooped in for the kill.

“Is that how it’s pronounced?” asked one, suppressing a smile.

“I don’t think so,” said the other, strangely happy.

I blushed, I’m sure. A thoroughly and devastatingly abusive conversation between them followed. Since then, I don’t think I’ve used the word in speech, but I will probably never forget how to pronounce it: ki-MEER-uh (though I still occasionally put the emphasis on the first syllable).

I’ve heard (or read) that a person shouldn’t be embarrassed at mispronouncing a word known only from reading, as it’s an indication that you’re well read, not stupid. My brothers apparently never encountered that helpful bit of wisdom. 

Unfortunately for me, chimera isn’t the only word I mispronounce (or struggle to remember the correct pronunciation). Here are a few others:

  1. Risible

It looks like it should be pronounced “RYE-zi-buhl,” right? (See what I did there?) But pronouncing the word “RYE-zi-buhl,” it turns out, is “RIZZ-uh-buhl,” which means something ludicrous or laughter-inducing.  

  1. Hegemony

Hi-JEM-uh-nee? HEJ-uh-moh-nee? I can never remember, probably because either pronunciation is acceptable. But to my ears, neither sounds quite right, so I usually split the difference and end up in a verbal no-man’s-land.

  1. Pedagogy

See, I know that pedagogue is pronounced “PED-uh-gog.” Easy peasy. But that makes me want to say, “Ped-uh-GOG-ee,” which is wrong. I have to pause, do a little self-pedagoging (pronounce that any way you want), and remind myself that pedagogy is pronounced “PED-uh-goh-jee.” Golly gee.

  1. Idyll

This one trips me up because I watch a lot of British television. Over there it’s pronounced to rhyme with “biddle.” But I do most of my talking in American English, so I have to take a deep breath and make it rhyme with “idol.” But how in the world do Brits pronounce “idyllic?”

  1. Ignominy

Having survived the ignominy of my brothers’ ridicule, I’m slightly more aware of this word’s pronunciation: either IG-nuh-min-ee or ig-NOM-uh-nee, according to the dictionary. But that second choice just reminds me of The Muppets singing “Mahna Mahna,” so I’ll do my best to stick with IG-nuh-min-ee.

There’s my confession. I’m sure there are more, but these six (counting chimera, even though I doubt that I’ll ever mispronounce it again) are those I encounter most often.

What about you? Are there words you habitually mispronounce? Do tell.  

Leave a Comment
Category: Humor, Reading

10 Haughty Author Commandments That Agents Must Obey

By Steve Laubeon June 22, 2020
Share73
Tweet
14

Composed with tongue firmly in cheek. Send to yours and maketh your agent weepeth. 10 Haughty Author Commandments That Agents Must Obey I. Thou shalt have no other authors before me. II. Thou shalt adore all my ideas and declare them holy. III. Thou shalt personally guarantee my financial success. IV. Thou shalt send me to Bora Bora on my birthday and send a wad o’ cash at Christmas. V. Thou …

Read more10 Haughty Author Commandments That Agents Must Obey
Category: Agents, Humor

April Fool’s Jokes for Writers

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon April 1, 2020
Share16
Tweet
6

It may be too late by the time you read this post, but April Fool’s Day is a good time to mention some ideas for writers who like to prank others. In my early days of writing full-time, my son knew far more about computers than I did. (That hasn’t changed; he knows more about most things than I do.) So, one day before leaving for sixth grade, he did something. To this day, I don’t know exactly …

Read moreApril Fool’s Jokes for Writers
Category: Encouragement, Humor, The Writing Life

Top 10 Answers to “What Are You Writing?”

By Bob Hostetleron February 26, 2020
Share107
Tweet
27

If you’ve been writing for awhile, you probably know that a frequent (perhaps the most frequent) question asked of writers is, “What are you working on?” People seem to be interested in the writing life and the flashes of genius that sometimes visit a person in that line of work. But it’s a loaded question. It took me awhile, but I eventually learned how dangerous the question is. Early on in my …

Read moreTop 10 Answers to “What Are You Writing?”
Category: Humor, The Writing Life

Comedy As a Tool

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon September 12, 2019
Share41
Tweet
36

We all like to laugh. Writers with a knack for humor can find a large and eager audience. But humor can be tricky. If you want to write humor, The Christian Writers Institute has a couple of inexpensive lectures to review (find them here). In the meantime, writers need to consider at least a couple of elements. Novelists can use humor to reveal character and truths. Your mean-spirited villain can …

Read moreComedy As a Tool
Category: Humor

The Author’s Life in 39 Easy Steps

By Bob Hostetleron August 22, 2018
Share314
Tweet
65

Someday I ought to write a book. Woohoo! I’ve just started writing a book! I deserve some ice cream. I’m so excited, things are going great. Writing is hard. No, writing is cool. I’m having the time of my life. Writing is hard. I should just give up. I’m almost done with my first book. Writing is so fun. I have written 4,000 words! I deserve some ice cream. I just found out …

Read moreThe Author’s Life in 39 Easy Steps
Category: Humor, The Writing LifeTag: Humor, The Writing Life

New Author Acronyms for The Oxford English Dictionary

By Steve Laubeon August 20, 2018
Share59
Tweet
41

Last week the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) added a bunch of new words to their august tome. What made news is that four of the words aren’t words at all but acronyms that have crept into our everyday communication via the Internet. “Words” like LOL, OMG, BFF, and IMHO.
In honor of this auspicious occasion I thought it would be fun to see if we can find other acronyms that should become part of …

Read moreNew Author Acronyms for The Oxford English Dictionary
Category: Book Business, Humor, Writing CraftTag: Humor

Fun Fridays – May 18, 2018

By Steve Laubeon May 18, 2018
Share27
Tweet
25

In honor of our youngest daughter’s birthday this weekend… She and I have laughed at this audio many times. To the point of being able to quote it. I was excited to find it available on YouTube (our version is a CD). Listen and then you’ll understand this story: Years ago while in a very crowded elevator after watching a big event, I looked over at her and said, …

Read moreFun Fridays – May 18, 2018
Category: Fun Fridays, Humor

Exciting Developments In Book Publishing

By Dan Balowon May 1, 2018
Share78
Tweet
37

As changes in the marketplace require publishers, authors, and agents adapt continually, a number of entirely new initiatives and companies are springing into action to serve various parts of an ever-evolving industry. Here are some of the most interesting new things to keep on your radar: Elf-Publishing – as books become shorter, it’s natural for the elf-publishing industry to take root. …

Read moreExciting Developments In Book Publishing
Category: Humor, The Publishing LifeTag: Humor, The Publishing Life, Trends

You Have the Right to Write Rite. Right?

By Steve Laubeon March 26, 2018
Share24
Tweet
18

by Anonymous: When you write copy you have the right to copyright the copy you write, if the copy is right. If however, your copy falls over, you must right your copy. If you write religious services you write rite, and have the right to copyright the rite you write. Very conservative people write right copy, and have the right to copyright the right copy they write. A right wing cleric would …

Read moreYou Have the Right to Write Rite. Right?
Category: HumorTag: Humor
  • Previous
  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to page 3
  • Go to page 4
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Go to page 8
  • Next
  • Home
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Interview with Steve Laube
    • Statement of Faith
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
  • Guidelines
  • Authors
    • Who We Represent
    • Awards and Recognition
  • Resources
    • Recommended Reading
    • Christian Writers Market Guide Online
    • Christian Writers Institute
    • Writers Conferences
    • Freelance Editorial Services
    • Copyright Resources
    • Research Tools
    • Selling What You Write
  • Blog
  • Contact

Copyright © 2023 · The Steve Laube Agency · All Rights Reserved · Website by Stormhill Media