How often?

Question

How often "often" is pronounced 'o-f&n and ÷'of-t&n? (*)Which is the most common in everyday use, media, etc?- - - -(*) Pronunciation key from Merrian-Webster's web site.

Kooyeen · Accepted Answer

Hi,
Merriam-Webster pronunciation guide says:

The obelus, or division sign, is placed before a pronunciation variant that occurs in educated speech but that is considered by some to be questionable or unacceptable. This symbol is used sparingly and primarily for variants that have been objected to over a period of time in print by commentators on usage, in schools by teachers, or in correspondence that has come to the Merriam-Webster editorial department. In most cases the objection is based on orthographic or etymological arguments. For instance, the second variant of cupola \'kyü-p&-l&, ÷-"lO\, though used frequently in speech, is objected to because a is very rarely pronounced \O\ in English. The pronunciations \'fe-by&-"wer-E\ and \'fe-b&-"wer-E\ (indicated simultaneously by the use of parentheses) are similarly marked at the entry for February \÷'fe-b(y)&-"wer-E, 'fe-br&-\, even though they are the most frequently heard pronunciations, because some people insist that both r's should be pronounced. The obelus applies only to that portion of the transcription which it immediately precedes and not to any other variants following.

I don't know if that's true at all, but anyway, I always say "often" without the T. I think it is the most common pronunciation.

CalifJim · Answer

Which is the most common in everyday use, media, etc?

With silent t.

CJ

Paultx · Answer

Thanks, guys. I came to it after listening to Alice Cooper's Only women bleed, in which the singer clearly uses the second pronunciation.

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