BID® Daily Newsletter
Jan 3, 2008

BID® Daily Newsletter

Jan 3, 2008

BETTER PRONOUNCIATION


We certainly saw and heard many crazy and funny comments as we traveled around last year, which got us thinking about common mistakes many people make when speaking. In an effort to help community banks sell more products and services to more customers this year, we thought a quick word refresher might help.
Our goal is to arm community bank calling officers with a list of inappropriate word choices many people may unconsciously use when calling on customers. In so doing, we hope to prepare calling officers as they begin to make presentations and close in on new clients.
To begin, these are not really words at all:
• Irregardless" The correct word is regardless, irregardless of what one may have heard in the past.
• "Asterick" is not the same as asterisk. That funny thing you put after words is an asterisk, and using asterick can be risky (just ask Rick).
• "Theirselves." Not a word.
• "Supposably" is definitely not a word. Some may say it rolls off the tongue easier, but it is not correct. Try su-pos-ed-lee instead.
• "Pitcher" is a word, but not when it is being used in the context of "hey, show me a pitcher of your kids" when speaking to customers. In that case, pik-cher is a better choice, while leaving the pitcher for the lemonade you might order at lunchtime.
• "Agreeance" is not a word. Saying "everyone at the meeting was in agreeance that such and such should be accomplished" does not get it done. Since this is not a word, no one agreed to anything.
Next, we zero in on common mispronunciations.
• Ketchup vs. Cat-sup - The next time you are out to lunch with a customer, ask them to pass the kech-up, not the catch-up or cat-sup. It just may help you catch up to the competition and land the next sale.
• CongraTulations vs. CongraDulations - When congratulating a customer for something, pronounce it "cun-grach-u-lay-shinz," not as though they had graduated from some class by saying "congradulatoins."
• Nitch vs. Neech - The pretentious among us will sometimes correct people by saying it should be pronounced "neesch," however, as of 1937 U.S. dictionary makers determined rhyming it with "ditch" was just fine. Depending on those you invite to your dinner party, both are fine.
• Often vs. Offen - This one is fun, but the "t" is silent. The 't" is also silent in chaste, Christmas, fasten, hasten listen, moisten and soften. Lose the t.
• Idea vs. Ideal - An ideal is a standard of perfection, while an idea is a mental image of something known or imagined. It is ideal to have an idea now and again.
We hope everyone tuk theez in stride and appreciated the fun we were tryin to hav. Enjoy the dae and we'll tok to you again sumtime tomorrow.
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