Mispronunciations, typos, et al.

[katyism.livejournal.com]

So how do your favorite users mispronounce, misspell, and mistype things?

My users are university people... faculty and undergrads cannot get their heads around the following words, but the grads, staff, and international students can. It makes you wonder who learned to read before college, vs. who got in to the university for money reasons.

My favorite examples...

Correct: Symantec
Incorrect: systematic, simon tech, schematic, semantic.

Correct: https://exchange.whatever.edu
Incorrect: http://sexchange.whatever.edu

Correct: Ad-aware
Incorrect: Adware

Correct: Microsoft
Incorrect: Microsock (this was a typo)

Comments

[toxico.livejournal.com]

Correct: Software Repository
Incorrect: Software Suppository, Software Depository, Software Penitentiary

Correct: McAfee (MACK-a-fee)
Incorrect: MacAfee, McFee, (ma-KAFF-ee), (MACK-a-fay)

Correct: ePolicy Orchestrator
Incorrect: (EE-poe), Policy Orchestra, Primary Orchestration

Correct: Protection Pilot
Incorrect: Pilot Protect (where the hell all these people get that one, I'll never know)

Correct: Lotus Domino
Incorrect: Locust Dominion (from a Domino admin...)

Correct: "Yes, here's what I need help with..."
Incorrect: "Do you have any black technicians there? I'd feel more comfortable speaking with one if so." (^%@$#%^*&#$)

[katyism.livejournal.com]

regarding that last one, wtf? i thought i'd heard it all when they ask to speak to a male...

[toxico.livejournal.com]

I've heard the opposite side of the coin years ago when I did dispatch work for a plumbing company ("I'd greatly appreciate it if you'd send one of those nice Southern white boys out, please."); the one referenced in my original comment happened here a few months ago.

I do live in Texas, so unfortunately I'm not quite as shocked at the one a few years back; this most recent one, however, was from who-knows-where in the U.S. and completely surprised me.

Not being one to begin a cultural discyussion with either of these folks, I obliged their requests - albeit a little uncomfortably.

[katyism.livejournal.com]

I guess I'm lucky that we get to lie and say everyone else is on a call already and they're stuck talking to me. How I would love to be able transfer to their preferred consultant in some cases, though.

[pixeltwist.livejournal.com]

Correct: McAfee (MACK-a-fee)
Incorrect: MacAfee, McFee, (ma-KAFF-ee), (MACK-a-fay)

I say ma-KAFF-ee. I would mean mik-aff-ee, but that's my Northern Ohio accent. I would think mik-aff-ee would be closer to the right pronounciation anyway, because of the Mc, like in names.

[redqueenmeg.livejournal.com]

I took a tour of their offices in Silicon Valley and our group got speeches by several V.P.s who all say MACK-a-fee. :D

[iterative-steps.livejournal.com]

you know i never noticed the difference with the second one and i rarely hear people say it. i always said it mcfee if it came up.

and i love primary orchestration. i don't know how you keep from laughing on the phone..unless you just hit the mute button