Month: August 2023

The R’s That Aren’t

Posted on by Mark DuPré

Today’s entry has to do with pronunciation and a couple of nasty “r’s” that have indecorously intruded into some otherwise wonderful words.

The victimized words are “persevere” and “sherbet.” The first has two r’s—not three. The second has one r, not two.

So what the first word isn’t is per-ser-veer. It’s actually per-suh-veer. (with no r in the middle of the word). In other words, there’s no serve in persevere.

That wonderful summertime confection is not “sure, Bert.” It’s pronounced shur-bit. (I know, the –bet part of the word should technically be pronounced bet, not bit. But it’s enough of a victory to get rid of Bert!)

I don’t know how those sneaky little “r’s” have snuck into those words. But let’s make an effort to keep them out!

It’s and Its

Posted on by Mark DuPré

This one is explained all over the place, yet is still used inaccurately all too regularly.

First thought: It + ’s is a combination of it and is. It’s a contraction, meaning two words made into one, and made shorter in the process. You can use it’s when you are combining the two words it and is.

What can be confusing is that we have been taught that “’s” (an apostrophe before the letter “s’”) indicates possession. So you have my condolences for the difficulty, but you also have my respect that you can get over it and slip into accuracy.

Its means “belonging to it,” whatever it is. Let’s say you’re talking about a plant when you are referring to it. You can say that “its color is purple,” and you’d be accurate (unless it was another color). If you’re unsure, try (silently) saying, “It is color is purple.” That sounds dumb, and it is. So you can’t spell this possessive word any way but its.

BTW: Its’ isn’t a word. It’s an abomination. Never use that.