Are you supposed to say the t in often?

The \t\ is silent. Why? Often has a medial /t/ that, like similar words such has "hasten" and "soften," was once pronounced and is now typically silent. Unlike the similar words, pronouncing the "t" in "often" has returned in some modern usage.

Is it oFFen or often?

It's undeniable that within the group of native speakers of English, some people say /ɒfn/ (oFFen) and some people say /ɒftən/ (ofTen). Just to confuse matters and make things more difficult, the Queen pronounces the word in an old school received pronunciation way.

When did it become acceptable to pronounce the T in often?

Often was pronounced with a t -sound until the 17th century, when a pronunciation without the [t] came to predominate in the speech of the educated, in both North America and Great Britain, and the earlier pronunciation fell into disfavor.

Why is t silent in often?

A: The short answer is that the “t” in many words is silent because it's too difficult or awkward to pronounce and has become assimilated into the surrounding consonants. ... As we said in our blog posting about “often,” the word can be properly pronounced either with or without a “t” sound.

When did it become acceptable to pronounce the T in often?

Often was pronounced with a t -sound until the 17th century, when a pronunciation without the [t] came to predominate in the speech of the educated, in both North America and Great Britain, and the earlier pronunciation fell into disfavor.

Why is t silent in often?

A: The short answer is that the “t” in many words is silent because it's too difficult or awkward to pronounce and has become assimilated into the surrounding consonants. ... As we said in our blog posting about “often,” the word can be properly pronounced either with or without a “t” sound.

Is it oFFen or often?

It's undeniable that within the group of native speakers of English, some people say /ɒfn/ (oFFen) and some people say /ɒftən/ (ofTen). Just to confuse matters and make things more difficult, the Queen pronounces the word in an old school received pronunciation way.

Why do people say often instead of often?

The word often is a good example of the way our language goes round and round. The t in often continued to be pronounced until some time in the 15th century when a consonant simplification occurred in some words that had two or more consonants in a row. ...

Is it wrong to pronounce the T in often?

The \t\ is silent. Why? Often has a medial /t/ that, like similar words such has "hasten" and "soften," was once pronounced and is now typically silent. Unlike the similar words, pronouncing the "t" in "often" has returned in some modern usage.

Do we say often or ofen?

At the website where people pronounce words from their languages, the page for the word often gives 15 accounts. 13 people pronounced it with silent t (ofen), and only 2 with strong t (ofTen). But all ESL teachers I know (U.S. native speakers) pronounce it with strong t (ofTen).

Is it correct to say often?

A: The word “often” can be pronounced with a silent “t” (the more common pronunciation) or with an audible “t.” How “correct” is the second pronunciation? That depends on the dictionary you consult. Both are correct, according to The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (4th ed.).

When did it become acceptable to pronounce the T in often?

Often was pronounced with a t -sound until the 17th century, when a pronunciation without the [t] came to predominate in the speech of the educated, in both North America and Great Britain, and the earlier pronunciation fell into disfavor.

Why do people say often instead of often?

The word often is a good example of the way our language goes round and round. The t in often continued to be pronounced until some time in the 15th century when a consonant simplification occurred in some words that had two or more consonants in a row. ...

What is the preferred pronunciation of often?

A: The word “often” can be pronounced with a silent “t” (the more common pronunciation) or with an audible “t.” How “correct” is the second pronunciation? That depends on the dictionary you consult. Both are correct, according to The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (4th ed.).

Why is t silent in often?

A: The short answer is that the “t” in many words is silent because it's too difficult or awkward to pronounce and has become assimilated into the surrounding consonants. ... As we said in our blog posting about “often,” the word can be properly pronounced either with or without a “t” sound.

Why T is silent in often?

A: The short answer is that the “t” in many words is silent because it's too difficult or awkward to pronounce and has become assimilated into the surrounding consonants. ... As we said in our blog posting about “often,” the word can be properly pronounced either with or without a “t” sound.

Is T silent in mostly?

The t in "mostly" is pronounced. It is not silent.

When did it become acceptable to pronounce the T in often?

Often was pronounced with a t -sound until the 17th century, when a pronunciation without the [t] came to predominate in the speech of the educated, in both North America and Great Britain, and the earlier pronunciation fell into disfavor.

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