Are you supposed to pronounce the "t" in the word often?

Question

I was always taught to never pronounce the "t" in often, however my God son's dictionary says that it is pronounced either awfen or awften. Did the rules change, or was my 5th grade teacher wrong all along?

Answer 1

Technically, you are supposed to pronounce most letters. Depending on what part of the country you are from, it gets pronounced differently.

Often is one of those words where the letters get absorbed and not pronounced. Salmon is another (most people don't pronounce the L).

There is no rule in the English language (and Grammar) that says you should not pronounce these letters.

Answer 2

I never pronounce the "t", and I feel uncomfortable when someone else does. Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary says the pronunciation can be "ofen" or "often" (they use different phonetic symbols that I can't type, but the point is that the "t" can be silent or spoken). BUT, there's a special mark before the "often" (the one with the sounded "t"), and if you look it up in the front of the book, it says, "a pronunciation variant that occurs in educated speech but that is considered by some to be unacceptable".

So if you don't pronounce the "t", you're right, and probably no one will be bothered, even those who pronounce the "t" themselves. If you do pronounce the "t", you're still right, but there's a chance that someone will not like it.

Answer 3

That is an incredibly good question and one I have never even thought about (which I suspect is typical for a native English speaker - I'm born and bred in the UK). After much consideration, I think - but am not sure - that the pronunciation of "often" changes, dependant upon the phrase it is in. Common constructs like "how often" and "very often" tend to be pronounced with a silent T, whereas the T is more sounded in phrases such as "she often comes round at the weekend." However, even in this latter example, the T sound, although present, is not a hard sounding T - it's elided. "Listen" and "soften" are always pronounced with a silent T. Regarding your request to correct any mistakes in your question, your English is very good and you should be rightly proud. Here are a couple of comments for you to consider:- In formal English, you shouldn't start a sentence with "but" - it's a conjunction to join two sentences phrases. Use "however" instead. You "listen TO a video"... well actually, you watch a video, but you'll understand what I mean! "What about yourself with the "t" in these words?" There's nothing wrong with this sentence, but we'd much more likely say "What do you do with the "t" in these words?" "Thank you if you could correct my mistakes too." Again, there's nothing wrong with this sentence, but we'd say something like "Thanks in advance for correcting any mistakes in my question" or "I'd also be grateful if you would correct any mistakes in my question." Hope that helps!

Answer 4

While the most common pronunciation depends on where you live, both are acceptable. However, the one that's technically correct is the silent "t" one. (I think someone else pointed this out earlier as well.) Basically, it's a case of hypercorrection, where people *thought* that pronouncing the "t" sounded more "proper" and started doing it even though it's not really "right." But because language is fluid and constantly changing, I wouldn't worry about it too much. Your teacher wasn't wrong.

Answer 5

Your 5th grade teacher was correct when she said it and if you were to look in a dictionary published before 1970, there would only be one pronounciation listed that being with the silent "t"

The "t" is silent. but over the years many people in an attempt to act sophisticated would pronounce the "t". However over the years pronouncing the "t" has become acceptable so now both pronounciations are correct.

Answer 6

I've always pronounced it with the 't'.

Usage Note: During the 15th century English experienced a widespread loss of certain consonant sounds within consonant clusters, as the (d) in handsome and handkerchief, the (p) in consumption and raspberry, and the (t) in chestnut and often. In this way the consonant clusters were simplified and made easier to articulate. With the rise of public education and literacy and, consequently, people's awareness of spelling in the 19th century, sounds that had become silent sometimes were restored, as is the case with the t in often, which is now frequently pronounced. In other similar words, such as soften and listen, the t generally remains silent.

Answer 7

I've always pronounced the t but I probably wouldn't notice if someone said awfen. Tomato, tomato right?

Answer 8

It could be a difference between different accents. I generally pronounce it "off - ton" unless I'm being lazy and not speaking clearly, or accidentally mimicking someone else's accent.

Answer 9

it doesnt matter because over time prounounciations and language go through change and even people with different accents pronounce words differently. Therefore either way is acceptable.

Answer 10

Some people pronounce it "offen", and some pronounce it "oftn", making the second syllable cut-off. Both are correct.