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Hrsanei Posted 12 years ago
Vocabulary

Err on the side of caution

Hey!
I have heard and read this phrase with the use of "air" in lieu of "err" several times. To me, the use of "air" in that context is meaningless. I don't know whether it is a common mistake, spelling correction of electronic devices or a development of this phrase.
Any thought is appreciated.
Hamid
  

Top answer

The pronunciation is similar. It's analogous to people confusing two or more similar sounding words. (to, two, too; there, their; they're; affect, effect)

— AlpheccaStars

  • The pronunciation is similar.
  • It's analogous to people confusing two or more similar sounding words.
  • (to, two, too; there, their; they're; affect, effect)
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12 Answers
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The pronunciation is similar. It's analogous to people confusing two or more similar sounding words. (to, two, too; there, their; they're; affect, effect)
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I have heard and read this phrase with the use of "air" in lieu of "err" several times.

Hamid, If you heard it, how would you know they said 'air' and not 'err'?
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I assumed it would be a common mistake but when the corpus search led me to BBC and Irishtimes articles, I started to doubt.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8408386.stm

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Only educated people are likely to use the phrase, and they are unlikely to make this mistake.

My joke was that you can't really identify such a mistake if it is only spoken.
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My bad Emotion: smile, You are right. As both are pronounced the same, it is not possible to notice the mistake in spoken English.
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hrsaneiAs both are pronounced the same
I, for one do not pronounce them the same. American Heritage Dictionary currently lists the two pronunciations [ air ] or [ (h)er ]. When the first edition came out in the 70s, the listed only the (h)er.
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PhilipI, for one do not pronounce them the same.
Nor do I. To me, the pronunciation of "err" as "air" feels like an incorrect guess from the spelling. However, it seems that it is becoming accepted. Oxford Dictionaries says "Traditionally, err rhymes with ‘her’, although the pronunciation that rhymes with ‘hair’ is now common."
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GPYOxford Dictionaries says "Traditionally, err rhymes with ‘her’, although the pronunciation that rhymes with ‘hair’ is now common."
Not surprising. As far as I know, it's the only English word with stressed err pronounced as in "her". (AmE)

Ferris, Jerry, Kerry, Perry, merry, ferry, berry, sherry, cherry, error, terror, terrible, terrify, fe
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CalifJimAs far as I know, it's the only English word with stressed err pronounced as in "her". (AmE)
Well, there are a bunch of words along the lines of "deferred", "preferring", "referral", etc.
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GPYWell, there are a bunch of words along the lines of "deferred", "preferring", "referral", etc.
You forgot erred.
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