Pronunciation - pronouncement

The two nouns formed from the verb 'to pronounce', viz., 'pronunciation' and 'pronouncement' have different uses, corresponding to different uses of the verb.

'To pronounce' may mean 'to articulate, utter, say aloud', as in 'How do you pronounce the word 'phthisis'?' or 'English speakers do not find it easy to pronounce certain Russian words'. The appropriate noun for this use of the verb is 'pronunciation' – as in 'English speakers find the pronunciation of certain Russian words very difficult' or 'The (correct) pronunciation of the word 'phthisis' is not immediately clear'. (For authoritative reference on how words should be pronounced, AWE recommends Longman Pronunciation Dictionary, as well as The Oxford English Dictionary.)

'To pronounce' may also mean 'to declare, or state officially or solemnly', as in 'I now pronounce you man and wife' (as said in the course of a marriage ceremony) or 'After the defendant had been found guilty, the judge pronounced sentence'. The appropriate noun for this use of the verb is 'pronouncement' – as in 'The judge delayed pronouncement of the sentence until he had received a psychiatric report on the prisoner' or 'On matters of French grammar the pronouncements of the Académie française are decisive'.

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There are also two nouns formed from the verb 'to announce', viz., 'announcement' and 'Annunciation' – though the second is much the less common of the two.

'To announce' means 'to declare or make known publicly or officially', as in 'The government will announce its decision next week' or 'The arrival of the London train has not been announced yet'. (There is also an analogical use of the verb in such sentences as 'The daffodils in the garden announced the arrival of spring'.)

For all these uses of 'to announce' the appropriate noun is 'announcement', as in 'An announcement from the government is expected next week' or 'I didn't hear the announcement of a delay to the London train'.

The other noun, Annunciation, which always has an initial capital and is preceded by the definite article, is reserved for reference to a very specific announcement, viz., the angel Gabriel's announcement to Mary that she would give birth to Jesus (as reported in Luke 1, vv. 26-38) – an event celebrated annually by many Christian denominations on 25th March, Annunciation Day (also known as Lady Day).

See also Pronounciation (error).