What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
paragoge
Example
The paragoge of 's' in 'towards' is common in American English. [paragoge: noun]
Example
The pronunciation of 'film' as 'filum' is an example of paragoge. [paragogic: adjective]
epenthesis
Example
The epenthesis of 'uh' in 'nu-cu-lar' is common in some dialects. [epenthesis: noun]
Example
The pronunciation of 'athlete' as 'ath-uh-lete' is an example of epenthesis. [epenthetic: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Paragoge is more commonly used than epenthesis in everyday language, as it occurs more frequently and is often used in informal contexts. Epenthesis, on the other hand, is more commonly used in technical or academic contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between paragoge and epenthesis?
While paragoge is often associated with informal language, epenthesis is more commonly used in technical or academic contexts, making it more formal in tone.