Ryan Byrd dot net

Bert Vaux's Harvard/University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee Interactive Dialect Poll




1. aunt (11713 respondents)
a. [] as in "ah" (9.62%)
b. [] as in "ant" (75.15%)
c. [] as in "caught" (2.77%)
d. I have the same vowel in "ah", "caught", and "aunt" (2.52%)
e. I pronounce it the same as "ain't" (0.58%)
f. I use [/] when referring to the general concept of an aunt, but [] when referring to a specific person by name. (6.64%)
g. I use [] when referring to the general concept of an aunt, but [/] when referring to a specific person by name. (1.84%)
h. other (0.88%)

2. been (11609 respondents)
a. [] as in "sit" (64.82%)
b. [i:] as in "see" (3.59%)
c. [] as in "set" (28.6%)
d. other (2.99%)

3. the first vowel in "Bowie knife" (11636 respondents)
a. [o:] as in "Bo" (70.58%)
b. [u:] as in "boo" (19.27%)
c. I have seen this word in print, but have no idea how to pronounce it (5.42%)
d. I have never seen or heard this word (3.7%)
e. other (1.03%)

4. caramel (11609 respondents)
a. with 2 syllables ("car-ml") (38.02%)
b. with 3 syllables ("carra-mel") (37.66%)
c. I use both interchangeably (17.26%)
d. I have both forms, but the two have different meanings (please state how in the comments box) (3.77%)
e. other (3.28%)

5. the vowel in the second syllable of "cauliflower" (11575 respondents)
a. [i:] as in "see" (31.52%)
b. [] as in "sit" (63.97%)
c. other (4.51%)

6. the last vowel in "centaur" (11385 respondents)
a. [] as in "car" ("sen-tar") (38.21%)
b. [] as in "caught" (16.87%)
c. I use the same vowel in "car", "caught", and "centaur" (12.09%)
d. rhymes with "sore" and "more" ("sen-tore") (29.89%)
e. other (2.93%)

7. coupon (11571 respondents)
a. with [u:] as in "coop" ("coopon") (66.86%)
b. with [ju:] as in "cute" ("cyoopon") (31.31%)
c. other (1.83%)

8. Craig (the name) (11519 respondents)
a. [] as in "set" (28%)
b. [e:] as in "say" (40.17%)
c. I say something in between the vowels in "set" and "say", but closer to the one in "say" (17.48%)
d. I say something in between the vowels in "set" and "say", but closer to the one in "set" (13.46%)
e. other (0.9%)

9. crayon (11514 respondents)
a. [] as in "man" (1 syllable, "cran") (14.13%)
b. [ej] (2 syllables, "cray-ahn") (48.64%)
c. [ej] (2 syllables, "cray-awn", where the second syllable rhymes with "dawn") (34.53%)
d. [aw] (I pronounce this the same as "crown") (1.46%)
e. other (1.24%)

10. creek (a small body of running water) (11517 respondents)
a. [i:] as in "see" (88.57%)
b. [] as in "sit" (3.85%)
c. I use both interchangeably (5.13%)
d. I don't know how to pronounce this word (0.04%)
e. I use both, but they mean two different things (please state how they differ in the comments box) (2.05%)
f. other (0.36%)

11. the first vowel in "Florida" (11451 respondents)
a. [o:] as in "flow" ("flow-ri-da") (4.95%)
b. [] as in "ah" ("flah-ri-da") (11.37%)
c. [] as in "saw" ("flaw-ri-da") (7.09%)
d. [] as in "sore" ("flore-i-da") (73.38%)
e. other (3.2%)

12. flourish (11429 respondents)
a. [] as in "bird" ("flurr-ish") (62.23%)
b. [] as in "sore" ("flore-ish") (23.07%)
c. [] as in "sun" ("fluh-rish") (10.18%)
d. other (including if you use one pronunciation for the verb and a different pronunciation for the noun) (4.52%)

13. the last vowel in "handkerchief" (11400 respondents)
a. [i:] as in "see" (19.96%)
b. [] as in "sit" (78.23%)
c. other (1.81%)

14. lawyer (11421 respondents)
a. with [j] as in "boy" ("loyer") (72.84%)
b. with [] as in "saw" ("law-yer") (21.96%)
c. I use both interchangeably (4.86%)
d. other (0.34%)

15. How do you pronounce Mary/merry/marry? (11422 respondents)
a. all 3 are the same (56.88%)
b. all 3 are different (17.34%)
c. Mary and merry are the same; marry is different (8.97%)
d. merry and marry are the same; Mary is different (0.96%)
e. Mary and marry are the same; merry is different (15.84%)

16. mayonnaise (11372 respondents)
a. with [] as in "man" (2 syllables--"man-aze") (41.65%)
b. with [ej] (3 syllables--"may-uh-naze") (45.83%)
c. I use both interchangeably (8.81%)
d. other (3.71%)

17. the first vowel in "miracle" (11284 respondents)
a. [i:] as in "near" (26.21%)
b. [] as in "knit" (52.13%)
c. [] as in "net" (2.35%)
d. I say something in between [] and [] (15.38%)
e. other (3.94%)

18. mischievous vs. mischievious (11296 respondents)
a. mischievous (3 syllables) (47.71%)
b. mischievious (4 syllables) (26.33%)
c. I write "mischievous" but say "mischievious" (5.97%)
d. I use both (19.41%)
e. other (0.59%)

19. the final vowel in "Monday," "Friday," etc. (11316 respondents)
a. [e:] as in "say" (86.78%)
b. [i:] as in "see" (4.69%)
c. I use [e:] with the words in isolation, but [i:] in compounds (such as "Sunday school") (6.12%)
d. other (e.g. do you use one vowel in some day names, and another in the other names?) (2.4%)

20. the second vowel in "pajamas" (11277 respondents)
a. [] as in "jam" (45.92%)
b. [] as in "father" (51.86%)
c. other (2.23%)

21. pecan (11213 respondents)
a. [pi:kn] with stress on the first syllable ("PEE-can") (17.03%)
b. [pi:kn] with stress on the second syllable ("pee-CAN") (9.02%)
c. [pi:kn] with stress on the first syllable ("PEE-Kahn") (13.19%)
d. [pi:kn] with stress on the second syllable ("pee-KAHN") (28.6%)
e. [pkn] ("pick Ann") (1.48%)
f. [pkn] ("pick Ahn") (20.92%)
g. I pronounce it differently when it's alone than when it's in a compound like "pecan pie" (please state how you pronounce the two variants in the comments box) (6.24%)
h. other (3.51%)

22. poem (11235 respondents)
a. one syllable (32.39%)
b. two syllables (67.61%)

23. really (11175 respondents)
a. [i:] as in "see" ("reely") (52.54%)
b. [] as in "sit" ("rilly") (26.28%)
c. [i] ("ree-l-y") (8.21%)
d. other (including if you use two or more of these interchangeably) (12.97%)

24. realtor (a real estate agent) (11148 respondents)
a. 2 syllables ("reel-ter") (44.21%)
b. 3 syllables (real[]tor, in other words "reel-uh-ter") (32.21%)
c. 3 syllables (ree-l-ter) (19.7%)
d. I don't use this word; I use "estate agent" (1.09%)
e. other (2.79%)

25. roof, room, broom, root (11138 respondents)
a. [u:] as in "food" (75.09%)
b. [] as in "foot" (3.07%)
c. these four words do not all have the same vowel (please use the comments box to let us know which is which) (21.84%)

26. route (as in, "the route from one place to another") (11137 respondents)
a. rhymes with "hoot" (29.99%)
b. rhymes with "out" (19.72%)
c. I can pronounce it either way interchangeably (30.42%)
d. I say it like "hoot" for the noun and like "out" for the verb. (15.97%)
e. I say it like "out" for the noun and like "hoot" for the verb. (2.5%)
f. other (1.4%)

27. the first vowel in "syrup" (11107 respondents)
a. [i] "sear-up" (13.43%)
b. [] "sih-rup" (34.08%)
c. [] as in "sir" (49.89%)
d. other (2.6%)

28. Do you pronounce "cot" and "caught" the same? (11050 respondents)
a. different (60.93%)
b. same (39.07%)

29. almond (11086 respondents)
a. all-mond (first syllable sounds like "all") (59.68%)
b. ah-mond (no l) (18.69%)
c. aw-mond (if different from "ah-mond") (5.65%)
d. I say something in between l and nothing (13.53%)
e. other (2.45%)

30. the "s" in "anniversary" (10981 respondents)
a. [s] as in "sock" (93.82%)
b. [] as in "shock" (6.18%)

31. asterisk (11005 respondents)
a. asteri[ks] (8.98%)
b. asteri[sk] (60.87%)
c. asteri[k] (with no s in the final cluster) (28.79%)
d. other (1.36%)

32. candidate (11016 respondents)
a. I pronounce the first d (50.15%)
b. I don't pronounce the first d (24.26%)
c. I vary freely between pronouncing the first d and not doing so (6.9%)
d. I only pronounce the first d when I'm speaking slowly/carefully (17.45%)
e. Depends whether it refers to a political or generic candidate, as in "that assignment looks like a good candidate for elimination" (please state how the two pronunciations differ) (0.63%)
f. other (0.61%)

33. the "s" in "chromosome" (11002 respondents)
a. [s] (35.73%)
b. [z] (42.81%)
c. both are acceptable to me (21.16%)
d. other (0.3%)

34. et cetera (10949 respondents)
a. pronounced e[ts]etera (4 syllables) (65.12%)
b. pronounced e[ts]etra (3 syllables) (11.54%)
c. pronounced eksetera (4 syllables) (14.68%)
d. pronounced eksetra (3 syllables) (5.99%)
e. other (2.67%)

35. the final consonant in "garage" (10846 respondents)
a. [] as in the middle consonant of "measure" (51.28%)
b. [] as in "edge" (37.01%)
c. I use both interchangeably (10.67%)
d. other (1.04%)

36. the "c" in "grocery" (10904 respondents)
a. [s] as in "sock" (52.38%)
b. [] as in "shock" (45.48%)
c. other (2.14%)

37. huge, humor, humongous, human... (10899 respondents)
a. I pronounce the h (94.65%)
b. I don't pronounce the h (2.73%)
c. I can pronounce the h or not (2.16%)
d. other (0.47%)

38. the "s" in "nursery" (10855 respondents)
a. [s] as in "sock" (88.27%)
b. [] as in "shock" (10.55%)
c. other (1.18%)

39. the "s" in the last name of Elvis Presley (10869 respondents)
a. [s] (66.19%)
b. [z] (33.81%)

40. quarter (10890 respondents)
a. with [kw] (62.07%)
b. with [k] ("cor-ter") (30.09%)
c. I use both interchangeably (7.41%)
d. other (0.43%)

41. Do you use "spigot" or "spicket" to refer to a faucet or tap that water comes out of? (10860 respondents)
a. spicket (6.38%)
b. spigot (66.89%)
c. I use both interchangeably (2.52%)
d. I say "spicket" but spell it "spigot" (12.64%)
e. I use both with different meanings (please explain how in the comments box) (2%)
f. I don't use either version of this word (9.23%)
g. other (0.34%)

42. strength (10789 respondents)
a. the "g" is pronounced as [g] (38.93%)
b. the "g" is pronounced as [k] (41.75%)
c. the "g" is silent (19.33%)

43. the final consonant in "Texas" (10843 respondents)
a. [s] (92.13%)
b. [z] (5.3%)
c. either one (2.35%)
d. other (0.21%)

44. cream cheese (10797 respondents)
a. CREAM cheese (stress on the first syllable) (56.29%)
b. cream CHEESE (stress on the second syllable) (24.71%)
c. it sounds right either way (16.25%)
d. other (2.74%)

45. insurance (10835 respondents)
a. INsurance (stress on the first syllable) (11.12%)
b. inSURance (stress on the second syllable) (79.82%)
c. I can stress either the first or the second syllable (8.86%)
d. other (0.19%)

46. New Haven (the city in Connecticut where Yale University is located) (10784 respondents)
a. NEW Haven (46.13%)
b. New HAVEN (42.28%)
c. I use both interchangeably (9.97%)
d. other (1.62%)

47. Thanksgiving (10804 respondents)
a. THANKSgiving (26.17%)
b. ThanksGIVing (65.34%)
c. I use both interchangeably (8.01%)
d. other (0.49%)

48. umbrella (10796 respondents)
a. UMbrella (21.43%)
b. umBRELLa (78.57%)

49. I ____ her lifeless body from the pool (10806 respondents)
a. dragged (80.69%)
b. drug (12.99%)
c. I use both interchangeably (5.78%)
d. other (0.54%)

50. What word(s) do you use to address a group of two or more people? (10764 respondents)
a. you all (12.63%)
b. yous, youse (0.67%)
c. you lot (0.18%)
d. you guys (42.53%)
e. you 'uns (0.2%)
f. yins (0.37%)
g. you (24.82%)
h. other (4.62%)
i. y'all (13.99%)

51. Would you say "Are you coming with?" as a full sentence, to mean "Are you coming with us?" (10743 respondents)
a. yes (38.01%)
b. no (60.12%)
c. other (1.87%)

52. Would you say "where are you at?" to mean "where are you?" (10768 respondents)
a. yes (33.99%)
b. no (35.61%)
c. I can use "where are you at" in contexts such as asking someone how s/he is coming along on a project, but not in the general sense of "where are you physically located in the world at this moment". (30.4%)

53. Modals are words like "can," "could," "might," "ought to," and so on. Can you use more than one modal at a time? (e.g., "I might could do that" to mean "I might be able to do that"; or "I used to could do that" to mean "I used to be able to do that") (10739 respondents)
a. yes (please consider adding which combinations of modals you use in the comments box) (11.51%)
b. no (87.68%)
c. other (0.81%)

54. He used to nap on the couch, but he sprawls out in that new lounge chair anymore (10756 respondents)
a. this use of "anymore" is acceptable (4.98%)
b. this use of "anymore" is unacceptable (92.89%)
c. not sure (2.13%)

55. I do exclusively figurative paintings anymore (10739 respondents)
a. acceptable (5.41%)
b. unacceptable (91.56%)
c. not sure (3.03%)

56. Pantyhose are so expensive anymore that I just try to get a good suntan and forget about it. (10753 respondents)
a. acceptable (29.23%)
b. unacceptable (67.26%)
c. not sure (3.51%)

57. Forget the nice clothes anymore (referring to babies eating messily after a certain age) (10743 respondents)
a. acceptable (22.08%)
b. unacceptable (70.17%)
c. not sure (7.75%)

58. Which of these terms do you prefer for a sale of unwanted items on your porch, in your yard, etc.? (10736 respondents)
a. tag sale (3.6%)
b. yard sale (36.41%)
c. garage sale (52.17%)
d. rummage sale (3.1%)
e. thrift sale (0.13%)
f. stoop sale (0.39%)
g. carport sale (0.05%)
h. sidewalk sale (0.2%)
i. jumble (sale) (0.1%)
j. car boot sale (0.05%)
k. car boot (0%)
l. patio sale (0.07%)
m. other (3.72%)

59. What do you call the game wherein the participants see who can throw a knife closest to the other person (or alternately, get a jackknife to stick into the ground or a piece of wood)? (10689 respondents)
a. mumblety-peg (8.07%)
b. mumbledy-peg (8.69%)
c. mumbly peg (10.84%)
d. mumbly pegs (0.47%)
e. mumblely peg (with 2 l's) (1.81%)
f. mumble peg (0.23%)
g. mummety-peg (0.02%)
h. mumble-the-peg (0%)
i. fumbledy peg (0%)
j. numblety peg (0.22%)
k. peggy (0.02%)
l. baseball jackknife (0.16%)
m. stick-knife (1.01%)
n. stick-frog (0.16%)
o. stretch (1.14%)
p. chicken (2.94%)
q. knifey (0.11%)
r. splits (0.49%)
s. Russian roulette (1.9%)
t. I have never heard of this "game" and have no idea what it's called (51.32%)
u. other (state here if you have heard one or more of these terms but never knew what they meant) (10.39%)

60. What do you call the area of grass between the sidewalk and the road? (10589 respondents)
a. berm (4.01%)
b. parking (1.75%)
c. tree lawn (1.92%)
d. terrace (0.73%)
e. curb strip (8.65%)
f. beltway (0.17%)
g. verge (2.56%)
h. I have no word for this (67.92%)
i. other (12.3%)

61. What do you call the area of grass that occurs in the middle of some streets? (10544 respondents)
a. boulevard (9.11%)
b. midway (0.96%)
c. traffic island (8.4%)
d. island (44.18%)
e. neutral ground (0.79%)
f. I have no word for this (16.04%)
g. other (20.52%)

62. What do you call the long narrow place in the middle of a divided highway? (10711 respondents)
a. median strip (13.36%)
b. median (79.22%)
c. boulevard (0.09%)
d. mall (0.02%)
e. traffic island (0.69%)
f. neutral ground (0.24%)
g. island (2.05%)
h. park strip (0.02%)
i. I have no word for this (2.48%)
j. other (1.82%)

63. What do you call the drink made with milk and ice cream? (10747 respondents)
a. milkshake/shake (96.42%)
b. frappe (2.37%)
c. cabinet (0.24%)
d. velvet (0%)
e. thick shake (0.12%)
f. other (0.85%)

64. What do you call the long sandwich that contains cold cuts, lettuce, and so on? (10708 respondents)
a. sub (77.15%)
b. grinder (2.87%)
c. hoagie (6.98%)
d. hero (5.18%)
e. poor boy (1.77%)
f. bomber (0.01%)
g. Italian sandwich (0.46%)
h. baguette (0.25%)
i. sarney (0.03%)
j. I have no word for this (0.91%)
k. other (4.41%)

65. What do you call the insect that flies around in the summer and has a rear section that glows in the dark? (10733 respondents)
a. lightning bug (29.07%)
b. firefly (30.43%)
c. I use lightning bug and firefly interchangeably (39.81%)
d. peenie wallie (0.02%)
e. I have no word for this (0.35%)
f. other (0.32%)

66. What do you call the miniature lobster that one finds in lakes and streams for example (a crustacean of the family Astacidae)? (10684 respondents)
a. crawfish (38.82%)
b. crayfish (32.45%)
c. craw (0.03%)
d. crowfish (0.03%)
e. crawdad (19.48%)
f. mudbug (0.1%)
g. I have no word for this critter (5.43%)
h. other (3.67%)

67. What do you call the kind of spider (or spider-like creature) that has an oval-shaped body and extremely long legs? (10704 respondents)
a. daddy long leg(s) (94.28%)
b. daddy big legs (1.09%)
c. daddy (bug) (0.02%)
d. father longlegs (0.03%)
e. granddaddy (0.49%)
f. daddy graybeard (0.02%)
g. daddy spider (0%)
h. harvestman (0.16%)
i. moskeet spider (0.03%)
j. pointer (0%)
k. shepherd spider (0%)
l. other (3.89%)

68. What nicknames do/did you use for your maternal grandmother? (10464 respondents)
a. grandmother (4.78%)
b. granny (3.77%)
c. grandma (50.67%)
d. nana (5.77%)
e. mimi (0.97%)
f. grammy/grammie/grammi (3.24%)
g. other (30.79%)

69. What about your paternal grandmother (is there a distinction?) (10211 respondents)
a. grandmother (6.38%)
b. granny (3.67%)
c. grandma (47.7%)
d. gramma (13.67%)
e. nana (4.49%)
f. other (24.09%)

70. What do/did you call your maternal grandfather? (10280 respondents)
a. gramps (1.02%)
b. grandpa (21.05%)
c. grampa (13.86%)
d. grandad, granddad (5.07%)
e. pap (0.84%)
f. I spell it "grandpa" but pronounce it as "grampa" (25.9%)
g. other (including if you use a different term to address him directly than you do when speaking about him to a third party) (32.26%)

71. paternal grandfather? (9818 respondents)
a. gramps (0.95%)
b. grandpa (32.29%)
c. grampa (28.87%)
d. pap (0.59%)
e. other (37.31%)

72. What do you call the big clumps of dust that gather under furniture and in corners? (10616 respondents)
a. dust bunnies (71.92%)
b. dust kittens (0.32%)
c. dust mice (0.98%)
d. kitties (0.31%)
e. dust balls (21.35%)
f. other (5.12%)

73. What is your *general* term for the rubber-soled shoes worn in gym class, for athletic activities, etc.? (10722 respondents)
a. sneakers (45.5%)
b. shoes (1.93%)
c. gymshoes (5.55%)
d. sand shoes (0.03%)
e. jumpers (0.01%)
f. tennis shoes (41.34%)
g. running shoes (1.42%)
h. runners (0.17%)
i. trainers (0.23%)
j. I have no general word for this (0.89%)
k. other (2.95%)

74. What do you call the little gray creature (that looks like an insect but is actually a crustacean) that rolls up into a ball when you touch it? (10673 respondents)
a. pill bug (15.91%)
b. doodle bug (3.61%)
c. potato bug (12.95%)
d. roly poly (33.07%)
e. sow bug (4.13%)
f. basketball bug (0.08%)
g. twiddle bug (0.04%)
h. roll-up bug (0.21%)
i. wood louse (0.47%)
j. millipede (0.88%)
k. centipede (2.31%)
l. I know what this creature is, but have no word for it (9.44%)
m. I have no idea what this creature is (13.21%)
n. other (3.68%)

75. What do you call the wheeled contraption in which you carry groceries at the supermarket? (10705 respondents)
a. shopping cart (77.02%)
b. shopping wagon (0.22%)
c. grocery cart (13.95%)
d. shopping carriage (0.22%)
e. carriage (0.95%)
f. buggy (4.11%)
g. supermarket trolley (0.23%)
h. other (3.29%)

76. What term do you use to refer to something that is across both streets from you at an intersection (or diagonally across from you in general)? (10706 respondents)
a. kitty-corner (49.53%)
b. kitacorner (0.09%)
c. catercorner (1.34%)
d. catty-corner (30.38%)
e. kitty cross (0%)
f. kitty wampus (0.13%)
g. I can only use "diagonal" for this (12.31%)
h. I have no term for this (3.68%)
i. other (2.53%)

77. What do you call the activity of driving around in circles in a car? (10011 respondents)
a. doing donuts (80.71%)
b. doing cookies (1.74%)
c. whipping shitties (1.43%)
d. other (16.12%)

78. What do you call paper that has already been used for something or is otherwise imperfect? (10692 respondents)
a. scratch paper (31.01%)
b. scrap paper (30.71%)
c. scratch paper is still usable (for example, the paper you bring to do extra work on a test); scrap paper is paper that isn't needed anymore and can be thrown away. (35.65%)
d. other (2.63%)

79. What is your *general* term for a big road that you drive relatively fast on? (10684 respondents)
a. highway (57%)
b. freeway (11.98%)
c. parkway (0.37%)
d. turnpike (0.54%)
e. expressway (4.85%)
f. throughway/thru-way (0.42%)
g. a freeway is bigger than a highway (5.13%)
h. a freeway is free (i.e., doesn't charge tolls); a highway isn't (0.42%)
i. a freeway has limited access (no stop lights, no intersections), whereas a highway can have stop lights and intersections (14.75%)
j. other (4.53%)

80. What do you call it when rain falls while the sun is shining? (10691 respondents)
a. sunshower (34.29%)
b. the wolf is giving birth (0.04%)
c. the devil is beating his wife (6.43%)
d. monkey's wedding (0.16%)
e. fox's wedding (0.15%)
f. pineapple rain (0.03%)
g. liquid sun (0.74%)
h. I have no term or expression for this (55.15%)
i. other (3.02%)

81. When you are cold, and little points of skin begin to come on your arms and legs, you have- (10699 respondents)
a. goose bumps (89.87%)
b. goose flesh (0.28%)
c. goose pimples (7.3%)
d. chill bumps (1.21%)
e. chill bugs (0.01%)
f. chilly bumps (0.07%)
g. cold-chill bumps (1.26%)
h. other (0%)

82. What do you call the gooey or dry matter that collects in the corners of your eyes, especially while you are sleeping? (10627 respondents)
a. crackling (0.16%)
b. sleep (37.78%)
c. sleeper (4.23%)
d. sleepy (1.56%)
e. sleepies (5.17%)
f. sleepy seed (1.67%)
g. sleepy bugs (0.75%)
h. eye booger (10.68%)
i. eye shit (0.45%)
j. eye crunchie (0.13%)
k. eye crusties (3.1%)
l. sand (7.77%)
m. kitty (0.05%)
n. gunk (7.09%)
o. matter (1.63%)
p. I have no word for this (8.73%)
q. other (9.05%)

83. What do you call an easy course? (9500 respondents)
a. gut (14.65%)
b. crypt course (0.41%)
c. crip course (4.98%)
d. bird (1.08%)
e. blow-off (36.57%)
f. meat (0.25%)
g. other (42.05%)

84. What do you call a traffic situation in which several roads meet in a circle and you have to get off at a certain point? (10673 respondents)
a. rotary (12.57%)
b. roundabout (24.44%)
c. circle (9.21%)
d. traffic circle (38.94%)
e. traffic circus (0.17%)
f. I have no word for this (12.31%)
g. other (2.35%)

85. What is the thing that women use to tie their hair? (10241 respondents)
a. (hair) elastic (12.46%)
b. rubber band (32.01%)
c. horsetail (0.09%)
d. hair thing (14.97%)
e. hair tie (18.77%)
f. other (21.71%)

86. Do you use the word cruller? (10691 respondents)
a. yes (30.93%)
b. no, but I know what it means (41.83%)
c. I have no idea what this means (27.24%)

87. Do you use the term "bear claw" for a kind of pastry? (10712 respondents)
a. yes (55.22%)
b. no, but I know what it means (33.93%)
c. I have no idea what this means (10.85%)

88. What do you call someone who is the opposite of pigeon-toed (i.e. when they walk their feet point outwards)? (10654 respondents)
a. duck-footed (29.08%)
b. slue-footed (2.33%)
c. splay-footed (5.26%)
d. bow-legged (26.44%)
e. toed out (2.87%)
f. other (2.91%)
g. I have no word for this (31.12%)

89. Can you call coleslaw "slaw"? (10707 respondents)
a. yes (38.33%)
b. yes, but I can also use it in other forms such as apple slaw or broccoli slaw (9.51%)
c. no (47.25%)
d. I have never heard that usage before (4.2%)
e. other (0.71%)

90. What do you call the box you bury a dead person in? (10665 respondents)
a. coffin (65.82%)
b. casket (18.09%)
c. a coffin and a casket are not the same, and I know the difference (10.25%)
d. other (5.84%)

91. Do you say "vinegar and oil" or "oil and vinegar" for the type of salad dressing? (10713 respondents)
a. vinegar and oil (9.75%)
b. oil and vinegar (78.59%)
c. both sound equally good to me (10.49%)
d. neither (0.85%)
e. other (0.32%)

92. What do you call it when a driver changes over one or more lanes way too quickly? (8787 respondents)
a. Chinese lane change (4.27%)
b. Chinese fire drill (7.86%)
c. other (87.87%)

93. When you stand outside with a long line of people waiting to get in somewhere, are you standing "in line" or "on line" (as in, "I stood ___ in the cold for two hours before they opened the doors")? (10689 respondents)
a. on line (5.49%)
b. in line (88.3%)
c. both sound equally good (5.36%)
d. neither (0.12%)
e. other (0.73%)

94. Do you say "frosting" or "icing" for the sweet spread one puts on a cake? (10702 respondents)
a. frosting (32.79%)
b. icing (16.88%)
c. icing is thinner than frosting, white, and/or made of powdered sugar and milk or lemon juice (20.73%)
d. both (28.87%)
e. neither (0.04%)
f. other (0.69%)

95. What is "the City"? (9965 respondents)
a. New York City (46.99%)
b. Boston (2.6%)
c. DC (2.25%)
d. LA (1.88%)
e. Chicago (4.57%)
f. other (41.72%)

96. What is the distinction between dinner and supper? (10661 respondents)
a. supper is an evening meal while dinner is eaten earlier (lunch, for example) (7.79%)
b. supper is an evening meal, dinner is the main meal (7.76%)
c. dinner takes place in a more formal setting than supper (12.12%)
d. there is no distinction; they both have the same meaning (34.56%)
e. I do not use the term supper (33.14%)
f. I don't use the term dinner (0.82%)
g. other (3.83%)

97. Which of these terms do you prefer? (10676 respondents)
a. trash can (35.53%)
b. garbage can (27.38%)
c. rubbish bin (0.41%)
d. waste(paper) basket (1.06%)
e. These words refer to different things (33.26%)
f. other (2.36%)

98. Which of these terms do you prefer? (10671 respondents)
a. By accident (77.57%)
b. On accident (9.32%)
c. both (9.75%)
d. neither (1.64%)
e. other (1.72%)

99. Which of these terms do you prefer for the small road parallel to the highway? (10639 respondents)
a. frontage road (29.14%)
b. service road (30.46%)
c. access road (17.79%)
d. feeder road (1.97%)
e. gateway (0.09%)
f. we have them but I have no word for them (12.18%)
g. I've never heard of this concept (4.24%)
h. other (4.12%)

100. Do you cut or mow the lawn or grass? (10553 respondents)
a. cut the grass (18.38%)
b. cut the lawn (0.64%)
c. mow the grass (5.75%)
d. mow the lawn (66.79%)
e. other (8.43%)

101. Do you pass in homework or hand in homework? (10653 respondents)
a. pass in (3.47%)
b. hand in (75.74%)
c. both (12.42%)
d. neither (0.36%)
e. other (8.01%)

102. What do you call the insect that looks like a large thin spider and skitters along the top of water? (10615 respondents)
a. waterbug (46.05%)
b. Jesus bug (0.5%)
c. waterstrider (13.55%)
d. strider (0.54%)
e. water-spider (6.26%)
f. watercrawler (0.67%)
g. water beetle (1.97%)
h. backstrider (0.14%)
i. skimmer (3.72%)
j. I have no word for this (21.95%)
k. other (4.65%)

103. What do you call the thing from which you might drink water in a school? (10656 respondents)
a. bubbler (3.84%)
b. water bubbler (0.3%)
c. drinking fountain (33.16%)
d. water fountain (60.97%)
e. other (1.74%)

104. What do you call a public railway system (normally underground)? (10585 respondents)
a. the subway (80.51%)
b. the L, or the El (2.98%)
c. the T (2.9%)
d. the metro (4.88%)
e. BART (1.92%)
f. other (6.81%)

105. What is your generic term for a sweetened carbonated beverage? (10669 respondents)
a. soda (52.97%)
b. pop (25.08%)
c. coke (12.38%)
d. tonic (0.67%)
e. soft drink (5.89%)
f. lemonade (0.01%)
g. cocola (0.29%)
h. fizzy drink (0.14%)
i. dope (0.03%)
j. other (2.55%)

106. What do you call the act of covering a house or area in front of a house with toilet paper? (10658 respondents)
a. tp'ing (57.61%)
b. rolling (6.68%)
c. toilet papering (21.04%)
d. wrapping (2.13%)
e. papering (3.68%)
f. bog rolling (0.05%)
g. I have no word for this (7.78%)
h. other (1.04%)

107. What do you call a traffic jam caused by drivers slowing down to look at an accident or other diversion on the side of the road? (10646 respondents)
a. rubberneck (2%)
b. rubbernecking (14.94%)
c. rubbernecking is the activity (slowing down and gawking) that causes the traffic jam, but I have no word for the traffic jam itself (60.53%)
d. gapers' block (2.55%)
e. gapers' delay (1.87%)
f. Lookie Lou (1.59%)
g. curiosity delay (0.8%)
h. gawk block (0.64%)
i. I have no word for this (11.38%)
j. other (3.7%)

108. What vowel do you use in bag? (10632 respondents)
a. [] as in "sat" (88.62%)
b. [] as in "set" (0.56%)
c. [e:] as in "say" (8.42%)
d. other (2.4%)

109. What do you call the paper container in which you might bring home items you bought at the store? (10663 respondents)
a. bag (90.26%)
b. sack (8.1%)
c. poke (0.13%)
d. other (1.51%)

110. What do you call the night before Halloween? (10640 respondents)
a. gate night (0.39%)
b. trick night (0.33%)
c. mischief night (10.84%)
d. cabbage night (1.68%)
e. goosy night (0.37%)
f. devil's night (11.13%)
g. devil's eve (0.78%)
h. I have no word for this (70.38%)
i. other (4.11%)

111. What do you call the end of a loaf of bread? (10665 respondents)
a. end (17.29%)
b. heel (59.15%)
c. crust (15.21%)
d. nose (0.17%)
e. butt (3.53%)
f. shpitzel (0.05%)
g. I have no word for this (1.97%)
h. other (2.63%)

112. How do you pronounce the word for the type of drug that acts as central nervous system depressant and is used as a sedative or hypnotic? (Please do not look up the word in a dictionary before answering this question.) (10667 respondents)
a. barbituate (78.77%)
b. barbiturate (12.1%)
c. I don't use either of these (7.98%)
d. other (1.15%)

113. amphitheater (10661 respondents)
a. f (41.64%)
b. p (56.55%)
c. other (1.81%)

114. citizen (10658 respondents)
a. [s] (29.75%)
b. [z] (69.1%)
c. other (1.14%)

115. What do you call a point that is purely academic, or that cannot be settled and isn't worth discussing further? (10663 respondents)
a. a moot point (89.03%)
b. a mute point (2.96%)
c. either one of the above (1.28%)
d. I have no idea (5.57%)
e. other (1.15%)

116. How do you pronounce the -sp- sequence in "thespian" (the word meaning "actor")? (10525 respondents)
a. [sp] (as in "desperate") (79.13%)
b. [zb] (rhymes with "lesbian") (19.33%)
c. other (1.55%)

117. What do you call the level of a building that is partly or entirely underground? (10677 respondents)
a. basement (60.67%)
b. cellar (1.66%)
c. I use both, and they mean the same thing (12.6%)
d. A basement is finished (for example with plastered or painted walls, carpets, etc.), whereas a cellar is unfinished (made up of bare stone or cement, used only for storage). (15.31%)
e. A cellar has an outside entrance (some call this a "bulkhead"), whereas a basement does not (8.4%)
f. other (1.36%)

118. What do you call a drive-through liquor store? (10458 respondents)
a. brew thru (3.44%)
b. party barn (0.71%)
c. bootlegger (0.13%)
d. beer barn (2.84%)
e. beverage barn (0.81%)
f. we have these in my area, but we have no special term for them (31.35%)
g. I have never heard of such a thing (48.26%)
h. other (12.45%)

119. What do you call food that you buy at a restaurant but then eat at home? (10669 respondents)
a. take-out (70.52%)
b. carry-out (6.4%)
c. either take-out or carry-out (20.57%)
d. other (2.5%)

120. What do you say when you want to lay claim to the front seat of a car? (10648 respondents)
a. dibs (20.99%)
b. shotgun (69.04%)
c. hosey (0.33%)
d. high hosey (0.11%)
e. I have no term for this (6.57%)
f. other (2.96%)

121. What word do you use for gawking at someone in a lustful way? (10643 respondents)
a. ogle (43.77%)
b. oogle (15.05%)
c. oggle (pronounced to rhyme with "boggle", but may still be spelled "ogle") (22.77%)
d. I use both oogle and ogle interchangeably (3.65%)
e. I use both ogle and "oggle" (4.45%)
f. I have no word for this activity (7.33%)
g. other (2.98%)

122. Do you say "expecially", or "especially"? (10707 respondents)
a. expecially (or "ecspecially" or "ekspecially") (1.93%)
b. especially (95.55%)
c. I use both interchangeably (1.82%)
d. neither (0.16%)
e. other (0.53%)



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