Because the spelling of English words is not a precise guide to pronunciation, the Text to Speech accommodation will not always pronounce words correctly. To correct or enhance the pronunciation of words on a test item, you can enter alternate text with phonetic word spellings as well as commas, hyphens, and apostrophes. The tips and table below provide examples.
Always preview Text to Speech for test items and tests to ensure accuracy.
Text to Speech is not supported with the scramble answer choice functionality.
Word
Phonetic Spelling
Notes
ay, uh, uhh
Depends on surrounding words. May also work in words that begin with "a". For example, uhhpointed instead of appointed, or uh-warded instead of awarded.
antifouling
an-tee-fouling, an-tie-fouling
Both pronunciations are acceptable.
articulate
aritculit
For the adjective, as in "She is articulate."
as
ass, az
When followed by a vowel.
axes
akseez
For the mathematical term when "axes" does not work.
bow
bo, beau
As in "shoot a bow."
breathable
breethabul
Otherwise it will be pronounced breath - able.
chi
chee
As in life force or energy.
close-up
cloase up
ABBI wanted to pronounce this "cloze up" -as if decribing the act of closing a store for the evening; the "oa" softens the s.
communities
cuhmyounities
Original word, "communities, "sounds rushed.
complex
coMplex
Capital letter in the middle of a word, often, NOT always, clarifies the pronunciation
constitution
con-sta-tution
construction
construckshun
content
cun'tent - peaceful feeling
con-tent - subject matter, text
Heteronyms are words the are spelled the same but pronounced differently, such as content, contest, convict, invalid, etc.
contest
cun-test
As in "to contest a ticket."
delighted
deelighted, dee-lighted
dinosaur
dinosore
The speech engine does not always confuse the pronunciation of dinosaur, and sometimes "dinosore" does not work. The preceding word can blend with and change the pronunciation.
dormice
doremeyess or door-mice
dove
dohve
As in "I dove for the ball." The speech engine usually pronounces this as the bird.
ears
eeyers
The speech engine sometimes rushes the word.
elasmobranch
elasma-brank
A fish group of sharks, rays, and skates.
environmentally
environment-uhly
faint
faintt
The combination of the letters "nt" often softens the "t" so that it cannot be heard.
financial
fi-nanshil
As in "financial generosity." The original spelling works in isolation.
frustrated
frustraited
Adding the "i" creates the vowel blend "ai", which emphasized the long "a".
halt
holt
Only necessary when "halt" is followed by a comma, and that comma can be removed without disrupting flow.
his
hiz
Sometimes helps when the following word begins with a vowel.
hypotenuse
high-pot-en-uce
intelligence
in-telligence
international
innter-national
invalid
in-valid - not valid
invah'lid - sick person
This is a heteronym.
knelt
kNelt
Past participle. Using a capital letter within a word often helps with enunciation and clearer pronunciation.
knot
not
The speech engine vocalizes the k.
little
litl, litll, littul
lives
livs
To be alive; exist.
lives
lyves
Plural form of life.
mademoiselle
mahdumwah-zell
For foreign words, get as close to an authentic pronunciation as possible.
masala
muhsala
A mix of spices used in Indian cookery.
of a
ov a, ov ay
"Uv a" is not always consistent or necessary. It depends on what comes before or after.
ounces
When preceded with "in" as "in ounces," a pause is needed: "in, ounces" to fully pronounce "ounces."
owls
owels
Sometimes "owls" is fine, but "owels" elongates the pronunciation in certain cases.
paleontological
pay-lee-on-talogical
parson
pahrson, pahhrson
A beneficed member of the clergy.
pastureland
past-ure-land
paw
pah, pahh
Often "paw" sounds ok depending on the first letter of the following word.
peony
peohny
A shrubby plant.
perfect
per-fect
As in "to perfect a skill."
Polish
pullish
As in "the man is Polish." Otherwise, the speech engine pronounces this as "polish the silver."
present
pre-zen, pra-zent, preh-zent'
produce
pro-duce
Fruits and vegetables.
project
pr'oject
A research project.
radii
ray-dee-eye
Plural of radius.
read
reed
Present tense of read.
read
red
Past tense of read.
rebel (verb)
re-bel
The speech engine can rush the word and pronounce it like the noun (He is a rebel).
record (noun)
rekkerd
As in a thing constituting a piece of evidence about the past. To keep "record" of.
record (verb)
record', records'
As in to set down in writing or some other permanent form for later reference.
recreation
wreckcreeation
relationship
reelationship
sardine
sardeen, sardeenn
scurrying
scurreeying
Move hurriedly with short quick steps.
shewed
shoed
Old-fashioned variant spelling of "show".
sicken
sikkin, sickin
(verb) To make someone feel disgusted or become ill.
spontaneity
sponn-tanayity
standardized
standar-dized
substantive
substunt-tive
tear (verb)
tair
As in to pull or rip (something) apart. However, tear (noun) as "I cried a tear" has the correct pronunciation.
to
too, two
Use too or two if you want a longer pause before the next word.
toes
tohs
The speech engine usually pronounces the word correctly, depending on the word that precedes or follows.
uh
uhh
A form of exclamation. The extra "h" gives the correct pronunciation.
vicar
vikar
A member of the clergy or representative of a bishop.
whaling
whayleeng
The practice of hunting whales.
whitest
whit'ets, whittest, whitt'est,whytest, white-st, why-tist
win
wiN
Using a capital letter within a word often helps with enunciation.
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