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Old 30-Sep-2006, 15:21
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Default How do english people pronounce the letter "@"?

Hi everybody, can you tell me how is the letter "@" pronounced?
Thanks
  #2  
Old 30-Sep-2006, 22:34
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Default Re: How do english people pronounce the letter "@"?

There was recent disussion in a newspaper about this (probably the Times). The accepted names are '"at" sign', or 'commercial "at"', but the suggestion that had the columnist's approval was - on the analogy of "ampersand" - "atpersand". I disagree, but I'm less influential than the columnist.

The reason for my objection is that 'ampersand' (&) is a contraction of '"and" per se "and"', so that the analogy for "at" should be "atpersat".

Note: this is a metalinguistic rant on my part; I'd advise people to use 'the "at" sign' - although I fear that "atpersand" may catch on.

b
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Old 30-Sep-2006, 23:46
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Default Re: How do english people pronounce the letter "@"?

I say "at".
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Old 01-Oct-2006, 03:32
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Default Re: How do english people pronounce the letter "@"?

I say " at" too
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Old 01-Oct-2006, 07:25
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Default Re: How do english people pronounce the letter "@"?

I say "at," too.

(I wonder how Bob feels about the interrobang? )
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Old 01-Oct-2006, 11:21
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Default Re: How do english people pronounce the letter "@"?

I also say 'at', but I have heard atmark, as well as commercial at, used. I put a poll up and the majority so far use 'at':
http://www.usingenglish.com/poll/286.html
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Old 02-Oct-2006, 09:23
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Default Re: How do english people pronounce the letter "@"?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tdol View Post
I also say 'at', but I have heard atmark, as well as commercial at, used. I put a poll up and the majority so far use 'at':
http://www.usingenglish.com/poll/286.html
I don't think I've heard anything but "at" among people talking about e-mail addresses.

b
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Old 02-Oct-2006, 22:27
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Default Re: How do english people pronounce the letter "@"?

Quote:
Originally Posted by BobK View Post
I don't think I've heard anything but "at" among people talking about e-mail addresses.

b
Since the invention of e-mail, @ as "at" has been cemented. IMO it will never change.
  #9  
Old 03-Oct-2006, 09:34
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Default Re: How do english people pronounce the letter "@"?

I agree, but I have heard people use the other forms in discussions about the name of the symbol. I think that is probably their only use nowadays.
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