Why mispronouncing someone’s name should not be treated as a minor mistake, and why correcting it is a simple act of respect.

Over the years, I have noticed something interesting about how people say my name.

Most of the time, people get it right. I would say about 90 percent of the time. After hearing it once or twice, people usually remember how to pronounce it, and it becomes second nature. My name is not one that causes a lot of confusion once someone hears it said aloud.

Even though the issue rarely comes up in my daily life, every now and then, I notice someone saying it wrong, even though I have known them for a while. 

When that happens, I pause for a moment. I wonder whether I should step in and correct them, or whether it would be easier to just let it go. I tell myself it is not a big deal, that the conversation will only last a few minutes or that correcting them might make the situation awkward. That hesitation that comes about is interesting to me.

When someone mispronounces an ordinary word in conversation, people often jump in to correct them without thinking twice. If someone says a word incorrectly in class, during a presentation or even casually in conversation, it is common for someone to step in and say, “Actually, it’s pronounced like this.”

Most of the time, no one sees that correction as rude. In fact, it can be interpreted as helpful. It allows the person to adjust their pronunciation and move forward without continuing the mistake.

However, when it comes to names, the situation suddenly feels different.

Correcting someone on how they say your name can feel uncomfortable. It can feel like you are interrupting the flow of the conversation or putting the other person on the spot. In some situations, it can even feel like you are being overly particular about something that others might view as minor.

I have always wondered why that is. If anything, your name is probably the one word that should matter the most.

It is the word people use to identify you. It is the word professors say when calling attendance, the word colleagues use when introducing you and the word friends use when addressing you. It is the first piece of information someone learns about you and often the first way you are remembered.

Unlike other words in conversation, your name is not interchangeable. It belongs to you. Yet, many people hesitate to correct others when it is said incorrectly.

Part of that hesitation may come from a desire to avoid making someone else feel embarrassed. No one wants to create an uncomfortable moment in an otherwise normal interaction. However, most mispronunciations are not intentional acts of disrespect. They happen because someone simply does not know the correct pronunciation. Without being told, they may never learn.

Personally, I never take offence when someone corrects me on how to pronounce their name. If anything, I appreciate it. I would much rather know immediately than continue saying it wrong without realizing. Being corrected allows me to show that person the respect they deserve by saying their name properly moving forward.

Most people feel the same way.

A quick correction rarely creates the awkwardness we imagine in our heads. More often, it leads to a simple response such as, “Oh, thank you for telling me.” The conversation continues, and the moment passes quickly.

The impact of that small correction lasts far longer than the moment itself.

Over the course of my time in law school, I have become increasingly aware of how precise language can be. Law school teaches students that words matter in ways we might not have fully appreciated before entering the field. Two words that appear to be synonyms can carry completely different legal outcomes. A comma placed in the wrong spot can alter the interpretation of a clause. A single word in a statute can determine how an entire legal rule is applied.

We spend hours carefully reading cases and statutes, paying close attention to the nuances within the language. Entire arguments can revolve around the interpretation of specific terms. In many ways, legal education trains us to treat language with a high level of care and attention.

Which is why it sometimes feels strange that something as simple as pronouncing a person’s name correctly can feel like an afterthought in everyday interactions.

If we are taught to value precision in language, should we not have that same level of care apply to how we address one another?

When someone makes the effort to learn how to pronounce a name correctly, they are acknowledging that identity. It is a small gesture, but it communicates something important, which is that the person in front of you matters enough for you to get it right.

This is why correcting someone when they mispronounce your name should not feel like an unreasonable request. It is not about demanding perfection or creating unnecessary tension in a conversation. It is about ensuring that the most basic form of personal recognition is respected.

Allowing a name to be mispronounced repeatedly might seem harmless in the moment, but over time, it can send an unintended message that accuracy is not important. A simple correction at the beginning of an interaction prevents that pattern from developing.

Most people genuinely want to say someone’s name correctly. Once they know the proper pronunciation, they will often try to remember it. The only way they can do that, however, is if someone takes the time to let them know.

Correcting someone on the pronunciation of your name should not be viewed as confrontational or unnecessary. Instead, it should be seen as part of normal conversation, where a small adjustment helps ensure mutual respect.

In a world where people regularly interact with individuals from different backgrounds, cultures and communities, learning how to pronounce names correctly is one of the simplest ways to show consideration.

That moment might feel small, but it carries meaning. It reinforces the idea that names matter, identities matter and the people behind those names matter too.

If there is any word worth getting right, it is someone’s name.

P.S.  The way you pronounce my name is Huh-jh-rah Gu-men.