POOT-yin/POOCH-in (prons in dicts)

[Steve K.]

On Wed, 9 Aug 2000, Frank Abate wrote:

>
> So I take issue, in this instance, with Steve's "if it ain't broke
>.  . ." statement.  I believe that most dict users just ignore the
> prons.  Moreover, I believe that most users rarely go to a dict to look
> up a pron.  The great, great majority of "look-ups" are to check
>spelling and meaning.

In the instances where people do go to a dictionary to specifically look
up a pronunciation, would you hazard a guess as to whether they would then
use the pron key, particularly if the pron key is printed on every spread?
In the AHD, it's out in the column and noticeable, so the user doesn't
have to go far to use it.

-- Steve K.