1. Roald Dahl, opens a new window
His first name is pronounced ROO-ahl. Yes, that's right. He wrote Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, plus a million other great books.
2. Jodi Picoult, opens a new window
It's not Pee-coult or Pee-coat. It's PEE-ko. She wrote My Sister's Keeper which got turned into a movie.
3. Ayn Rand, opens a new window
Ayn is pronounced INE (rhymes with mine). You probably already read Atlas Shrugged in high school.
4. Maya Angelou, opens a new window
It looks like her last name should be pronounced anja-LEW, but's it's actually pronouced anja-LO. Read her autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
5. Cory Doctorow, opens a new window
DOC-tuh-roh. Sometimes you just need to know where to put the emphasis, right? You should read his sci-fi book Little Brother.
6. Cornelia Funke, opens a new window
The best way to say her last name is FUN-kuh, pretty much. You should read her kids fantasy series Inkheart. Who cares if you aren't a kid.
7. Henry David Thoreau, opens a new window
Most people say tho-ROH. According to Ralph Waldo Emerson's son and Thoreau's friend, the accent is on the first syllable. So that would be THOR-oh. You should read his classic novel Walden.
So, how many of these did you already know how to pronounce? Do you know an author who you catch people saying their name wrong all the time? Tell us!
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