Should you pronounce the "t" in "often"? The "l" in "almond"? Though "often" was pronounced with a "t" sound until the 1600s, doing so today conveys a whiff of pretension.

Traditionally, the "l" in "almond" was silent (AH-mund), but recently authorities have been accepting the "l" sound in "almond" (AHL-mund) as well, as in "alms," "balm," "calm," "palm" and "psalm."

See how you fare on this pronunciation quiz involving possible silent letters. Before you gun down each pronunciation, you have to ask yourself, "Should I use my silencer?"

Should you pronounce ... ?

1. the "t" in potpourri (mixture): A. pot-puh-REE, or B. poh-puh-REE

2. the "u" in ague (chill, fever): A. AY-gyoo, or B. aig

3. the first "c" in arctic (region): A. AHRK-tik, or B. AHR-tik

4. the "s" in bas relief (sculptural element): A. bahs rih-LEEF, or B. bah-rih-LEEF

5. the first "e" in naivete (innocence): A. nah-EEV-uh-tay, or B. nah-eev-TAY

6. the second "a" in plantain (fruit): A. PLAN-tain, or B. PLAN-tin

7. the second "i" in privilege (advantage): A. PRIV-uh-lij, or B. PRIV-lij

8. the "o" in redolent (aromatic): A. RED-oh-lint, or B. RED'l-int

9. the "g" in poignant (moving): A. POIGN-yint, or B. POYN-yint

10. the "a" in "saith" (archaic form of "says"): A. SAY-ith, or B. SETH

(The answers below are based on judgments rendered by pronunciation expert Charles Harrington Elster in his "The Big Book of Beastly Mispronunciations: The Complete Opinionated Guide for the Careful Speaker.")

1. B. poh-puh-REE (silent "t") 2. A. AY-gyoo ("u" pronounced) 3. A. AHRK-tik (first "c" pronounced) 4. B. BAH ri-LEEF (silent "s") 5. nah-eev-TAY (silent first "e") 6. B. PLAN-tin ("tain" pronounced "tin," like "tain" in "captain") 7. A. PRIV-uhlij (second "i" pronounced) 8. B. RED'l-int (silent "o") 9. B. POYN-yint (silent "g") 10. B. SETH Here, of course, the "a" isn't really silent; if it were, "saith" would be pronounced "sith."

Elster explains that, just as we pronounce "says" as "SEZ," not "SAY-is," we should pronounce its antecedent "saith" as "SETH." Ministers, take note!

Rob Kyff, a teacher and writer in West Hartford, Conn., invites your language sightings. Send your reports of misuse and abuse, as well as examples of good writing, via e-mail to [email protected] or by regular mail to Rob Kyff, Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254