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A noun that is formed from a verb and which describes an action. In English it ends in -ing, eg 'the baking of bread' and 'Smoking damages your health'.

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Organic food in a hurry

Abuse in Signage, Photos, Spelling

Posted by Tom on 11th August, 2008

"Expresso", originally uploaded by kyz.

This mistake is worryingly common and makes me chuckle every time I see it.

This is also one of those errors that I have to verbally correct when I hear spoken. I can often be seen in the queue at Starbucks obnoxiously hissing at some poor soul, “Esssssssspresso!”.

I can’t help it; it’s a compulsion.

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3 Comments »

1. espresso
   One entry found.

   espresso

   Main Entry:
   espres·so Listen to the pronunciation of espresso
   Pronunciation:
   \e-ˈspre-(ˌ)sō\
   Variant(s):
   also ex·pres·so Listen to the pronunciation of expresso \ik-ˈspre-(ˌ)sō\
   Function:
   noun
   Inflected Form(s):
   plural espres·sos
   Etymology:
   Italian (caffè) espresso, probably literally, coffee made on the spot at the customer’s request
   Date:
   1945

   1 : coffee brewed by forcing steam or hot water through finely ground darkly roasted coffee beans 2 : a cup of espresso

   Comment by Anonymous — 13th August, 2008 @ 4:21 pm

2. Is that from bloody Merriam Webster? Bunch of clowns. When will they realise that a common error is not the same as a usage variant?

   Comment by Gez — 13th August, 2008 @ 7:01 pm

3. My mother-in-law always says “expresso,” which drives me crazy! But this is also a woman who serves “punkin” pie at Thanksgiving, so I shouldn’t be too surprised.

   Comment by Rachel — 29th August, 2008 @ 7:25 pm

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