"Realtor" is a two-letter word, I promise

This is something that never ceases to irritate me, despite the fact that I should probably be immune to it by now.

The word "REALTOR" has two syllables, not three.  I realize the confusion, since it's spelled "Realtor", yet pronounced "Realtor".  Sorry to be sarcastic here.  

It's not pronounced "real-uh-ter".  You cannot buy a vowel.

I hear this from many people in the industry as well, sometimes from lenders and title companies.  Occasionally, I hear it from licensed Realtors as well.

I was thinking of turning the tables on other industries when I hear people mispronounce this word.  I will tell them that I have a doc-a-tor appointment, or that they need to meet with a len-a-der to see about getting pre-approved for financing.  God forbid that we ever have to consult a law-a-yer, or a chiroprac-a-tor.

I realize it may seem petty for me to mention this, but it's my sincere aim to inform and help my friends (and even some non-friends).  

If it makes you feel better, I get equally bothered by non-word usage, including the following somewhat prevalent examples that I hear way too often:

• • "anyways" - not really the right word.  It's "anyway".  This one even managed to make it into some dictionaries because so many people said it.  Still wrong.

• • "orientated" - not a word at all - it's "oriented".  

• • "conversate" - this was formerly limited to the truly ignorant, but I heard someone use this the other day and almost did a full-on spit take

• • "irregardless" - it's just "regardless", no "ir" needed or used here.

• • "utilize" - this is sort of the pretentious version of "use".  I learned somewhere from a writing teacher "don't utilize utlize, use use."  

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/calliope/72949752/