Hi SouthTexas -- I see it really is important to you. Thanks.

In actuality, the hard "t" doesn't matter to me one iota.  I have always pronounced "often" with a silent "t".  However, from this point forward I shall be sure and pronounce "often" with a hard "t"....just to make a point, and perhaps to irritate small people whose world revolves around minute variances in the pronunciation of words. 

I am a word person...I love to read, I write poetry and have been published, and I have a degree in English.  But when I look at the world that surrounds me, correct pronunciation...at least to the point that you guys have taken it is simply not important.

Language is an evolving thing...you deny that even though multiple dictionaries uphold both pronunciations of this word, that you are still correct.  Perhaps we should go back to Chaucer's old English if we do not want our language to evolve....Think you could speak as they did in Chaucer's day.  I couldn't and wouldn't want to.

Hi Southtexas -- Obviously, the hard "T" is very important to you.

If hearing a hard "t" when the word "often" is pronounced on T.V. causes one to "cringe," the person cringing needs to evaluate some priorities.  There are things in life that are important and things that are not important.

Hi Dejasmom -- Yes, many people from different walks of life make these common errors. Oddly, broadcasters, pronounce the hard "T" frequently; they should know better. Thanks for the comment.
--td

Hey Tim, you'll be happy to note that it's not just us common folk who mispronounce this word. I was watching CSI last night and heard the fabulous Laurence Fishburne pronounce the "t." As a person who tries her best to speak correctly, lest I appear uneducated to my very intelligent daughter, hearing that made me cringe a little.

As I have said before, what I suggest here in terms of words or pronunciation is correct or preferred. Frankly, if anybody prefers to be incorrect, that is their business. I realize that many words, after consistent misuse, will enter a dictionary that way. That does not change what is really correct or preferred. As I mentioned before, the definitive American dictionary is Webster's.

The dictionaries that I checked on line list both pronunciations for "often" as correct.  There are numerous words that fall in that category Caribbean being one of the ones that we use most frequently and which is correct either way it is pronounced.  So....no big deal after all and no one will stone you to death in the village square if you pronounce the "t".

I guess everyone has a pet peeve......irregardless is mine. Can you find that one in the dictionary, sports fans?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_...

Oh come on, southtexas. For us language types, as Mr. Delaney and I certainly are- correct language does matter. As a former English and Spanish teacher, I appreciate some of the more detailed aspects of grammar, pronunciation, and writing in general.
If some people can "obsess" about sports on here for pages and pages, I think it's okay for the language "guys" to talk about the details of syntax and pronunciation. 
AND... Tim, I can remember when I was in 3rd grade when my teacher corrected me for saying "OFTTTTEN." I've always said "ofen" since then, and I correct my own children today. But I was beginning to wonder if common usage was moving away from what I had learned.
Thanks for clearing the air on the issue.

TDelaney.....Might I suggest that you get a hobby, or perhaps do some volunteer work, take up macrame....do something besides obsess on the pronunciation of a word.  

The plethora of accents, pronunciation, slang, fad words, etc. make life interesting and make people different and unique......and I happen to have a degree in English, and do so love the well written word.  However, life itself is an artistic portrait of variance and difference.  Enjoy.....don't obsess!

THANK YOU!  I cannot even begin to count how many times I have heard this word mispronounced. I cringe every time; it's like nails on a chalkboard to me.  Thanks for pointing out the correct pronunciation, sir!

I'd be happy if people would just spell it correctly.

I never noticed people using a hard T, I said it to myself and mine is more of the off-en .
 Guess I thought it was off-en just a Texas thing like fix-en to.
lol.

That's pretty interesting. I know I always go out of my way to make sure I say FebRUary, but I've probably been mispronouncing 'often' my entire life. I'm not sure. But thanks for sharing!