Non-sequiturs are statements or conclusions that do not logically follow from what precedes. As a noun (often plural), they describe incongruous or irrelevant remarks that interrupt a line of reasoning. In discourse, non-sequiturs can be humorous or jarring, depending on context and delivery.
US: rhotic, final /r/ pronounced; smoother /ɚ/ or /ər/; vowel lengthier in /ɪ/ sequences. UK: non-rhotic; final /ə/ or /əz/ with a softer /r/; the /ˈkwɪt/ portion remains sharp; AU: intermediate rhoticity, closer to US but with slightly flatter vowels. IPA references show /ˌnɒn sɪˈkwɪt.jəz/ (UK/AU). Focus on keeping the 'KWIT' strong in all accents, with the final 'rs' softened in non-rhotic contexts.
"Her attempt to explain the weather led to a non-sequitur about her favorite dessert."
"The comedian’s punchline was a perfect non-sequitur, leaving the audience laughing in confusion."
"During the debate, a distracting non-sequitur derailed the argument."
"The essay contained several non-sequiturs that weakened its overall cohesion."
Non-sequiturs comes from the Latin phrase non sequitur, meaning 'it does not follow.' The term originates in formal logic and classical rhetoric, where a sequitur denotes a logical consequence or inference. The prefix non- negates, while sequitur derives from the Latin sequi, meaning 'to follow.' In English, non sequitur first appeared in the 16th–18th centuries as a phrase describing an argument that fails logical progression. Over time, it was adopted as a technical term in philosophy and rhetoric, then broadened in general usage to describe any remark or deduction that does not follow from the previous statement. In contemporary usage, non-sequiturs are commonly employed humorously in literature, stand-up, and online discourse to signal abrupt shifts in topic, irony, or rhetorical misdirection. The hyphenation non-sequitur is standard in American English, though many treat it as a single word in modern style guides. First known written instances appear in scholarly discussions of logic and argument structure from the early modern period, with broader popular usage accelerating in the 20th century as casual humor and meme culture embraced the concept of illogical leaps.
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Words that rhyme with "Non-Sequiturs"
-its sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as /ˌnɒn sɪˈkwɪtʃərz/ for UK/AUS and /ˌnɑːn sɪˈkwɪtɜːrz/ in US. The key stress falls on the second main syllable 'KWIT' (the
Common errors include misplacing the stress on the first syllable, pronouncing the 'qui' as 'kwit' with heavy t sound, and turning the final 'urs' into a hard 'erz' or 'ur' rather than 'ers'. Correct it by stressing -KWIT- in the second syllable and ending with a clear 'ərz' or 'ərs' depending on accent, ensuring the 's' remains a voiced z in connected speech.
US tends to be rhotic with a clearer 'r' and slightly longer vowel in the first syllable; the 'qui' yields /kwɪt/ with a crisp 't' release. UK tends to non-rhoticize the final 'r,' making the ending closer to /kwɪtə(z)/; Australian blends can soften the final 'r' more and may lengthen the preceding vowel slightly. Listen for vowel quality in the first 'non' and the second syllable stress on 'KWIT'.
It combines a stress shift (non- then -SE-QU-IT-URS) with a consonant cluster 'kwit' and a trailing 'ərz' that can become 'erz' or 'eəz' depending on accent. The tricky part is sequencing the /n/ to /s/ transition and maintaining a clear /kwɪ/ vowel in the 'qui' part while not over-emphasizing the 't' sound. Practice isolating the 'KWIT' chunk and linking it fluidly to the final /ərz/.
No — there are no silent letters in non-sequiturs. Every letter corresponds to a sound in standard American, British, and Australian English. The challenge lies in blending the sequence of consonants /n sɪˈkwɪtjərz/ (US) or /nɒn sɪˈkwɪtjəz/ (UK/AU) smoothly, while preserving the secondary stress and the final /ərz/ or /əz/ sound in connected speech.
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