Pronunciation: [ˈɜːkɪŋ] (IPA) 
The word "irking" is spelled with the letter "i" followed by the letters "r" and "k" and ending with "ing". The IPA phonetic transcription for "irking" is /ɜːkɪŋ/. The first sound, "əː", is a mid-central vowel sound, while the "k" sound is voiceless velar stop. Adding "-ing" at the end of the word means that it is a present participle verb form. The word "irking" is commonly used to describe an action that causes annoyance or vexation.
The term "irking" refers to the present participle form of the verb "irk." It encompasses the action or process of causing annoyance, irritation, or provoking mild anger in someone. Thus, "irking" can be thought of as the ongoing act of being a source of annoyance to another individual or group, leading to feelings of frustration or displeasure.
When something or someone is described as "irking," it implies that it continuously or persistently creates a bothersome or troublesome effect on others. This can manifest through various means, including repetitive behavior, nagging, or consistently unpleasant attitudes or actions. The consequential emotions associated with being "irked" often range from mild agitation and vexation to a higher level of annoyance or exasperation.
The term "irking" emphasizes the notion of causing irritation over a continuous period, making its effect more perceptible and possibly building up frustration or impatience in those affected. Its usage can be seen in a variety of contexts, from personal relationships and interactions to professional or public settings. People may feel irked by a particular person's habits, an ongoing situation, or a persistent problem.
Overall, "irking" encapsulates the idea of ongoing annoyance and the capability of something or someone to consistently frustrate or exasperate others, leading to a distinct form of irritation.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "irking" is derived from the verb "irk", which originated in Middle English. Its exact etymology is unclear, as it has no known cognates in other languages. However, it is believed to have Old Norse roots, possibly derived from the Old Norse word "yrkja" which means "to work". Over time, "irk" took on the meaning of "to annoy" or "to irritate", and "irking" emerged as its present participle form.
