In comparing the sound of the applicant’s mark, “MR. PURL,” with the cited mark, “MRS PEARL,” it is clear that there are significant phonetic differences that distinguish the two when spoken aloud, thereby eliminating any likelihood of confusion.

Firstly, the initial components of the marks, “MR.” and “MRS,” are pronounced distinctly different. “MR.” is pronounced as “mister,” while “MRS” is pronounced as “missus.” The difference in sound between “mister” and “missus” is clear and distinct, with the former ending in a hard “-ter” sound and the latter ending in a softer “-sus” sound. This difference in pronunciation is significant and would be immediately noticeable to the average consumer.

Secondly, the latter components of the marks, “PURL” and “PEARL,” also have distinct phonetic differences. “PURL” is pronounced as “pur-l,” with a short “u” sound, while “PEARL” is pronounced as “purl,” with a long “e” sound. The difference in vowel sounds between “PURL” and “PEARL” is significant and creates a clear distinction in pronunciation. The short “u” sound in “PURL” is a sharper, more abrupt sound, while the long “e” sound in “PEARL” is a softer, more elongated sound. This difference in vowel sounds would be immediately noticeable to the average consumer when the marks are spoken aloud.

Furthermore, the overall rhythm and cadence of the marks when spoken aloud are different. “MR. PURL” has a more staccato rhythm due to the short “u” sound in “PURL,” while “MRS PEARL” has a more fluid rhythm due to the long “e” sound in “PEARL.” This difference in rhythm and cadence further distinguishes the marks when spoken aloud.