Over the past two years, readers around the world have contributed in earnest to our groaning collection of annoying words and expressions. Recent additions include "groaning" (for "growing"), "so fun," "you guys," "going forward," "pre-order," "sucks," "heart-rendering" (instead of "heart rending"), "bonking," "sort it," "prolly" (for "probably"), "no offense” (when what follows is certain to offend), "STFU," "'puter" (for "computer"), "my last nerve," "to die for," and "let’s not go there."
As essayist Joseph Epstein once suggested, the list of language peeves may turn out to be limitless:
One of the things a language snob learns early in his training is that there is probably no word or phrase that someone of stature doesn't despise. Edward Shils has kept up a running attack against the phrase "check out," as in "check it out." I know many people who hate authored as a verb, but I recently read that E.B. White doesn't even like the word author. I can never see or hear the word workshop, referring to a management seminar or creative writing course, without thinking of Kingsley Amis's line, from his novel Jake's Thing, which runs: "If there's one word that sums up everything that's gone wrong since the war, it's Workshop." Legion are the people who loathe the phrase "pick your brain," and I am among their number. Whenever anyone says to me that they would, on a particular subject, like to pick my brain, I always think, "Yes, if I may kick your butt."If you can handle the vexation, check out our list of 200 Words and Expressions That Tick You Off. And to share your language peeves, click on the comments button below.
("Your Basic Language Snob," The American Scholar, 1984)
Comments
I detest “often times.” Because “often” is already a measure of frequency the addition of “times” is redundant. Have you run across John McIntyre’s blog, You Don’t Say?
Thank you, Kevin. For a note on John McIntyre, see Copy Editor Says It Again.
I would like to add the following:
1. incorrect usage of it’s and its
2. adding an apostrophe s to EVERYTHING plural
3. as per
4. awesome possum
So, I was (as used at the beginning of a conversation)
Have I missed an important linguistic development? It seems that ‘bored of’ is now part of the English language. Drives me crazy. Surely it should be ‘bored by’ or possibly ‘bored with’?
What should be at the top of the list is the ever popular its for it’s.
I am thrilled to see “appropriate/inappropriate”
(the favorite expression used by bureaucrats, educrats,public relation flacks and of course by polititians and supposed diplomats). Along with the vapid “beautiful” you might have added the most uninteresting and lazy adjective “interesting.”
“whenever”
“Went missing”
“back in”, as in “back in March”
to “hit the bricks running”
It is what it is.
How about “bring” and “take” usages? Drives me nuts!
And don’t forget “absolutely” instead of “yes” as the affirmative answer to a question.
“graduate college” instead of “graduate from college”
When did “up” become a verb? As in, “I am upping my exercise” or “You should up your efforts.”
“Win-win for everyone.” The expression means that everyone in the situation wins, so it is redundant.
“Fabulous.” When everything is fabulous, nothing is.
“Drug deal gone bad.” As opposed to a drug deal being transacted well?
“with respect to” instead of “about”
I edit a home page (called a homepage) for a media outlet. There are free classifed ads available to those who want to add them. My peeve is “obo” for “or best offer” when pricing a sale item. If they wanted to sell it for whatever price, why do they add “or best offer)? That seems dumb to me!
My ears hurt when people use “impact” as a verb (instead of “have an impact” or “made an impact”).
* The new law will impact traffic.
* Attendance was impacted by the heavy rain.
* We need you, leaders, to impact your teams!
I’ve even heard a successful program’s outcome described as being “impactful.” Ugh!
I also hate the non-word “proactive.”
American Heritage likens “impact” to other words like curb, date, elbow, interview, panic, contact and park, each of which has had a functional shift. However, “impact” used as a verb instead of a noun is disapproved by 80% of Usage Panel experts and appears to evoke particularly strident response. It is supposed, however, that it too will pass into acceptability by virtue of common usage, given enough time. Sigh.
went missing
That being said
Any “str” in a word pronounced “shtr” — for example,”shtrong” for “strong” or “ashtronomy” for “astronomy.”
“I appreciate you coming here,” instead of “I appreciate your coming here.”
Years have passed since I could no longer stand “awesome.”
The incessant interspersing of “like” affects my eardrums like pokes with an awl, as does the pronunciation of “st” as if it were written “sht” (”There’s shtrong, and there’s Army shtrong.”)
I could on and on. . .
Before, as in, I never knew that BEFORE.” That’s what never means, in all the time before.
“I completely forgot.” Is there any other way to forget?
This is related to “In my mind I was thinking.” No kiddin? Your thinking takes place in your mind? As opposed to in your gall bladder??
“Top ten most” irritating phrases. Top or most is superfluous.
“Where” is used to replace when as in, “It was a time where I felt…”
“Future plans.” All plans are made for the future. Just say plans.
Quote-unquote” You can’t unquote something once it is quoted. “Endquote” is the term. (Although Websters’ says this has been accepted since 1915)
Some people say “OK” – a kind of staccato ‘okeh’, with heavy emphasis on the “K.” Simon Cowell does it a lot.
“Went missing” – what’s wrong with disapppeared”? If soemone who went missing returns would you say he went “appearing”?
“the fabric started to unravel.” No, it started to ravel.
“FAQs”
FAQ stands for Frequently Asked Questions, which is already plural, so the s of “FAQs” is redundant. This is equivalent to writing MPHs or RPMs, both of which are internally plural.
“Contents” instead of content: “Table of Contents” “The contents of this package.” There is NEVER contents (plural). You don’t fill a glass with waters, nor a balloon with airs. A book has content – accordingly, it should have a Table of Content.
“loose” for lose, as in I plan to loose 5 pounds.
I’m quite tired of things being the best/biggest/most exotic place/happiest man/fastest runner “on the planet”. But, you know, we humans, by nature, follow fads.
Dude. I can’t stand it when someone refers to me or another person as dude, especially if the other person is female.
Let’s roll! (disrespectful to those brave souls who brought the plane down in Pennsylvania)
“The thing is is…” instead of “The thing is…”
This one is rampant; even President Obama does it.
Gobsmacked (instead of shocked)
no offense, or no offense meant (when clearly the speaker expects the remark to be offensive)
You and me. ugh.
At this point in time. Why was in time added to a totally acceptable phrase At this point.
There are quite a few that irritate me.
1) Use of multiple exclamation marks, as in, “Wow, it’s too good!!!!!”
2) Unnecessary use of apostrophe in plurals of abbreviated words, as in, “All the MBA’s were present”
3) The phrase “Free gift!”. It’s just a marketing gimmick. But when were gifts paid for?
4) The much cliched phrase “Nothing is impossible”.
That’s it for now. Will come back with some more. Please keep this discussion going. Thank you.
Marriage or marry when it doesn’t refer to being wed.
i.e. “It’s the marriage of tastes – sweet and sour.
“we will marry our concepts and his products.
My boss insists on using “touch basis”. Admittedly he’s neither American nor sporty and has probably never watched a baseball game, but if he says it again I’ll knock him out of the park!
I haven’t seen this one here yet: “off of”, used instead of “off”. Increasing numbers of bloggers and even journalists are using it, to the point where I worry it will become acceptable, just through common use.
Jen, I thought I was the only one. I hate “off of” as well. It sounds awkward and takes much longer to say.
Odds and ends from one who has spent more than four decades teaching English and communication:
1. The phrase “a/the time when” is redundant; the “when is not needed.
2. The phrase “a/the place where” is redundant; the “where” is not needed.
3. The last book of the Bible is Revelation, not “Revelations.”
4. “Don’t give me any slack” is a mixture of “Don’t give me any flak/flack” and “Cut me some slack.”
5. A person wearing no clothing is not “butt-naked” but “buck-naked.”
6. Good writers find substitutes for cliches beginning with “get”: get married, get along, get a grade, etc.
7. “Got” should not be used as the present tense of “have”: I got a cold. Do you got a pencil?
8. The “th” of “fifth” and “sixth” should be pronounced.
9. It’s “plane geometry,” not “plain geometry.”
10. It’s “FebRUary,” not “FebUary.”
11. Sushi is rice; sashimi is raw fish.
12. “Last” should not be used in place of “most recent.”
Ah, but wouldn’t butt-naked be correct, too, if it were true?
Sick of the word OUTPOURING?
Has been used in the media
Ad Nauseum.
Yes, I suppose the pun is intended!
1. “delighted” in higher ed. marketing. “We’re delighted you’ve chosen Mediocrity Is US University.” Liars!
2. “brain fart”
3. “Buy-in”
..in a sec, hold on, scootch over, friggen, glam cam,
gone missing (yeah, but to where?)
sleeping in(in what?)
(profited) off of (what’s wrong with “from”?
“I seen it.” 95% of people use this, daily!
You forgot the worst one: “It’s all good”
Another beauty is: Stop and think about it.
Which really should be: Stop to think about it.
Another is: Overuse and misuse of Virtually – Often used in commercials it’s redundant and misleading. (i.e., This Car can Virtually Park Itself). I’m thinking, well…either it can or it can’t…..there’s nothing virtual about it.