Ten words or phrases I am asking everyone to stop using in my presence
1. Fled on foot
Example Usage: After ditching the car, the suspect fled on foot across a crowded playground.
Complaint: He didn’t flee in a hot air balloon, it was on his feet!
Annoyance Value: 5
2. Literally
Example Usage: When JumJums died, I literally cried for three weeks, my heart broke in two, literally, broke in two.
Complaint: Everyone knows someone who abuses this word in every story and description. Stop! I’m not alone on this one.
AV: 9
3. Apropos
Example Usage: I see you’re eating a Jeno’s frozen pizza. That’s very apropos considering March is National Frozen Food Month.
Complaint: What, you’re too good for the word appropriate? Apropos’ silent s isn’t nearly as cool as the silent g in paradigm, even if March is Frozen Food Month or National Peanut Month or whatever.
AV: 8
4. Utilize
Example Usage: If you utilize the proper tools, assembly is a snap.
Complaint: Yes, there is an appropriate time to use the word utilize, but not when you can utilize use instead — oops.
AV: 6
5. Outside of the box
Example Usage: We need to get creative, team. Let’s start thinking outside of the box!
Complaint: Let’s begin by not using that cliché. It only shows how unimaginative you are.
AV: 8
6. Facetious
Example Usage: I was just being facetious when I called you an overweight, balding, ninny.
Complaint: This word recently hit the streets, immediately going to the heads of most non-English majors using it. Its use is often followed by a smug and expectant pause during which the user waits to be praised or questioned.
AV: 7
7. Metrosexual
Example Usage: I’m going to open an NFL themed manicure shop that will target metrosexuals.
Complaint: Orwell warned that removing words from use can reduce experience; but worse are words that deconstruct and injure what they represent. How many well-groomed men want to be described by a word like metrosexual? Not many.
AV: 7
8. Ideal
Example Usage: I’m fix’n to git me a new pair a scissors cuz I ain’t got no ideal where bouts I left mine.
Complaint: There is no l in the word idea people! This is a part of southern dialect I just can’t get used to.
AV: 9
9. Different
Example Usage: This jersey was signed by 30 different players!
Complaint: Really? Did you check to make sure they weren’t 30 of the same player?
AV:4
10. Discharge
Example Usage: A moist discharge covered the wound.
Complaint: I just think it’s gross.
AV:10
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Being from the South, I usually hear “idear” rather than “ideal,” but both are annoying. However, I am glad your complaint was not with “fix’n” because I tend to use that one all the time; my only real constant bastardization of the English language.
I think you meant words -and- phrases.
Unless.. you really only want us to stop the use of just one or the other?
Sorry, I can’t make any sense of that.
Those who use “uncomfortability” when they mean “discomfort”. These folks usually speak as if language is a burden to have to use; their voices have no inflection.
At the End of the Day – URGH!!!!!!!!
that stunk! heh i’m just being facetious. haha! no but literally you are thinking WAAAAAy outside the box, i think it’s very apropos that in that picture you appear a well groomed metrosexual, and you even mentioned it! the way you utilize your words just makes me want to flee on foot to tennessee and congratulate you! i am glad to see four different people commenting on this, and enjoyed reading it as you don’t spew forth the regular brain-assaulting discharge many authors create;all in all, it was a great ideal.
Your post led me to re-publish my old essay, ‘Literally’ decimated, figuratively speaking.
And “pardon the pun” or even worse, “pun intended” when no pun has been made.
There’s no “r” in idea either. There are several things I’m willing to overlook in a cute British accent, but that’s not one of them.
And, irregardless. What the hell is that all about? Who adds syllables?
Where I live in northeast TN, it’s common to hear “ideal” used in place of “idea”. It isn’t just me mishearing the accent, they really say “I have no ideal” or more commonly “I ain’t got no ideal”. When I question them regarding the use, they act as if they’d never thought about it or that it’s just a common expression that means “I don’t know”. I can’t completely understand it myself, I’m guessing someone at some point messed up the correct expression and others just followed along. Whatever happened, it’s annoying and it needs to stop!
I also have to insert my oldest complaint, when folks use “disinterest” when they mean “uninterest”.
While I’m at it, the use of the term “potentialality” has to stop. “Potential” suffices for what one wants to get across, and it’s not ambiguous either. Someone likely came up with this in an effort to sound like an expert.
It didn’t work.
According to Merriam-Webster, it is correct to use “disinterest” to mean “uninterest,” which means “indifference” — as well as to use “disinterest” to mean “lack of personal stake.” Merriam-Webster (publishing industry’s standard) is a bunch of wusses, who will legitimize anything, if it’s been used long enough.
My pet peeve is equating “comprise” and “compose,” and I always correct it, despite Merriam-Webster’s whiny-ass note that it’s been equated since the late 18th century, therefore it’s fine although unfairly stigmatized by snobs like me. Ebonics has been used by uneducated English speakers for a few centuries, e.g., in “Tess of the D’Ubervilles” – that don’ mean it be proper English.
The lower case L looks a lot like the uppercase i in a sans serif font.
Let’s compare:
I (uppercase i)
l (lowercase L)
Therefore, it would be better to spell out the word “el”. This eliminates all disambiguation and makes for an easier read!
And, yes, my Latin teacher used to follow the word facetious with a little pause. What an awkward man he was.
I have a good friend from Ohio that uses the phrase, “i have no ideal” each and every time he isn’t sure of something. Being from Alabama I always assumed it was a northern thing that was just part of the way they spoke up there haaha. I’ve heard many people from where I’m from use the word “idear”, but hearing it consistently since i was a child makes it just seem like a normal part of our vocab. Plus, you probably will hear it in a movie about the south more than it actually is used.