From: What is the most annoying phrase in the English language? (The Telegraph, February 23rd, 2007)
Here are many dozens of contributions (I almost wrote “literally dozens”) from Telegraph readers on the solecisms and popular gobbledegook that raise their blood pressures. Most are indeed abominations, but the more I read the more I cringed at recognizing my habitual reliance on no small number of them. It proves once again how it is nearly impossible to master this rich, vibrant language made for curmudgeons.
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9 comments:
In 1878 Disraeli described Gladstone as: "a sophistical rhetorician, inebriated with the exuberance of his own verbosity" I think the modern equivalent would be 'he has verbal diarrhoea'. It doesn't have quite the same ring to it, does it?
Phrases such as...
"Mary Smith will CHAIR the meeting."
"John Jones is the CHAIR of the committee."
"Are you CHAIRING this committee?
words like...
phat, xtrime, thru.
Qausi-esoteric acronyms such as...
IMO, LE, LMAO, ITA.
When confronted with any Bad Thing, you must claim that it is: "a sad indictment of our society".
"My name is Todd, and I'll be your server this evening."
"I categorically deny..."
"I'm doing fine, how about yourself?"
"I want to make a difference."
"Clean up this mess, you lazy bastard!"
Hear that last one a lot, do you ?
Yeah, don't you?
Telemarketers and customer service representatives who ask "how are you today"...like they really care. I almost punched someone once when they said "I feel your pain."
faith tradition
people of color
Press or say one for English.
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