The other day I stumbled on a list of Top Ten Irritating Phrases, as one does when one is searching for yet another synonym for “looked.”
• At the end of the day
• Fairly unique
• Hashtag blessed
• At this moment in time
• With all due respect
• I’m just being honest
• Shouldn’t of
• 24/7
• It’s not rocket science
• I could care less
I would like to add ironically and literally to the list because so many people don’t understand their meaning. And let’s go ahead and include air quotes, too. I’m not “kidding.”
While we’re at it, let’s axe underage woman—which I believe is a child—and its corollary, boys will be boys, which usually refers to men, come to think of it.
I personally is another phrase I hate because it seems like the linguistic equivalent of having toast with your pancakes. (Which I have done on occasion and for which I’m still ashamed.)
But my ultimate pet peeve word is arguably. First, coming from a large argumentative family, I learned as a wee bairn that EVERYTHING is arguable. A seemingly innocuous sentence like Abraham Lincoln was arguably the best President makes me sputter in fourteen different directions, none of which have to do with history. Why can’t they say “I think Abraham Lincoln was the best president, “ or “Abraham Lincoln was the best prez because he wore that awesome hat” or even the weaselly “Many people think Abraham Lincoln was the best president”?
But at the end of the day, I personally am fairly unique in thinking this. With all due respect to Lincoln scholars, it’s literally a nightmare to be subjected to “history” 24/7. After all, it’s not rocket science.
Oh, I probably shouldn’t of said that, but I could care less. I’m just being honest.
What’s your numero uno most irritating phrase?
Quick heads-up … if you know anyone attempting National Novel Writing Month in November, alert them to this. I put my book on sale for 99c until Monday. They can prepare for NaNoWriMo and get their 60k words completed to snag the coveted “I won!” certificate.
Chicks on the Case 
That being said
LikeLiked by 4 people
I can’t stand “irregardless.” Also, “In order to.” I’m also not a fan of “judgy.” Judgmental is an amazing word, don’t shorten it!
LikeLiked by 4 people
I’m also guilty of “judgy.” Perhaps to soften the blow?
LikeLiked by 3 people
Oh, and “irregardless” is just so dopey! Not even a word! Do people use it thinking it makes them sound smarter because of that extra syllable? I’ll be judgy and say it does not.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I’m guilty of this one. I’ll pontificate on why something is terrible then say, “That said, I really love it.” I don’t know why. I just do.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Lol, Becky! That’s mine. Lol. And I’m ashamed to admit I use it ALL the time.
BTW, did you find any new synonyms for looked besides gazed? Finding alternates for looked, shrugged, and smiled will be the end of me.
LikeLiked by 3 people
My characters tend to laugh a lot too. They’re so irritating.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The one phrase that sends my brain into orbit, is “shoulda did” I had a boss and 2 coworkers who used that constantly. Just thinking about that sets my teeth on edge.
Carol
LikeLiked by 5 people
Carol, that made me laugh because it reminded me of my Oklahoma cousin who said, “used to could.” It always made me laugh and I always pictured it (and heard it) as one word.
LikeLiked by 2 people
One of my favorites (which I picked up from a Texan character in a film) is, “I might could.” I use it all the time–heavy on the Texan accent.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Those funny phrases do have their uses, don’t they, Leslie? Where would the world be without “all y’all”??
LikeLiked by 1 person
Becky, I’ve used y’all’ll in one of my books.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Tom, I use all y’all in my real life. And I’m about as southern as the northern lights!
LikeLike
My #1 is irregardless because if you break it down, it simply doesn’t make sense. Whatever the OED says about its acceptability.
The inability to use “fewer” and “less” correctly makes me sigh – especially from people who ought to know and have editors (like journalists).
LikeLiked by 6 people
My normally very calm and controlled husband startled me the other day by yelling at the TV during a commercial, “IT’S FEWER, YA IDJIT!” So he (and I) completely agree with you, Liz!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Can’t stand when people (mostly TV reporters) say something is “past history.” Or when someone “over exaggerates.” But I just smile and nod. Not gonna stir up that hornet’s nest. After all, you get more flies with honey…
LikeLiked by 4 people
Those are both good ones! It’s funny you mention “more flies with honey” because just yesterday I put that in a manuscript and someone voiced the thought [perhaps my own] that they never understood that phrase because “who wants more flies!” ha!
LikeLiked by 3 people
P.S. Reading Eight Weeks to a Complete Novel and loving it!
LikeLiked by 4 people
Ohmygosh, thank you! That makes me so happy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not a fan of “fiction novel.” And I must be getting old because I don’t understand some of my kids’ lingo, like “That’s so cringe.”
LikeLiked by 4 people
“Fiction novel” is so cringe!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Irregardless is high on my list of most hated words. And I found it pretty cringe (can you say that?) when everyone started using “flammable” (a made-up word) because they were afraid folks would think “inflammable” meant “not inflammable.” Sigh….
LikeLiked by 3 people
Interesting, Leslie. I hadn’t realized that’s how *that* started. Makes perfect sense though. Perish the thought they actually educate people on the correct definition! Sigh is right.
LikeLike
I can’t stand ‘I seen…’ I also hate irregardless, but one that drives me nuts, and I use it wayyy too much is “actually.’
LikeLiked by 3 people
Actually, both are worthy contenders. (See what I did there?) I don’t technically hate the word “actually” but usually what follows is something truly obnoxious like mansplaining or know-it-all-itis, which are peeves for a different post!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t think I use it in a mansplaining way. I’d say, Actually, I do prefer coffee over tea, so coffee would be great, thank you…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Because you’re so nice! Me, otoh, not so much. I would say, “COFFEE! omg, GIVE ME COFFEE!!” But then they’d know I’ve had enough.
LikeLike
A top contender for eradication from the dictionary is “suddenly”. Sometimes it can simply be removed, others, a passage must be rewritten to indicate that an event occurred quickly or unexpectedly without using an adverb.
A fave of newscasters is “this point in time”. What’s wrong with “now”? “In this/that particular place” is a runner-up. How about “here” and “there”?
Finally, there’s Natalie McMasters’s fave word. Begins with “f” ends with “k” , can be used as a noun, a verb, an adjective, an adverb, and an interjection, and is not “fire truck”. I’ve recently introduced a new character into the mix who working to get Nattie to clean up her language. We’ll see how that goes…
LikeLiked by 3 people
You just reminded me of another phrase I hate, Tom, and no, it’s not cursing because I have quite the pottymouth myownself. “She was ten years his senior.” Why not just say she was ten year older? Why must they make me think so hard about it??
LikeLike
I love to hate all of these, Becky. I’m particularly irritated by “I could care less.” It’s right up there with supposably and heighth. (shudder)
LikeLiked by 4 people
Supposably, yes! My dad used to say “droughth” instead of “drought.” I don’t know if it was a regionalism or what, but whenever I asked him about it, he’d just give me the Dad Look over the top of his glasses and I’d hightail it outta there.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I don’t understand “fairly unique” (isn’t something unique or not?). Going to ponder that one!
And I always mean “with all due respect” to signal a great deal of respect, but technically I guess it doesn’t actually specify whether a lot or a little respect is intended, does it…hmmm.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Oh, I’m guilty of “fairly unique,” but of course I was a “little bit pregnant” at one time too!
I don’t think I’ve ever said “with all due respect” and didn’t mean it sarcastically. Blame it on the pregancies, I guess.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“I should of…” AARGH!!! But my pet peeve (and I know it’s a popular regionalism): “Wanna come with?” or “You coming with?” No no no no noooooooo!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
But Lisa, you forget how haaaaard it is to add the mouthful of a word “me” to the end of that sentence. It exhausts me just thinking about it.
LikeLiked by 2 people