Author Topic: Words/phrases I wish would go away  (Read 611770 times)

Miss Piggy

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Words/phrases I wish would go away
« on: August 11, 2017, 02:29:03 PM »
There are some words and phrases (mostly created by the media) that I'm really sick of seeing and hearing. Here are a few:

fat-shaming
body-shaming
pretty-much-anything-shaming
body positive (with or without hyphen)
birther (in the context of where Obama was born)

I'll think of more later.

Add yours below...

Cowardly Toaster

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #1 on: August 11, 2017, 02:36:09 PM »
The fat shaming one I think is especially insidious, as it tries to put a pleasant spin on unhealthy lifestyles.

Travis

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #2 on: August 11, 2017, 02:50:37 PM »
Starting or ending a statement on the internet with "FACT!" as if doing that somehow vacates the reality that your rant is still full of shit and most likely has no facts in it.


Hash tags of any sort.  They were created as a reference point for organizing similar Twitter statements, but now they've evolved into shorthand statements by themselves on all kinds of media.

A Definite Beta Guy

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #3 on: August 11, 2017, 02:54:44 PM »
I'm usually on-board with not being overly sensitive, but I don't see what's wrong with "Fat-Shaming." I think its application (like against the Beach Body Ready campaign) might be ridiculous, but we shouldn't be making overweight people feel bad about themselves, and should be mindful that people are sensitive about their weight.

Most terms probably fall in this category.

I really don't like that clapping emoji people put between words in their Tweets or Facebooks. I hate emoji talk in general, but that specifically grinds my gears. :)


Miss Piggy

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #4 on: August 11, 2017, 02:56:51 PM »
I'd like to add baby bump to the list, although that doesn't bother me nearly as much as whatever-shaming. (And I just saw a new one: makeup-shaming.)

Travis

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #5 on: August 11, 2017, 04:42:58 PM »
I really, really hate headlines that start "People are [doing x]!" If you're writing about a person, give me their name, and if you're writing about a trend, please describe the trend rather than "people's" reaction to it. I'm reading an article, not a text message from a gossip-happy friend.

I'm also real tired of the phrase "fake news."

In the vein of clickbat titles, Facebook posts where the post is the headline. Inside that is the embedded article with the headline. And below that is what should be a summary of the article, but is in fact the headline repeated again!  And rarely do these redundant headlines actually tell you what the article will be about.  I realize that is the very definition of "click bait" in that they're enticing you to read the article to see what it is even about, but now it just turns me off instead.

Cowardly Toaster

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #6 on: August 11, 2017, 04:49:00 PM »
I really, really hate headlines that start "People are [doing x]!" If you're writing about a person, give me their name, and if you're writing about a trend, please describe the trend rather than "people's" reaction to it. I'm reading an article, not a text message from a gossip-happy friend.

I'm also real tired of the phrase "fake news."

In the vein of clickbat titles, Facebook posts where the post is the headline. Inside that is the embedded article with the headline. And below that is what should be a summary of the article, but is in fact the headline repeated again!  And rarely do these redundant headlines actually tell you what the article will be about.  I realize that is the very definition of "click bait" in that they're enticing you to read the article to see what it is even about, but now it just turns me off instead.

The real MVPs are the ones who go read the clickbait and then comment the big reveal

ncornilsen

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #7 on: August 11, 2017, 05:27:59 PM »
Bae.

that is all.

bobechs

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #8 on: August 11, 2017, 05:35:04 PM »
Using principal and principle as one and the same word.

Right here on this site is where it flourishes, folks.

Try to do better.

Morning Glory

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #9 on: August 11, 2017, 05:41:44 PM »
Irregardless- not even really a word
Utilize- most of the time "use" will do just fine
"Dialogue " as a verb
Most nouns that are pressed into usage as verbs when a perfectly good verb already exists
"Thru"
"Dilatate" - I know it is actually correct but "dilate" just sounds so much better

Alf91

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #10 on: August 11, 2017, 05:42:41 PM »
Lit.

GenXbiker

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #11 on: August 11, 2017, 05:54:06 PM »
This is an easy one for me - nothing else comes close:

"millennials"

T-Money$

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #12 on: August 11, 2017, 06:17:59 PM »
Victim
Underrepresented
Marginalized
Narrative

I trust nobody who uses such language...
« Last Edit: August 11, 2017, 06:19:37 PM by egillespie »

Adventine

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #13 on: August 11, 2017, 06:32:38 PM »
Twinning
AF (as fuck)
On fleek
Squad
Girlboss

RangerOne

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #14 on: August 11, 2017, 06:36:41 PM »
triggered
snowflake
fake news
cuck
brain washed

I generally don't like terms used to shut down conversation by pigeon holing the person you are talking to.

Laura33

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #15 on: August 11, 2017, 06:55:35 PM »
"Beg the question" to mean "raise the question."

"Literally" to mean "figuratively."

Vertical Mode

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #16 on: August 11, 2017, 07:14:21 PM »
Pretty much all of the derogatory political barbs ("libtard", etc.)

-turnt
-bae
-fleek (where the fuck did this even come from?)

Dee

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #17 on: August 11, 2017, 07:48:03 PM »
"Winning at life." Ugh.

My spouse hates "game changer" and I don't blame him.

marty998

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #18 on: August 11, 2017, 11:51:00 PM »
"Winning at life." Ugh.

My spouse hates "game changer" and I don't blame him.

I hate game changers that going forward will put you ahead of the curve before you go whoa whoa whoa lets take a step back and think differently.

calimom

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #19 on: August 12, 2017, 12:03:46 AM »
* baby moon
* bucket list
* reach out
* circle back

GuitarStv

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #20 on: August 12, 2017, 02:37:47 AM »
"Winning at life." Ugh.

My spouse hates "game changer" and I don't blame him.

I hate game changers that going forward will put you ahead of the curve before you go whoa whoa whoa lets take a step back and think differently.

Going forward, outside the box thinking needs the leverage and bandwidth to proactively reprioritize better aligning with modern paradigms.  Game changing stakeholder synergy is the way to get the ball rolling to circle back and take ownership of value added low hanging fruit.

I wish that life had chosen to make me less fluent in corporate management-speak.

Kris

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #21 on: August 12, 2017, 07:09:28 AM »
I'm getting really sick of seeing "disinterested."

Because 99% of the time, people are using it wrongly, in place of "uninterested." Eg: "Donald Trump is disinterested in learning about how to effectively do his job."

Financial.Velociraptor

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #22 on: August 12, 2017, 09:42:45 AM »
  • Bro-dawg

wenchsenior

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #23 on: August 12, 2017, 11:18:45 AM »
Let's unpack this/There's a lot to unpack here

Trigger/trigger warning

FINate

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #24 on: August 12, 2017, 11:25:00 AM »
YOLO

Paul der Krake

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #25 on: August 12, 2017, 11:38:02 AM »
"I could care less"

NO. THINK ABOUT IT.

Also, don't put apostrophes for the plural form on acronyms. Tell me about your IRAs, not your IRA's.

dandarc

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #26 on: August 12, 2017, 11:48:48 AM »
"Literally" to mean "figuratively."
That one's literally in the dictionary now, which literally makes my eyes bleed.

Stache-O-Lantern

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #27 on: August 12, 2017, 12:21:26 PM »
I've notice the word "iconic" has started to become overused, generally in writing, not in speech.  To the point it's starting to annoy me.

Also I think it's dumb in news articles when they call where people live "(place)-based".  As if most people were international jet-setters that keep an apartment somewhere but don't really live anywhere.  At least that's how I read it in my mind.  No matter how small the town, articles will say "(place)-based".  I saw one today that referred to a "Shelburne-based woman".   Shelburne is a town of about 7,000.  Seems silly, and to me a subtle promotion of lifestyle inflation.

Paul der Krake

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #28 on: August 12, 2017, 12:23:23 PM »
Also, don't put apostrophes for the plural form on acronyms. Tell me about your IRAs, not your IRA's.

I was taught this was the correct way to pluralize acronyms...
No. Apostrophes are for possessives and contractions. The only exception is for the plural of single letters. "Dot your i's and cross your t's.

wenchsenior

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #29 on: August 12, 2017, 12:37:27 PM »
Also, don't put apostrophes for the plural form on acronyms. Tell me about your IRAs, not your IRA's.

I was taught this was the correct way to pluralize acronyms...

Not unless the IRA is in possession of something.

gggggg

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #30 on: August 12, 2017, 04:04:40 PM »
Cringy. I can't stand it, luckily I think it's use is subsiding a little.

purple monkey

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #31 on: August 12, 2017, 07:27:05 PM »
Strangers saying, "I'll pray for you."

GenXbiker

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #32 on: August 12, 2017, 08:02:19 PM »
"I could care less"

NO. THINK ABOUT IT.

I know, right?

gerardc

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #33 on: August 12, 2017, 08:06:21 PM »
Starting or ending a statement on the internet with "FACT!" as if doing that somehow vacates the realityfact that your rant is still full of shit and most likely has no facts in it.

And replacing the word "fact" with "reality" is better how?


"Literally" to mean "figuratively."

That's true but you have to understand that all superlatives are eventually abused, e.g. "really" now means very/much in many situations, "epic" is getting abused too, etc. Language evolves with time.
« Last Edit: August 12, 2017, 08:09:58 PM by gerardc »

Travis

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #34 on: August 12, 2017, 10:23:01 PM »
Starting or ending a statement on the internet with "FACT!" as if doing that somehow vacates the realityfact that your rant is still full of shit and most likely has no facts in it.

And replacing the word "fact" with "reality" is better how?


I don't like using the same word twice in a sentence, especially when it just begs to be punned.  Also, I chose "reality" because most of my encounters with the FACT! users tend to be conspiracy nutters whose sense of reality is certainly debatable.
« Last Edit: August 12, 2017, 10:44:15 PM by Travis »

mustachepungoeshere

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #35 on: August 13, 2017, 01:35:06 AM »
Punish.

Some of my husband's friends use it as a noun rather than a verb.

"I have to work this weekend; it's such a punish."

*rolls eyes*

Also, "I'm not like other girls", "I don't have female friends, too much drama", or any variation thereof.

I find those who complain about drama tend to be those perpetuating it.

gooki

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #36 on: August 13, 2017, 03:05:11 AM »
Trending

Dicey

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #37 on: August 13, 2017, 04:57:45 AM »
Using principal and principle as one and the same word.

Right here on this site is where it flourishes, folks.

Try to do better.
I remember this one from grade school. "The principal is your pal."

(Pro tip: It may or not be true, but my pleated-plaid-uniform-wearing, Catholic School self did not know this then. It works.)

Dicey

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #38 on: August 13, 2017, 05:14:04 AM »
Here's one. My brother frequently says "at this point in time". Every damn time, my wacko brain says, "What about this point in space?" Then my brain links "What about time?" and "What about space?" and the next thing you know the theme song from an obscure one-season TV show called "It's About Time" starts playing in my head.

"It's about time
It's about space
About two men in the strangest place"

The funny thing about that is that we all used to sing it as:

"It's about time
It's about space
It's about time to slap your face"

Maybe my brain is smarter (and funnier) than I give it credit for.

Here's a link for you, but don't say I didn't warn you. It's pure drivel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1G-TsdNWGg


Neal300

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #39 on: August 13, 2017, 07:08:05 AM »
Baby moon
Body-shaming

wenchsenior

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #40 on: August 13, 2017, 08:39:54 AM »
Update: the NYT style guide says:

Quote
Use apostrophes for plurals of abbreviations that have capital letters and periods: M.D.'s, C.P.A.'s. Also use apostrophes for plurals formed from single letters: He received A's and B's on his report card. Mind your p's and q's.

But do not use apostrophe's for plurals of abbreviations without periods, or for plurals formed from figures: TVs, PCs, DVDs; 1990s, 747s, size 7s.

So it depends, but "IRA's" is indeed incorrect. Now I know.

More thoughts on topic: I HATE "on accident," and I wish people would stop talking about "toxins" in food as opposed to in snake bites.

Apostrophes are a pain in the butt to learn, no doubt.  DH still struggles with them, and he's written for decades.  I really should just give him a short cheat sheet to tape to his computer monitor.

Travis

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #41 on: August 13, 2017, 11:17:26 AM »
"Without further ado" and "BLUF (bottom line up front)"

I have no problem with the phrases themselves, but they're used so much by people who don't understand they're meant to convene BREVITY.  You don't use either of them after speaking or writing a paragraph of information.

Vertical Mode

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #42 on: August 13, 2017, 09:17:08 PM »
-turnt
-bae
-fleek (where the fuck did this even come from?)

I think all three of those are slang from African American Vernacular English that have entered common usage. A lot of "new" phrases come from AAVE that way. (I think "on fleek" can be traced to one particular vine video, actually.)

Personally, I'm usually more frustrated by poor usage of words than by the invention of new ones. Slang will come and go, but ambiguous and misleading grammar... that's forever.

Well, that at least explains why I don't understand 'on fleek', then - don't use Vine, not planning to.

With respect to using and/or pioneering new words...I guess I will never be Shakespeare, lol.

lost_in_the_endless_aisle

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #43 on: August 13, 2017, 09:32:06 PM »
"traveling at a high rate of speed" to mean "fast"
saying "utilize" when saying "use" will do (more syllables != sounding smart)
"whopping"

Dicey

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #44 on: August 14, 2017, 01:36:54 AM »
"traveling at a high rate of speed" to mean "fast"
saying "utilize" when saying "use" will do (more syllables != sounding smart)
"whopping"
Oh, good ones! Ditto for using "simplistic" instead of "simple". Argh!

kei te pai

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #45 on: August 14, 2017, 01:52:14 AM »
Starting a sentence with"so", as in "so, I said him...."

stackorstarve

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #46 on: August 14, 2017, 05:51:59 AM »
Lol this thread is full of middle aged people hating on millennials I love it. That being said I hate the word "millennials" because it actually describes so few of us.

Also any term used without elaboration to dismiss an argument.

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Leisured

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #47 on: August 14, 2017, 07:23:52 AM »
epicentre    should be centre     Epicentre comes from geology and assumes a three dimensional region.
disinterested     uninterested.  Unless the person is being disinterested, that is unbiased.  Thanks Kris
at this point in time     now    Thanks Dicey
ramp up              rise
spiral up (or down)    rise (or fall)
decimate                   reduce    Decimate literally means reduce by one tenth. From Latin.
iconic            perhaps characteristic.  Thanks Stache
utilize            use    Thanks Lost
simplistic      simple   Thanks Dicey
marginal          slight
marginally       slightly
significant         higher or lower      Significant has a meaning in statistics, so if A is different from B by more than 5%, this difference is seen, usually, as a significant difference.

baby bump is OK, being descriptive. In Australia we sometimes use ‘preggers’   Take your choice.


Strunk and White Elements of Style has an excellent spoof of bureaucratic language by George Orwell, who wondered what the superb passage from Ecclesiastes 3:1-9 would look like if translated into bureaucratic language.  ‘There is a time for everything’, written about 1200 BC.  Immortal language translated into nonsense, and worth the price of the book by itself, but the Kindle edition is free.


GuitarStv

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #48 on: August 14, 2017, 07:34:37 AM »
decimate                   reduce    Decimate literally means reduce by one tenth. From Latin.

Decimate refers to the Roman military practice of punishing a group of soldiers by killing one in every ten of them (typically selected by lots).  If we're going to get picky and only use ancient definitions for things it would be incorrect to define decimate as 'reduction by one tenth', that loses the original meaning almost entirely.

Davnasty

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Re: Words/phrases I wish would go away
« Reply #49 on: August 14, 2017, 07:49:11 AM »
"Literally" to mean "figuratively."
That one's literally in the dictionary now, which literally makes my eyes bleed.
NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!