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Common phrases that society should phase out
- Thread starter tzhu07
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That's because the proper true phrase is "couldn't care less"
While I'm at it, here are my pet peeves. Not phrases to be eliminated, just pure ignorance:
People who write "loose" when they mean "lose"
People who don't know the difference between "affect" and "effect", and use the words wrong.
People who don't know the difference between "uninterested" and "disinterested".
People who say "Here, Here!". The proper phrase is "Hear, Hear!" (as in, "This should be heard")
People who write "Wahla". Oh God. It's French goddammit, and it's "Voila"!
People who write "For all intensive purposes". The proper phrase is "For all intents and purposes".
People who write "It's a mute point". NO. The proper word is "Moot". It's a "moot point."
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Oh, yes.
A heartfelt and profound amen to that. One of my pet peeves, and a phrase that one usually hears coming from the mouth of an unusually unimaginative but preternaturally confident……individual……who is of the belief that this is a cutting edge expression…..which simply goes to show how terminally cool the guy is.
Most of the mistakes you have alluded to are as a result of people hearing an expression they don't fully understand and attempting to write it as they pronounce it (rather than ever seeing it in print, most likely because they rarely read anything.)
Now, here, - to a very large extent - you do have my sympathy.
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Your examples aren't in line with the original intent of the thread, but I here you. Another one that makes me cringe is "ec cetera" for "et cetera." As Scepticalscribe notes, this is likely because people have never seen these words and phrases in print.
I wonder how many people who have read my post have silently said "oops" to themselves, and then scrambled for a dictionary.
Good points, but I just don't like it. Where applicable, I much prefer "in the field".
Surly you mean hear not here?
Being dyslexic I'm not usually one to correct people's gramma, but in a thread complaining about people's poor use of the English language....
Most people when typing that word in an English forum are not going to bother with the accent grave. The average non-French speaking American isn't going to know the diacritical marks. Just getting them to write "voila" is an achievment.
Oui, je parle français. J'ai étudié le français à la New School ici à New York. C'est une belle langue. Tres jolie. Je l'adore.
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Surly you mean hear not here?
Being dyslexic I'm not usually one to correct people's gramma, but in a thread complaining about people's poor use of the English language....
Actually, my grammar was correct, but my spelling intentionally wasn't.
"Hit the ground running"
What does that mean, exactly? Is it a circus trick or something a stuntman would do in an action movie?
In any case, whenever someone uses it (no doubt thinking it will motivate a team to ACTION!) I think it just distracts everyone as they go through mental gymnastics trying to imagine how such a thing could work in reality.
I mean, do we all have to dangle, by our arms, from a low-flying helicopter as it swoops low over the intended target area? Then, as the pilot slowly descends, we all start moving our legs in an a frantic cycling motion until out toes start to skip over the ground? Next, we let go and try not to fall over or stumble into each other? That sounds real smart!
Okay, so let's pretend we survive touchdown and now we're all on the ground and running. Fair enough. But where are we running? Couldn't the pilot have just dropped us off in the right spot - or is he some sort of sadist?
What does that mean, exactly? Is it a circus trick or something a stuntman would do in an action movie?
In any case, whenever someone uses it (no doubt thinking it will motivate a team to ACTION!) I think it just distracts everyone as they go through mental gymnastics trying to imagine how such a thing could work in reality.
I mean, do we all have to dangle, by our arms, from a low-flying helicopter as it swoops low over the intended target area? Then, as the pilot slowly descends, we all start moving our legs in an a frantic cycling motion until out toes start to skip over the ground? Next, we let go and try not to fall over or stumble into each other? That sounds real smart!
Okay, so let's pretend we survive touchdown and now we're all on the ground and running. Fair enough. But where are we running? Couldn't the pilot have just dropped us off in the right spot - or is he some sort of sadist?
Moreover, you will note that this expression tends to be used by individuals who - at the precise moment it passes their lips - are invariably comfortably ensconced in a chair.
But I agree with you. It is a horrible expression, and one I detest.
One that really grates on me is "Fair Enough". No, you're just wrong.
Everything else is mostly a business buzzword phrase, some of which have already been said. I actually had a manager who spoke like this: "OK, team. We are moving forward in a new direction with a value-engineered plan where we will synergize a client-focused experience!"
I work sometimes at big corporate meetings, like the big arena ones. Listening to their hype videos makes me want to vomit.
Everything else is mostly a business buzzword phrase, some of which have already been said. I actually had a manager who spoke like this: "OK, team. We are moving forward in a new direction with a value-engineered plan where we will synergize a client-focused experience!"
I work sometimes at big corporate meetings, like the big arena ones. Listening to their hype videos makes me want to vomit.
Since we've brought up stupid phrases used in a business setting I have had this particular website bookmarked for ages.
http://unsuck-it.com/
An example:
http://unsuck-it.com/inbox-me/
Another fun one (more IT related):
Edit: Drat the filter blocks part of the url.
Go here:
http://www.dack.com/web/
Click on the menu item " The Web Economy B******t Generator"
You can get stuff like this.
http://unsuck-it.com/
An example:
http://unsuck-it.com/inbox-me/
Another fun one (more IT related):
Edit: Drat the filter blocks part of the url.
Go here:
http://www.dack.com/web/
Click on the menu item " The Web Economy B******t Generator"
You can get stuff like this.
Were suddenly in a rainforest jungle with the phrase, in the wild when referring to devices seen while out and about. The same when referring to a physical object as a beast; and when all manner of connected or related devices constitute an ecosystem.
Though I suspect people who use "could care less" are mostly intending to use the "couldn't" variant, there's a legitimate use case for "could care less".
It's subtle, it's a nice, dry, sarcastic take on "couldn't ..." with the use of "could ..." - as in, my capacity for not caring hasn't reached Kelvin absolute 0 on the care scale, the level of not caring on display allows for some caring ... but I could go that extra mile
Though I suspect people who use "could care less" are mostly intending to use the "couldn't" variant, there's a legitimate use case for "could care less".
It's subtle, it's a nice, dry, sarcastic take on "couldn't ..." with the use of "could ..." - as in, my capacity for not caring hasn't reached Kelvin absolute 0 on the care scale, the level of not caring on display allows for some caring ... but I could go that extra mile
I suppose another rendition of this is when one declares:
"I don't give a *****"
"I could give two ******"
and have it mean the same thing.
This.
Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Yep. We're a grumpy bunch!
And with that...
Please, please, please don't torture us further with the "couldn't care less" debate. We've wasted so many electrons on that one now, I could care less.
"I can't begin to tell you..."
Um, if I'm not mistaken, you have just begun.
"May I ask you a question?"
Well, you just did! (Yeah, most people say "Can I".)
Um, if I'm not mistaken, you have just begun.
"May I ask you a question?"
Well, you just did! (Yeah, most people say "Can I".)
To be honest, I am of the opinion that there is a clear distinct between the two.
I think the difference between phrasing a question as 'may I' and using 'can I' instead, is that the first seeks the permission of the person to whom the question will be addressed to allow the question to be asked.
In other words, you are requesting their attention, space, time - you are not assuming - or presuming - that you have a right to ask the question or receive an answer. To ask a question thus is signalling recognition of this.
The second is self evident. Anyone who has mastered speech, or writing 'can' - or, is able to - ask a question.