Thread: Epic overuse/misuse of words

Originally Posted by Hillie

edit: I'm fascinated that people don't appreciate the courtesy of holding open a door. I usually think/mutter/say "dick" when someone drops a door right before me.

Haha, me too. Or say 'Thanks' loud enough so they will hear.

I hate the words "assault weapons". WTF is an assault weapon?

Originally Posted by Proraso Man

My pet-peeve is people who say "literally" all the time. As if, for most of us, things happen "figuratively" so much so that we need differentiate the two.

How about people that say "literally" about things that aren't literal?

Person: "I was, like, going literally 200 miles an hour on the way to work today."
Me: "Really? What kind of car do you drive?"
Person: "A Prius."

One other thing...

When people write "quote" and "unquote".
It's as if the reader is too stupid to know what these "" are for.

I heard a new one today on the radio. "You can't apply these facts blanketly..."

I think I knew what was meant from the context, a generalization. It's still a hideous adverb. What if you came from a culture that didn't know that blankets cover areas?

So...someone mentioned the other day that people saying "Open/Closing pores" really bothers them. I tend to think that when you get down to brass tacks it doesn't it really matter. Irregardless, at the end of the day, most people understand what is meant.



Speaking of misuse - how do you feel when people say sunrise and sunset?

"Literally."

I hear it all the time, and it's often used incorrectly. People just throw it into their speech nowadays whenever they want to put emphasis on something. It drives me nuts.

I remember an episode of Frasier when one of the callers on his radio show was talking about his mother's neurotic behavior, adding that she "literally drives me up the wall sometimes." As politely as possible, Frasier told him that by saying that, he was suggesting that he was actually digging his fingernails into the drywall and physically clawing his way to the ceiling! Ha!

So anyway, people should really only use that word if there's any ambiguity in something they're saying.

Originally Posted by akw

Irregardless, at the end of the day, most people understand what is meant.

Of course they do, but it doesn't stop them thinking that you are a twit.

Originally Posted by akw

So...someone mentioned the other day that people saying "Open/Closing pores" really bothers them. I tend to think that when you get down to brass tacks it doesn't it really matter. Irregardless, at the end of the day, most people understand what is meant.

The purpose of language is to convey an idea from one person to another. Many of us would like to delineate an image of being well educated, articulate, and classy.

This is accomplished by observing the formal rules of language, proper vocabulary and the avoidance of ambiguity.

Originally Posted by HNSB

How about people that say "literally" about things that aren't literal?

Person: "I was, like, going literally 200 miles an hour on the way to work today."
Me: "Really? What kind of car do you drive?"
Person: "A Prius."

Well with the reports of Toyotas and "unintended acceleration" you never know! Although the one the other day only managed 90mph over about 30 minutes so I expect you're correct.

Originally Posted by JohnnyCakeDC

I hate the words "assault weapons". WTF is an assault weapon?

I most commonly assault people using harsh words on internet forums, thus I believe my keyboard is probably an "assault weapon". All of my black scary guns are tucked away in a safe and haven't been used for any sort of assault at least since I've owned them. I suspect the most common assault weapon is the human mind.

Originally Posted by bbshriver

The purpose of language is to convey an idea from one person to another. Many of us would like to delineate an image of being well educated, articulate, and classy.

This is accomplished by observing the formal rules of language, proper vocabulary and the avoidance of ambiguity.

HAHA - is that the purpose of language? That's good to know.

The more pedantic one gets over the misuse of words (and the telling of others about it) the more they look like a snobby, pretentious . Some people then develop the exact reverse image of a well educated, articulate and classy gentleman.



and exactly what do you mean by "avoiding ambiguity"?