Thread: Epic overuse/misuse of words

Originally Posted by xman

'Orientated' or worse still 'disorientated'.
I mean how lame do you have to be to add redundant syllables to perfectly good words.
I know, not everyone is an English major, but you should realise that those aren't proper words irregardless.

Irregardless

Irregardless is another example of adding syllables (that were stolen from another word) to a perfectly good word, oddly enough. Meaning regardless or irrespective, most dictionaries list it as "incorrect" or "nonstandard". The term has caused controversy since it first appeared in the early twentieth century, from what I have read. I think it is called a portmanteau word when you make a blend of two or more words and their meanings into one new word.

To me it makes the speaker sound as though they are trying too hard, as the words "audacity" or "perpetrate" do as well.