What word drives you nuts? (quote, similar)

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by mistygrl092

Anything "on steroids." Honest to God, who coined that stupid phrase?

Someone suffering from prednisone psychosis.

[Zekester]

without a doubt: conversationalist

Shouldn't it be just conversationist? Why the "al"? You wouldn't call a drummer a percussionalist. I don't care what anybody says it just doesn't sound right.

A close second: People who say "I could care less" when they actually mean "I couldn't care less."

[nimchimpsky]

Originally Posted by GrandviewGloria

'Orientated'.

'Utilize'

Right there with you. Especially in casual contexts when "use" would do the job just fine.

And "orientate" just sounds stupid. "Orient" just sounds so much better.

[nimchimpsky]

I know they're polite terms, but when people overuse "sir" and "ma'am," tacking them on the end of every single sentence, or sometimes using them twice in the same sentence. It detracts from what person is actually saying.

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by nimchimpsky

I know they're polite terms, but when people overuse "sir" and "ma'am," tacking them on the end of every single sentence, or sometimes using them twice in the same sentence. It detracts from what person is actually saying.

I think that's a cultural/regional thing. In some parts of the country, kids are programmed from childhood to use "sir" and "ma'am" in every sentence.

[nimchimpsky]

Originally Posted by Mightyqueen801

I think that's a cultural/regional thing. In some parts of the country, kids are programmed from childhood to use "sir" and "ma'am" in every sentence.

I know. I just think it's a little overkill.

[bostonguy1960]

People saying "there IS so many" instead of ARE so many!

"ISN'T there so many idiots speaking improper English vs. AREN'T there so many."

Why can't they use plural when needed? They blurt out the SINGULAR for any phrase, not able to anticipate they'll need the plural?

[Giesela]

Plethora. No one used that word till Rumsfeld started using it all the time. Then everyone started using it ALL the time. Ugh. Couldn't stand Rumsfeld. Can't stand suck-up mimics. Every time I hear the word I cringe.

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by bostonguy1960

People saying "there IS so many" instead of ARE so many!

"ISN'T there so many idiots speaking improper English vs. AREN'T there so many."

Why can't they use plural when needed? They blurt out the SINGULAR for any phrase, not able to anticipate they'll need the plural?

Well, if they'd just use AIN'T instead, the problem would go away, since it is both singular and plural. There jes' ain't no reason to distinguish.

'Course, then you get the problem of ignernt yahoos saying "there ain't ANY reason" when everyone knows "there ain't NO reason" is correct.

[Beau&Cloe]

I had a boss for years that liked to use the word "caveat" as frequently as possible. He liked to pretend that he went to law school when it was highly doubtful and the closest he probably ever got to the law was his numerous speeding tickets. Everytime he said "caveat" it made me cringe.