A weblog devoted to spurring a conversation among those who use words to varying degrees in their daily work. Hosted by John Ettorre, a Cleveland-based writer and editor. Please email me at: john.ettorre@gmail.com. "There comes a time when you realize that everything is a dream, and only those things preserved in writing have any possibility of being real." --James Salter
The Most Irritating Phrases in the English Language
I'm a Cleveland, Ohio-based writer, editor and writing coach, with more than 25 years of experience, including stints in Chicago and Washington, D.C. My work has appeared in more than 100 print and online publications, from the New York Times and the Christian Science Monitor to local and regional publications. My work has been recognized by awards (including an Emmy) from four journalism groups.
9 Comments:
"Seems doable to me."
"Good 'nuff."
I detest "crotch."
I love parallel and perpendicular, though. Nonsensical is a good word. So is clerestory. And bejeweled? I could bejewel all day.
Hi John!
Howdy to you, Erin. Those seem pretty good to me...or bad, rather. Please give my best to the Goat.
Probably the one I am most guilty of is: "To tell you the truth..." which my wife is always removing from my posts.
I hate it when a writer (or newscaster) begins a story with a statement and follows it with "That's the word from..."
For example:
Italian food is becoming more popular. That's the word from John Ettorre, an expert on the subject.
Your wife is performing a valuable service, Jim. And Jane, please don't make me hungry.
Like...like....like....like...like...
like we live in the "valley," Dude.
That's high on my pet peeve list also, Steve.
I really don't like the phrase "needless to say." If it's not needed, DON'T SAY IT.
Also, I hate the use of the word "absolutely" to convey a simple affirmative. Goes somethin' like this - A bubblehead TV host will ask a silly question and the guest "expert" will respond with "Absolutely." Sometimes the guest seems in love with this word and will continue, as in "Oh! Absolutely. Absolutely." Sometimes, for fun, I like to count how many times I hear this word in a "news" (ahem) program.
None of these bother me too much in oral language. But it's that deadly habit we all sometimes have of letting these cliches and bad/lazy usages seep over into our written language that becomes a real problem.
Post a Comment
<< Home