DC: Maybe I am getting old. I remember a time when TV and water were free and porn cost money. Now I’m certainly not a “grammar nazi” or a word-nerd, especially given the locker-room opinions I spew weekly (some would say “weakly”). But people out there really need to focus on cleaning up their language, especially as it relates to overusing three words that are dumbing down the English language: “like,” “literally” and “amazing.”
For the 40-and-unders out there, you know how you use the word “like” in, like, every other sentence? Don’t!
When folks my age, those who can remember when Elton John was married to a woman, interview you for a job, the use of the word “like” as some filler crutch word is maddening to us. And when done in a high-pitched, nasal, Kardashian-Valley Girl way, it’s akin to torture. It makes you seem vapid, imprecise and, quite frankly, stupid. This has gone on too long, and I have been meaning to say something about it.
So, please, stop it.
You know how you kids use the word “amazing,” like, all the time? Don’t.
Witnessing your child’s birth is amazing. Your sandwich from Whole Foods is not “amazing.” Neither are the jeans Ashley just bought nor the top she wears with it. more here
SNIP: The misuse of “AMAZING” is the absolute worst. I can’t stand it.
I blame Oprah and the Kardashians.
Like, you know, like, um you just need to like get over it, like.
Oops. I used punctuation. Does that, like, um, like, you know, disqualify me?
Oxford Comma, Chiggerbug! Oxford Comma!!!
So does the author also decry beginning every sentence with “So”? So that’s my current peeve. So there.
I’m all for vocabulary diversity, but swapping out awesome for amazing doesn’t help at all.
The commies, and globalists do like the citizenry illiterate and on the stupid side. Like, you know.
Like, that’s cool man. Groovy. Outa sight ! Don’t be so square. Don’t bogart that joint. Bummer. Get in the groove. Tune out, turn on, Turn off. Unreal.
Each generation adds to and “detracts” from the acceptable language of the generation before it.
No matter the generation, if you tell a person to kiss your ass, they all know what you mean.
I’ve been complaining about “AMAZING” for years. It all started with clickbait titles containing the word “AMAZING.” I’d read the whole piece, or watch the whole video and find nothing amazing, then comment to the author/creator that the content within is not anywhere near amazing and to stop misleading. So far, not a single person has replied in agreement.
Then there are examples like this in the dictionary: “she makes the most amazing cakes.” And therein if you have amazing cake, surely my brown lawn outside is nothing short of amazing itself.
I agree 100%. Words used to mean things, not just act a filler for those without an extensive vocabulary.
Another overused phrase/word is “you know”.
Unfortunately I’m guilty you know.
I suggest adding “absolutely “ to the list.
As long as we’re discussing annoying words and idioms, here’s one that has been bothering me for years. I’ll offer this illustrative example:
The waiter tops up my water glass and so I say, “Thank you.”
Waiter says, “Not a problem.”
To which I have to restrain myself or I’d reply, “I don’t give a rat’s ass whether it’s a problem or not. It’s your fucking JOB.”
Whatever happened to “You’re welcome”?
I love IOTW. But what am I doing wrong? Pop ups make it almost impossible to negotiate. Is there a fix?
A bagboy at our neighborhood Publix (who seems to be, well, not fully developed intellectually) manages to use “awesome” in every sentence. “Plastic bags OK?” …”Yes”…”Awesome”…
Filler words are a crutch. Four letter words fall into the same category. Heaven knows I have am not known for a pure vocabulary, but sometimes I watch videos that are filled with f-bombs for no other reason than to be filled with f-bombs. They don’t add to the point being made at all. It is almost as if the speaker has a certain amount of time to fill and if he doesn’t use f-bambs the video will only be half as long.
Another thing that bothers me with the word “like” is when it is used to mean “such as.” “Like” means one thing. “Such as,” while similar, means something else. By using “like” in place of “such as,” what do you do when you really mean to use “like?” People interpret what you said to mean “such as” when you really don’t.
A big phrase with sportscasters these days is “Are you kidding me?” For just about anything that happens on the field or on the court they say “Are you kidding me?”
I think I have mentioned before my pet peeve about how “journalists” use the word suspect. I once saw a TV news teaser where the newscaster actually said “Police are trying to determine why a suspect stabbed seven people.” Well, if if they are saying he stabbed seven people he isn’t a suspect then, is he? Another time I saw a news story about four women being attacked in a park. The newscaster said “All four women fought off the suspect.” No, they didn’t fight off the suspect, the fought off the attacker.
Language is a tool. I wish more people made an effort to use it correctly or it will be become as useful as a screwdriver used at a pry lever. After a while the tip breaks into a ragged edge and it is no longer useful for doing what it was designed to do.
Speaking of elements of style, can emojis be employed in a resume’ or should they be reserved for the cover letter?
Dear Employer,
I would ❤️❤️❤️ to work for your amazing 🏢🏭 and hope your can use my amazing skills. I think this partnership would be a 🎯for both of us as we 🚀 toward success.
If not 🖕
Sincerely,
StephUF- if you’re looking for a fix, I’d suggest clinton is the expert on that.
it might be a result in short-cutting the circuitry in the brain.
I was amused that furniture burns up and houses burn down.
Sometimes at the same time.
Amazing
MJA, you reminded me of one of my favorite comic bits:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bi-nSFcMxg
Kids, you might try using “actually” instead of “literally” sometimes.
One more thing, kids: Every declarative sentence you speak does not have to begin wth the word “So”.
Blacks–Know wut Im sa’in.
No I don’t so stop frickin asking me!!
@Who dat? – Around here, that gets shortened even more
to something that sounds like gnome sane?
Beginning every response with “So…”
Can’t stand that one, and expressions such as “It’s been a minute.”
Bitchin. Far out, man. Dude! Gnarly! Kowabunga.
I must be like literally amazing, because everything I say to store clerks, restaurant workers, etc. is “perfect.” Such as, like, “you want fries with that?” “Yes, please.” “Perfect”! “
Uncle Al
Amazing, like, I do believe you are right Uncle Al, gnome sane.? Cool.
It seems as if all newscast talking heads and reporters, (not synonymous!), can but “reach out” to folks from whom they need to get information. They should try asking. Then we viewers might get some of that information. In the case of the bereaved, emotional and spiritual wounds might be salved, thus bringing the “closure”, that we hear so much about.
Jus’ sayyen!
And like the poor SOB’s that bought into Ebonics. Like, dat dawg mofo in da hood.
Oh, don’t get me started!!!!!
Several people have touched on some of my current drive-me-crazy lazy speech fillers: You know, so, perfect.
Add this one: “I mean”.
Listen to talk radio when they have a guest on. One example from just yesterday; the host introduced the guest and asked him a question and the FIRST thing that came out was, “I mean, you know, blah blah blah.” HOW can you qualify what you DIDN’T even say yet with “I mean”? My God in Heaven, deliver me now!!!
There, I feel better now. So, like, literally.
I have been encountering people who, during a conversation, will make a statement and follow it with, “Does that make sense?”. Not just once but many, many times throughout the conversation. It drives me mad. I don’t answer because I don’t believe they want an answer. I don’t know what the hell they want, but I’m not going to cooperate.
I like MJA’s posts. They’re totes adorbs.
Changing or clouding the meaning of words is what literal nazis do… like… OMG… I can’t even…
“I know, right?”
Is my current favorite
Between not being taught cursive or language, the chasm between our founding documents and writings of thoughtful writers continues to grow. Planned
de-evolution is working.
We’re ALL DEVO used to be a joke, of sorts.
Imagine a conversation between Thomas Jefferson and Miley Cyrus or….take your pick of pop/rap stars.
There is no place to even open such a dialogue.
Jefferson would rightly have them institutionalized.
I suppose I could use ‘for instance’ instead of like or ‘for example’…
BUT IT’S SO HARD. L I K E, YOU HAVE NO IDEA.
(It’s probably all of those scooby doo episodes on boomerang I watched growing up. Gotta blame those.)
Plus, everyone my age and above speak like this, it’s hard, I’m only 25.
（ ＴДＴ）
Sean Hannity, literally.
A lesson in the use of “your” ” you’re” and “you” would really help. All three words will pass muster with a spell-checker
In the absence of anything real or substantive to say, they fall back on throw-away words all the time. Even my senior patrol leader makes me crazy after he gets done explaining how to strike down camp: “Okay, so we need to ummm, load the trailer, yeah, and then we’ll form a police line and like get any leftover trash. Ummm, so yeah.” The “so yeah” after a comment or direction makes me literally, amazingly, insane. So there’s that.
Well, my ‘fingernails on the blackboard’ phrase is excessive legalese used by reporters and police, i.e. ‘the car was blue in color’. The car was blue. It was a blue car. Blue. Car. Like ‘at this point in time’, why not just ‘right now’. Arrrrrgh… it makes my head red in color at this point in time just thinking about it!!
Anyone remember the interview Caroline Kennedy gave when she was “auditioning” for Killary’s Senate seat? It was a painful ordeal. Her chances faded after the 25th use of “you know”. Pitiable.
Them: Have a good one
Me: i have a good one, i want a long one.
How about when a waitress says “perfect” when you finish your order?
“Have a great rest of your day”. Hate that.