Ain’t life grand? I laughed this week while reading an article about irritating phrases. It seems researchers at Oxford compile a database of words and phrases, monitoring usages and practices. This list appears in a book called Damp Squid by Jeremy Butterfield. I haven’t read the book but I found the list worth a comment. Hopefully they won’t mind if I give you this list since you can find it in the link above.
The top ten most irritating phrases:
- At the end of the day
- Fairly unique
- I personally
- At this moment in time
- With all due respect
- Absolutely
- It’s a nightmare
- Shouldn’t of
- 24/7
- It’s not rocket science
I didn’t get to vote on this list. You probably didn’t, either. Some are irritating to me and some not. Our pop culture and rapid distribution of ‘cute’ has often led to even the best of words becoming overused to the max. (Why didn’t ‘to the max’ make the list)? Who determines the irritancy factor? I suppose the English have the right since they invented the language in the first place, and I know in general they think we have utterly slaughtered their language. Since my roots are in West Texas, I believe I take that ‘slaughtering’ to another dimension. They likely could write an entire chapter or more on me alone.
While musing on the list, I was suddenly inspired to try and use them all in one, explosive sentence of irritation. Enjoy:
With all due respect to the authors of this article, at the end of the day, this fairly unique list is an absolutely fabulous list which shouldn’t of been denigrated even if it’s not rocket science to use the phrases in our 24/7 life-style and I personally, at this moment in time, think it’s a nightmare situation for this belittled list of expressions.
Blessings to all.
jack
