What words / phrases don't you like?

[SourChipmunk]

Starting every sentence with "So.....".
Apps on PC's. No, they're programs.

The misuse of the coveted apostrophe, especially when used professionally in news articles or billboards.

"Jenin resident's escape tear gas during Israeli raid."
"Possible shark attack's prompt heightened patrol's at New York beaches."

 

[RevBillyG]

The misuse of the coveted apostrophe, especially when used professionally in news articles or billboards.

"Jenin resident's escape tear gas during Israeli raid."
"Possible shark attack's prompt heightened patrol's at New York beaches."

I am suitably humbled.

 

[throwaway4372]

Here's a word my english teacher drilled into me:

Try to avoid using "just" because one meaning of "just" is "morally correct".

often "just" and "only" are interchangeable, so choose "only".
sometimes some more finessing is required, but it's usually worth it.

examples:
- I paid just £1 income tax => I paid only £1 income tax
- Putin just invaded Ukraine => Putin began invading Ukraine today

"Just" is also used by unassertive people to ask other people to do stuff.

example:
- asking a subordinate "can you just do x,y,z for me?"

it has the effect of:
- trivialising the effort required to do x,y,z
- make you look less assertive

 

[Wang Computer]

The acronym "GOAT" which has inexplicably become cool in recent years. It's not only that idiots often hyperbolically/erroneously apply the term to concepts that are inherently subjective, but also that it's frequently used in the most nonsensical ways. "This bowl of Weetabix is goat, fam". Er, what?

The tendency for people to describe musicians/actors/media/etc. as "underrated". This is particularly prevalent in YouTube comments. It really irritates me and moreover is usually patently untrue. If your favourite band hasn't achieved Beatles-esque levels of world-wide popularity, it doesn't mean they're underrated!

In my opinion, both of these terms often parroted by dumb people looking for their personal tastes/beliefs/preferences to be validated by others.

Gosh, I'm a miserable git sometimes...

 

[throwaway4372]

great username

 

[Oz!asM!dwinter]

I was just reminded of another: "organic" when referring to food. I am pretty sure that no person or animal on the planet has ever consumed food that was not organic.

Maybe American 'food' might be stretching the meaning of 'organic'

 

[SourChipmunk]

Maybe American 'food' might be stretching the meaning of 'organic'

Explain, please. "Organic" refers to something that is relating to or derived from living matter. This should include all foods, regardless of how much it has been processed. The meaning has been altered recently to indicate a food that is processed without chemicals and such. Folks pay much more for these items. Is this a term not used in the UK?

 

[Dirk Diggler]

"Draw" - I store my socks in the draw.

It's drawer. It's ******* drawer

 

[Efour]

Loose > Lose.

Long running joke for me. Just makes me laugh seeing it

 

[cheesefest]

How the Americans pronounce missiles. They say it as miss-els. They forget that there is a 2nd i

 

[Hodders]

Using adjectives in the place of adverbs...

"The boys played good"
"She did perfect"

Flipping Americans.

 

[Haggisman]

• "where's that to?" (I think this is a regional thing, it confused me a lot when I first heard it).

Yeah, definitely a Bath/Bristol thing, confused the hell out of me too when I moved there!!

 

[ttaskmaster]

Saying am/pm instead of using the 24 hour clock.

But using it outside of certain professions (pilot, mariner) just makes you sound like a walt who watches too many US military TV shows.
"Yeah, we'll be establishing a foothold on the bar and then exfiltratin' at oh-two-hunnerd hours... Ooh-RAH"
I don't know anyone in civvy street who actually uses it, including ex-Forces peeps.

 

[throwaway4372]

Heh yeah, I'm a software dev, it's one of the professions where it matters. Prolly wouldn't say it to joe bloggs on the street.

 

[CuriousTomCat]

Doctors hate this new weight loss trick.
Dentists hate this new teeth whitening trick.
She had no idea why the crowd were cheering.

 

[El Jimben]

Gawjus.

 

[dirtychinchilla]

Personally I dislike:

Presumably your personal feelings would be represented with "I".

 

[Yaayuh!]

How the Americans pronounce missiles. They say it as miss-els. They forget that there is a 2nd i

Mirror.

 

[Angilion]

[..]
Unless I've misunderstood, you are saying some people refer to online gambling as online gaming? I doubt that.
[..]

"Gaming" has meant "gambling" for a very long time. The move towards changing the meaning is recent and incomplete. For example, the UK regulatory body for gambling was called "the Gaming Board" until 2007.

 

[Ormy1]

• "where's that to?" (I think this is a regional thing, it confused me a lot when I first heard it).

That's a welsh thing. Sounds normal-ish when said in a welsh accent, otherwise it sounds really out of place to me. My wife speaks welsh and has welsh family so we spend a bit of time there and you hear stuff like this all the time in the valleys.