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Contrarian academic Stanley Fish recently had a post on his NY Times blog discussing what phrases he finds most annoying. We couldn't help but notice the majority of the phrases Fish called out -- such as "Can I put you on hold," "Sold out" and "To be continued" -- while annoying, do serve their purpose in society. We're more interested in a different class of horrible phrases. The ones which are as unnecessary as they are insufferable. Not only do statements like "no offense" and "whatever" grate on the ear, they don't transmit any kind of information, which last we checked was the basic purpose of language.
We've listed 10 of these maddeningly superfluous additions to the English lexicon, and encourage you to use the comment section to get your revenge on any pointless phrase that makes you cringe.
10. It is what it is
This newcomer is the epitome of an ear-grating phrase that means nothing.
9. It's all good
The inclusion of "all" only accentuates how much you don't mean what you are saying.
8. To be honest
Not only is this phrase usually followed by something best left unsaid, but it also implies everything else you say is dishonest.
7. No offense
A phrase even more insincere than it is superfluous.
6. Whatever
In a recent survey, 47 percent of Americans chose this word compound as the most annoying phrase of all. Meaning you have permission to smack anyone who uses it and isn't a 12-year-old girl. (And it's a close call on smacking any 12-year-old girl who uses the "w" word.)
5. Don't get me wrong
Isn't it implicit in most human communication that your intention is always to be correctly understood?
4. With all due respect
Really?
3. Everything happens for a reason
A completely worthless utterance that probably doubles as a vicious taunt to those who have undergone terrible hardships.
At the end of the day, you will be preparing for bed. (With apologizes to John Maynard Keynes.)
1. Going forward
Saying this is like announcing your next footstep.
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Comments:
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Wednesday 25 November
By Leo
I always liked "I'm just saying" as if any insult or stupid utterance was o.k. as long as it was referenced with "I'm just saying"
Reply
Friday 27 November
By latristedeseu
With apologizes? Somehow this article lost any credibility it might have had, right there.
Friday 27 November
By smithfam90
No Problem- that should be # 1. When someone is doing their job and then says no problem, thats bs
Friday 27 November
By Jordyn
Yeah. Totally. If your like "your super fat in that dress" then after that you say "Im just saying," It's mean both ways. So, get over that one. i really don't care when people say "im just saying," i just care what they say before that. "WHATEVER" ticks me off!!!!!!!! >:$
Friday 27 November
By Breanna
excuse me but I have 3.8 and i type ALL my text messages out with correct grammar. so think about what youre saying before you group ALL BLACK PEOPLE
Friday 27 November
By Obnoxicated
I've always been partial to the term "Needless to say...."
So why did you say it? Cuz it needed to be said.
Friday 27 November
By Britt
all the ebonics BS. well, since it's not used by the general population; why would they include it. Not all black people use ebonics.
Friday 27 November
By Jamie
haha! i use that one all the time! :-P
Friday 27 November
By Bill
How about "you're like", "I'm like", It's like" or any other of those idiotic permutations? Or my personal favorite "for the record" or its incestuous cousin "I'm on record". Which record would that be? written, oral, or vinyl?
Friday 27 November
By Andre
That having been said, I'm just saying, not for nothing , at the end of the day, needless to say, it is what it is !
Tuesday 01 December
By Wayne
The word that drives me crazy is "basically". It infers that the person hearing this is incapable of understanding, and the person speaking is dumbing down the conversation so the stupid person listening might understand.
Friday 27 November
By NON FO YOUR BUSSINUS
My friend say that to me all the time and it's not anonying
Friday 27 November
By brendan
a true freshman!!!!!!!! a true sophmore? a ture junior? a true senior? If you are not a true freshman are you not a true sophmore, etc?
Friday 27 November
By DJ
Sorry, but "At the end of the day" is extremely meaningful if you have somewhat of a creative brain...it is obviously another way of saying "when all is said and done" or "ultimately" or "the end result is...". So, I fail to see how it can be "annoying" to anyone but literal bores.
Friday 27 November
By thadumas
I'm "SO" into that. Most people educated in the U.S. don't know that "so" = "this." When a person says(and you should be able to picture this), "I'm so into that," we all know what they mean, but what their saying is: look at my face as I act out how much I am "into that."
Friday 27 November
By Joe
This whole article is just typical of most things today, just another thing to complain about only when you "get down to it" means nothing at all. Your parents used phrases that aren't used today and so did you, as are your children. We (most) grow out of them. This whole thing, the article and yes even the posts (mine included) is just one more thing for us tocomplain and whine about that means nothing at all "in the long run" lol
Friday 27 November
By Rick Feeney
How about "No problem" in response to "Thank you." Whatever happened to "You're welcome"? Did that Terminator movie change our language? Do young people not know how to say "You're welcome?"
And the worst offender is that inane "Like I say" "Like I say" "Like I say." Some half-wits needlessly sprinkle their conversations with that phrase, which only shows that they don't have coherent thoughts to express.
Friday 27 November
By wisecrack
With all due respect, And to be honest this article dont get me wrong but sometimes it is what it is. So going forward everything happens for a reason. No offense you know its all good. Because at the end of the day the most annoying word to me is WHATEVER
Friday 27 November
By hookmrl
what about- awesome -and the pro athletes saying -you know- every other word ,oh ebonics that crap language
Friday 27 November
By gympossum
I have gone through some very hard times, and some very good times. When I was getting my buisiness immenent domained by the high school, losing my job, I had a child that moved out of state with my X wife, (who later died there in a car accident) Peole would tell me "everything happens for a reason", then when I got a new job teach gymnastics not so far away, they would say "Everything happens for good." (That one you left out)
Yes, I am on my feet again, remarried, and have 3 wonderful stepchildren. But the pain of my past was not good, nor was the fact I lost my child in another state. No I am not vendictive, but I do realize we have no place, putting ourselves in others shoes if we have not walked there ourselves. I beleive in God, and he allows evil in this world. When he talks about everything working for good he is not talking of this world. Everyone is going to die, everyone has hardships, some more than others, sometimes you see miracles, both big and small, but to say those phrases instead of something helpful, is both mean and cruel. I know and have been the guy in those shoes. Thanks for you time and a place to vent, that actually might make people think!