bodhigirlsmiles Posted December 19, 2008 Report Posted December 19, 2008 A top 10 of irritating expressions has been compiled by researchers at Oxford University. Heading the list was the expression 'at the end of the day', which was followed in second place by the phrase 'fairly unique'. The tautological statement "I personally" made third place – an expression that BBC Radio 4 presenter John Humphreys has described as "the linguistic equivalent of having chips with rice."Also making the top 10 is the grammatically incorrect "shouldn't of", instead of "shouldn't have".The phrases appear in a book called Damp Squid, named after the mistake of confusing a squid with a squib, a type of firework.The researchers who compiled the list monitor the use of phrases in a database called the Oxford University Corpus, which comprises books, papers, magazines, broadcast, the internet and other sources.The database alerts them to new words and phrases and can tell them which expressions are disappearing. It also shows how words are being misused.As well as the above expressions, the book's author Jeremy Butterfield says that many annoyingly over-used expressions actually began as office lingo, such as 24/7 and "synergy".Other phrases to irritate people are "literally" and "ironically", when they are used out of context.Mr Butterfield said: "We grow tired of anything that is repeated too often – an anecdote, a joke, a mannerism – and the same seems to happen with some language."The top ten most irritating phrases:1 - At the end of the day2 - Fairly unique3 - I personally4 - At this moment in time5 - With all due respect6 - Absolutely7 - It's a nightmare8 - Shouldn't of9 - 24/710 - It's not rocket science Information from: Telegraph.co.uk, Telegraph.co.uk: news, business, sport, the Daily Telegraph newspaper, Sunday Telegraph - Telegraph so....are any of you guilty?? Quote
Jenamarie Posted December 19, 2008 Report Posted December 19, 2008 I see/hear "would/could/should of" all the time, and it is like nails on a chalk board! I also had to correct my husband on the use of "could care less". It's "couldN'T care less". If you COULD care less, that means you have a little bit of care left in you, and that's not what people are trying to say when they say "I could care less". I'm really surprised it didn't make the list. Quote
bodhigirlsmiles Posted December 19, 2008 Author Report Posted December 19, 2008 I see/hear "would/could/should of" all the time, and it is like nails on a chalk board!I also had to correct my husband on the use of "could care less". It's "couldN'T care less". If you COULD care less, that means you have a little bit of care left in you, and that's not what people are trying to say when they say "I could care less". I'm really surprised it didn't make the list. i was a little surprised at what did make the list. seems a little harsh to me! besides, at the end of the day, i personally say some of them. absolutely. however, with all due respect, they shouldn't of been so judgmental. i don't think i'm fairly unique in using them. they might not use them 24/7, but at least sometimes. i could probably even come up with a different list. it's not rocket science. oh well, it's a nightmare..... Quote
kathysmike Posted December 19, 2008 Report Posted December 19, 2008 Absolutely, at the end of the day when I personally reflect on the things I have said. There is always things I shouldn't of said. At this moment in time, I do consider myself to be fairly unique. That being said, the work I do, and think about 24/7, is rather basic in fact one could say it's not rocket scienceWhen I left for work, between 4 and 5 inches of snow had fallen, it's a nightmare dealing with drivers who have no clue how to drive in conditions like these. With all due respectMike Quote
john doe Posted December 19, 2008 Report Posted December 19, 2008 With all due respect, I personally think that at the end of the day we'll all know that this thread is fairly unique and it's a nightmare. At this moment in time, it's not rocket science. Those of us who have been here 24/7 absolutely know it shouldn't have gone on. Did I get them all? Quote
Moksha Posted December 19, 2008 Report Posted December 19, 2008 Since these were Oxfordians, they left the phonetic expressions "eh wot?" and "rawther" off their list. Did you notice that old chap? Quote
Misshalfway Posted December 19, 2008 Report Posted December 19, 2008 You forgot "Totally!"Are you going to the party tonight? "TOtally!"Will you babysit for me? "TOtally!"Did you like the movie? "TOtally!Am I making myself nauseous? TOtally! Quote
teddyk Posted December 19, 2008 Report Posted December 19, 2008 i was a little surprised at what did make the list. seems a little harsh to me! besides, at the end of the day, i personally say some of them. absolutely. however, with all due respect, they shouldn't of been so judgmental. i don't think i'm fairly unique in using them. they might not use them 24/7, but at least sometimes. i could probably even come up with a different list. it's not rocket science. oh well, it's a nightmare.....I agree, I use all of them, with the exception of "fairly unique" now my son pokes fun at me for over-using "aswell" at the end of my sentances....example:I use most of them on this list, aswell. :)*great topic,thanks, bodhigirlsmiles. Quote
havejoy Posted December 19, 2008 Report Posted December 19, 2008 I thought a squib was a type of football kick where it goes low and bounces before the other team can get to it. Quote
BenRaines Posted December 19, 2008 Report Posted December 19, 2008 The one that gets me and is not on the list. Former boss used to say it all the time, even when it didn't apply "First and Foremost". Ben Raines Quote
Hemidakota Posted December 19, 2008 Report Posted December 19, 2008 First off, it is only Oxford and so, WHO CARES!!!! Quote
Hemidakota Posted December 19, 2008 Report Posted December 19, 2008 The one that gets me and is not on the list. Former boss used to say it all the time, even when it didn't apply"First and Foremost".Ben Raines....hey! I like that phrase. Quote
prisonchaplain Posted December 19, 2008 Report Posted December 19, 2008 How about, "I'm not LDS, and probably should let members answer this, but . . . " (Not that I'd ever use that one...bwahahaha) Quote
Truegrits Posted December 19, 2008 Report Posted December 19, 2008 None of those bother me...:) Maybe if I heard it every day... I do think our language has become ugly and illiterate sounding. Some examples that irritate me are: I don't got none. Ain't never gone and done that. Yeah, I gotta get going. I gots to get me some. I do realize this may be unique to the south...right? Quote
kona0197 Posted December 19, 2008 Report Posted December 19, 2008 "That is so gay" didn't make the list? Quote
Palerider Posted December 20, 2008 Report Posted December 20, 2008 I would comment but.....I gots to get me some dinner cause I don't got none food here in the house....:) Quote
Misshalfway Posted December 20, 2008 Report Posted December 20, 2008 How about, "I'm not LDS, and probably should let members answer this, but . . . "(Not that I'd ever use that one...bwahahaha)PC....you are a peach!:lol: Quote
Truegrits Posted December 20, 2008 Report Posted December 20, 2008 I would comment but.....I gots to get me some dinner cause I don't got none food here in the house....:) Oh Pale one...I didn't know you were raised in the south!!! Quote
Heavenguard Posted December 20, 2008 Report Posted December 20, 2008 Also making the top 10 is the grammatically incorrect "shouldn't of", instead of "shouldn't have".8 - Shouldn't ofYES, THANK YOU. I HATE THIS SO MUCH!!It doesn't make any sense!!You should not of said that?No, you should not have said that! Quote
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