The ten most irritating phrases?

irregardless

Like, literally every article I, like, read misuses the word “literally”.

110% is also really annoying. “I give 110% 24/7!”

“I’m from the government and I’m here to help you”

I would add “To be honest with you,” except that if people stop saying it, I wouldn’t know if their subsequent statements were lies.

Sammy-
If you things are going down as badly as you say. The only thing we have left is humor. After that, you are just left bored and depressed.

“perfect storm”, especially when used to mean “unfortunate coincidence”.

Going forward. It never, ever means anything – it’s always used in a context where you can’t go backwards.

“The proof is straightforward.”

“As such”

“My friends, my maverick running mate and I are going to shake up Warshington and grow the economy!”

“Going Green”

Hope and change.

I second “any construction involving Wall Street / Main Street.”

Here are a few of mine:

• having said that
• “space” as used in “We are very competitive in that space.”
• “resource” when referring to an employee
• per annum
• akin
• vis-a-vis (used instead of “with respect to” to sound more pretentious
• special interests (we’re all opposed to them by definition, right?)
• liberal (what does this word mean anymore?)

I don’t think I’m familiar with the misuse of 24/7. It is an compact description of a business or service that is always available. There is one convenience store in my area that is open 24/7.

English_Professor: I actually made a whole vlog on this topic, most of which criticizes constructions involving the metaphorical “table”. Go to my YT page and click on “First vlog: idiots on the internet”.

I also hate “cents on the dollar” (we have the % symbol, folks).

@Kent_Guida: agreed. As best I can determine, those mean, “it doesn’t preserve something I want to preserve”.

How come no one’s said anything about people who put underscores in spaces?

“-ed to perfection”
“no question about it”
“monetarily” v. financially or economically
“-wise” as in “having to do with “

I want to stand up for 24/7 — so long as it’s used literally. To say that something is open 24/7 is the fastest way to convey the point that it never closes. To say “I’m thinking about you 24/7″ is idiotic.

that oft-recurring phrase “limpsquidgenous bilge-wash” is really starting to rankle my hackles

The phrase “I might could” drives me insane, “you know?”

positive/normative

rational

equilibrium [without reference to a model]

objective/subjective

Any vague, empty rhetoric (e.g. “Yes we can”)

Deirdre McCloskey ECONOMICAL WRITING 2000 pp. 76-77:

In Ersatz Economics, prices start by “skyrocketing.” When “sellers outnumber buyers” prices fall from “exorbitant” or “gouging” levels, down through “fair” and “just.” If this “vicious cycle” goes on too long, though, they fall to “unfair” and “cutthroat,” the result of “dumping.” Likewise, the woman in the street believes she knows that unions and corporations have more “bargaining power” than do their victims, and therefore can “exploit” them. A consumer can “afford” medical care, maybe only “barely afford” it, “needs” housing, and views food as a “basic necessity.” Business people maintain their “profit margins,” probably “obscene” or “unwarranted,” by “passing along” a higher wage, which causes workers to demand still higher wages, in a “spiral.” The protection of the American worker’s “living wage” from “unfair competition” by “cheap foreign labor” should be high on the nation’s list of “priorities,” as should be the “rebuilding” of our “collapsing” industrial “base.”

The use of the word “myself” as used by pro athletes….. shiver

‘Reach Out’ ~ As in “I’ll reach out to operations on that topic.”