words that make you grit your teeth

[roadie gal]

So as not to hijack Zen's "epic" thread... What other words make you grit your teeth?

I have a list:

Dude - enough already with "dude". When some twit calls me dude I look down toward my "parts" and say, "Nope, I've got indoor plumbing, no dude here".

Awesome - "Awesome" is the sunrise over the ocean. It's something transcendent, not your new shirt.

Conquering a mountain - K2 and Everest are still there, despite the number of people who summit. The mountain is not "conquered". I don't think the mountain really cares. feh

Anyone else?

[maillotpois]

Irregardless.

[mimitabby]

Irregardless.

that's what i was going to say! a senior engineer uses this often in conversations. Or should I say monologues. And he's kind of exalted and haughty...and has seniority... and then he spits out that word and my eyes cross.

[maillotpois]

Nucular.

[Tuckervill]

acrosst.

Please, dear husband, DON'T say it anymore. It's not cute. It is ignorant.

Karen

[Smilie]

Boobies. They are BREASTS people, grow up!

Prego, preggers, knocked up. It is PREGNANT people, again-GROW UP.

*****, that is just an ugly word. ESPECIALLY when it is referred to female body parts, or any OTHER word that refers in a crude way to female parts.:mad: Again men(in this case usually) GROW UP!

Whew, thanks for letting me get that of my chest. :D

[7rider]

Nucular.

Axed (for "asked").

[uforgot]

Not a spoken word, but when I see: "Your invited" or "your the one for the job", I grit my teeth big time.

[salsabike]

Irregardless.


that's what i was going to say! a senior engineer uses this often in conversations. Or should I say monologues. And he's kind of exalted and haughty...and has seniority... and then he spits out that word and my eyes cross.

I think "disirregardless" is even more glorious.

[Thorn]

"pitcher" for picture

"mute" for "moot" as in "moot point" -- the point is not unable to speak!

[oxysback]

Part of my job is managing a few rental properties and there's a mom and daughter that call me 'honey' every time they call. :mad: Really irritating. Use my NAME, for crying out loud! My hubby doesn't even call me that (he uses sweetie, instead)!

[indigoiis]

I overheard a conversation where one man said to another, "I got tired of all her agonisms."

I hate the misuse of "there", "their" and "they're"

[mimitabby]

then there's the F word... can't they think up anything else?

[carback]

supposebly.

What's your guys' opinion on x? (just a what's your opinion will suffice)

I seen (instead of saw) them.

And messing up your/you're, they're/their/there and too/to.

[jobob]

grrls.

[mimitabby]

supposebly.


And messing up your/you're, they're/their/there and too/to.

ha and rode/road

[kelownagirl]

libary

relator

school administrators who use the word 'piece' more than 10 times at a meeting

impact (as a verb)

I'll keep thinking, there are many.

[Running Mommy]

"Stay-Cation"
When the media finds a new word for something they hammer it into the ground. Just come out and say it... Americans are too broke to take a VACATION so they are staying home!!!!

[maillotpois]

I think "disirregardless" is even more glorious.

Oh that's just loverly.


libary




I thought that was spelled "liberry"...

[smilingcat]

No comment. I can't spell. ;)

smilingcat

[Aggie_Ama]

I hear on commercials "avaidable". I thought all these years it was available?

My brother over uses "I digress".

My husband says "I'll tell you the truth" when he is about to say an opinion. Jeez, after five years I believed he was always telling the truth.:confused:

And my pet peeve? When people say "we're pregnant". No she is pregnant, you buddy are not. You are having to deal with her being pregnant but you are not pregnant.

[Grog]

Pedle for pedal.

And, yes, nucular. I heard it from an engineer supposebly (haha that one is funny) trained in "nucular engineering," couldn't believe my ears.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Surrealistic. "Surreal" is usually quite sufficient.
Same thing with minimalistic. Minimal usually works fine. This one is ironic to boot, because the word minimalistic is hardly minimal.

Loose instead of lose....as in "I don't want to lose my shirt".

Folage or foilage instead of foliage, as in Autumn foliage.

Putting apostrophes in plurals where they don't belong, as in "My bike's are for sale."

I also am annoyed that the quaint old term "buck naked" has now apparently been changed to "butt naked". :cool:

Yeah I laugh at peddle instead of pedal too.
But I'll confess- the other day I had typed "handelbars" instead of handlebars. I caught it just before I posted it though! I attribute it to too much exposure to classical music in my youth.

[Paradox]

Overuse of business phrases such as "touch base" or "proactive" to make yourself sound more important than you are...

The overuse of the word "like" by young women. I'm like so like over that.

"old school"
"sick" to describe something cool
"my bad"
"wicked"

[spindizzy]

"chester drawers" (for chest of drawers)

"pitch red"

"julury" (for jewelry)

[Andrea]

acrosst.

Please, dear husband, DON'T say it anymore. It's not cute. It is ignorant.

Karen

AAaaaaaaa!!!!!!! My boyfriend says that. He claims it's a UP Michigan thing...

I stick a knuckle in his tight left IT band every time he says it.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

"julury" (for jewelry)

I actually saw a jewelry store once that had a big fancy sign hanging out front that said "JEWLERY". :eek: Unbelievable!

[salsabike]

Flustrated.

Although you can see how that word came about...

[Veronica]

"wicked"


"Wicked" is a long time Maineism. It's staying in my vocabulary. :D

V.

[HoosierGiant]

Lead in place of led -- as in "I led the herd to the dessert table."

"Employee's Only" -- ARGH! Enough already! Can someone please learn to correctly use an apostrophe?!

[dex]

"Invite" as a noun. This one drives me up a tree, and given the work that I do, I fight the battle against it *constantly*.

"Massclusive"--referring to the popularization of designer label items (handbags, clothes, accessories, etc.)

[beccaB]

But I'll confess- the other day I had typed "handelbars" instead of handlebars. I caught it just before I posted it though! I attribute it to too much exposure to classical music in my youth.[/QUOTE]


George Frederick Handel-
a German born composer who lived most of his life in England and considered himself English although he never developed a good grasp of the English language. It is especially noticed in his oratorios, the way not so important words fall on important parts of the measure. I LOVE music history! Trend setters, those composers are!

[Crankin]

As a former English teacher, I can assure you that very few people (except the extremely learned posters on this forum) get the homophone or apostrophe things. It was torture to teach these and to try to think of ways to get kids to remember the rules for these things.
My husband used to say "He don't" instead of "He doesn't" when we first met. I realized it was because his parents said it, so I just came out and said it sounded ignorant and wasn't proper English.
He never used it again.

[rij73]

acrosst.

Please, dear husband, DON'T say it anymore. It's not cute. It is ignorant.

Karen

That could have been me saying that!

[OakLeaf]

Funny how a lot of the things people are posting are just regional variations in pronunciation. I mean, really, repeat this sentence and the last one using phonetic pronunciation. I don't consider anyone's accent to be "ignorant," although sometimes it can be hard to ignore my own cultural biases. What's the difference between "nucular" and "iern," except that the latter is the majority pronunciation?

I go overboard with the ellipsis okay... I admit it... since we've digressed into punctuation with the apostrophes.

But to me (another overused phrase), I think slang is all about the context. E.g., the only time I write "ain't" is to make a point, and obviously I'd never have used that word in court when I was practicing, but I use it in casual conversation all the time, as do my peers.

[rij73]

The one that REALLY gets me is the mixing up of 'effect' and 'affect'. Drives me ABSOLUTELY bonkers!!! :eek:

[Smilie]

the only time I write "ain't" is to make a point, and obviously I'd never have used that word in court when I was practicing, but I use it in casual conversation all the time, as do my peers.


Ack! I despise that word. 'ain't'. Might as well scrape your fingernails across the chalkboard. :mad:

It always makes me think the people speaking it are trashy school drop-outs. (not saying you all are whoever says it, just makes my flesh crawl. ) :p

[TahoeDirtGirl]

The soon to be ex husband always said ...horse duvers. I could really butcher that word if I spell it.

And then there is corporate speak.
"Are you engaged in this project"
"We need to take this offline"

[sundial]

"I seen....."

Grrrr!

[martinkap]

Aunt Flo

It drives me crazy when I see grown women talking here in various threads and they are not able properly identify one of the main functions of their body ... they are like little girls who are ashamed of grown up words and are hiding behind a 'cutesie name'! Please, be real women and call it as it is:

Menstrual periods or Menstruation

Martina

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Aunt Flo

It drives me crazy when I see grown women talking here in various threads and they are not able properly identify one of the main functions of their body ... they are like little girls who are ashamed of grown up words and are hiding behind a 'cutesie name'!

I admit that when I read "hoo-hah" it makes me laugh. I think it's rather endearing! :D

[SouthernBelle]

Conversate.

No. It's converse.

[Aggie_Ama]

ain't

My brother-in-law says ain't and it pisses me off. My own mother hates the word so much that if we refused to stop using it she spanked us. She came from a working class family that greatly valued education and she viewed it as ignorant.

The thing with my brother-in-law is he does it to be more "country". My husband refuses to use the word and hates when his brother does, he tells me his mom raised them much like mine. I also dread the day my little nieces start saying ain't to me. :mad:

[mimitabby]

and when my 40 year old niece corrects her 10 yr old daughter's English but can't get her own past participles right. :eek::eek::eek:

Ain't is not a word that I use, but it's very old English and IN the dictionary. My husband likes to use it for effect from time to time (yes, he's affected too :cool: ) . And one of my college educated grad student sons uses that word now too. Hopefully, again, just for effect.

[shootingstar]

Got nothin' :D new to add here.

Overuse of F word and "like" is tiresome. Hard to even want to listen to a speaker who uses either of these words for nearly every sentence.

[Geonz]

Driving home from Colorado a couple days ago I found a public radio station and the guy was doing a show about Ben Carson, the neurosurgeon and speaker and author ... and a primary theme of the show was the incredible importance of reading and education.
The guy doing the show, however, kept referring to "John Hopkins" hospital. GRRRRRR~!~! Education is important but you can't get the name of the hospital right? Talk about sending the message "Education is important - but we're going to be hopelessly ignorant anyway!"

[LBTC]

Ah, many of these irritate me from time to time. In casual conversation, most of my friends and associates, or even I(!), will use some variation listed here, just for effect. No problem there. And in a post in a forum such as this, the grammar and pronunciation isn't all that important to me. Occasionally, it can be confusing, and I hate it when I've included some typo that makes it appear that I don't know the correct word...and don't notice until it's too late to edit.

It is publications and news broadcasts that I wish would get it right!

The sports player did not miss a game because he has a groin. Everyone has a groin! He missed the game because he has a groin injury!

There is no such thing as stick-to-it-iveness. The word is tenacity! Good gravy!!

Gosh, those are just the first two that come to mind. If I think of more, I'll share. :o:D:rolleyes:

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[LBTC]

Driving home from Colorado a couple days ago I found a public radio station and the guy was doing a show about Ben Carson, the neurosurgeon and speaker and author ... and a primary theme of the show was the incredible importance of reading and education.
The guy doing the show, however, kept referring to "John Hopkins" hospital. GRRRRRR~!~! Education is important but you can't get the name of the hospital right? Talk about sending the message "Education is important - but we're going to be hopelessly ignorant anyway!"

I'm sorry, I don't know the correct name of the hospital. A google seach reveals that there is a John Hopkins hospital in Baltimore.....

[Zen]

Impact instead of affect or effect. Yes, it's correct but once again, overused.


I overheard a conversation where one man said to another, "I got tired of all her agonisms."


I kind of like that one.

[ttaylor508]

"FRICKEN" instead the "f-word" ... Half the time when people say FRICKEN, it sounds so much like the F-word, you might as well have just said it....

[SouthernBelle]

"FRICKEN" instead the "f-word" ... Half the time when people say FRICKEN, it sounds so much like the F-word, you might as well have just said it....

I personally like friggin'

It keeps me from really cussing when I'm angry. Or mad, as in insane.

[SadieKate]

I'm sorry, I don't know the correct name of the hospital. A google seach reveals that there is a John Hopkins hospital in Baltimore.....That would be Johns Hopkins. :)

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/

[SadieKate]

And yet the F-word was a good old Elizabethan verb!

At the moment, I am angered by any word used in a pre-recorded phone message. Both our home phone line and my business line are on the Do No Call Registry and yet the friggin' :p idiots call them anyway.

Oh yeah, and "very unique".

I actually like word play. My English teacher dad always used oderarmdeunderant and irrigerated the lawn.

[Zen]

I'm sorry, I don't know the correct name of the hospital. A google seach reveals that there is a John Hopkins hospital in Baltimore.....

Maybe that's a cheap knock-off or the walk-in clinic at the drug store ;)

[SadieKate]

Think of how much money they save by providing only one John . . . . . .

[roadie gal]

Wow, this really set off a firestorm...

I thought of another one that makes me want to scream: disrespect used as a VERB. It's an adverb, damn it. "He treated me with disrespect" or "He treated me disrespectfully" NOT "He disrespected me". AAaaaaarrggh!

[dachshund]

"Wicked" is a long time Maineism. It's staying in my vocabulary. :D

V.

I still like "wicked".

These grate on my nerves:
utilize
drill down
collaborative

And for some reason, "sweet" just irritates me. Not sure why. I probably didn't like the first person who said it to me. :)

[LBTC]

How about chaffing? Really, my bicycle shorts do not cause me to have the hulls of wheat on my buttocks!! (although I imagine it could feel similar)

[redrhodie]

The word "folks" makes me cringe, especially when used by news reporters and politicians.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

How about chaffing? Really, my bicycle shorts do not cause me to have the hulls of wheat on my buttocks!!

Have you actually checked on that lately?

[LBTC]

Have you actually checked on that lately?

yup! I'm wheat-free, all the way! :D

[crazycanuck]

Why can't i say guys/dudes? I have a workmate(guy) that calls me doll or honey & don't care.

What's wrong with saying *****?

I find it annoying when people get countables & non countables incorrect. My former manager would say " there are some fruit over there" ARGHHHHHHHHH :mad:

[Flybye]

What really bothers me is when someone says

Oh, my God!!

It even bothers me when it's OMG and OMFG!

It really is just disrespectful all the way around.

[crazycanuck]

Umm excuse me, some of us aren't religious & don't see why we can't say "oh my god"..

I'll keep saying it

[Flur]

I say "oh my god" all the time. It's MY god, right? (Notice small g here). She doesn't seem to mind. ;)

I hate stay-cation. I don't mind invented words as long as they're not used seriously, or in a "trendy" manner. And I absolutely hate when the press latches on to a specific word or pronunciation of a word and uses it over and over.

[Kimmyt]

Seriously, I never heard staycation until about 2 days ago. I've heard it endlessly since then. Crazy!

[Veronica]

What's wrong with saying *****?

:mad:

If you're talking a cat about it's fine. :D

If you're talking about a female or female anatomy it has some derogatory connotations.

V.

[emily_in_nc]

Just heard two of my pet peeves on the "coming up on Project Runway":

"ginormous"

and

"didn't" pronounced "di-nt".

I also hate "whatever!" when used by someone who is pissed off....

Emily

[Veronica]

I'm guilty of both ginormous and whatever. :D

V.

[Skierchickie]

Why can't i say guys/dudes? I have a workmate(guy) that calls me doll or honey & don't care.

What's wrong with saying *****?

I find it annoying when people get countables & non countables incorrect. My former manager would say " there are some fruit over there" ARGHHHHHHHHH :mad:

CC- Umm - this must be a U.S. thing, but to answer your question, it's a female anatomy reference, generally intended in the dirtiest of ways. That is what is wrong with it. Wow - will I ever be embarrassed when you all come back and tell me I'm wrong!:o

I'm afraid I use "guys" to refer to just about everyone. :rolleyes: It just feels so nice and casual, and as close to unisex as I can find. However, I DETEST "doll", and if you are going to call me honey or hon (hun?), you'd better be my mom or my DH. Actually, I take that back - there are a tiny handful of people out there who could call me that and it would be okay, because they would be using it sarcastically, and we'd both know it wasn't some sort of empty show of fake affection.

I have far too many pet peeve words to even try to list any. I guess irregardless is at the top of the pile. Oh, and when Office Max or somebody was running an ad where they used office as a verb (I think it was "The new way to office", or something equally horrific), I truly wanted to shoot the tv.

[Tuckervill]

AAaaaaaaa!!!!!!! My boyfriend says that. He claims it's a UP Michigan thing...

I stick a knuckle in his tight left IT band every time he says it.

I thought he got it from his mother, who is a redneck (the nicest kind) from rural Florida. But his DAD is from MICHIGAN! Maybe that's where SHE got it!

Karen

[mimitabby]

well, we're certainly a diverse lot!

[withm]

Forte.

If you don't know how to pronounce it correctly you ought to simply say that something is not one of your strengths.

[Tuckervill]

I'm from Chicago. I use "guys" to refer to everyone, even little action figures.

I do NOT like the p-word. I greatly prefer "girly-bits" in the context of this forum--at some point the right words will trigger the filters. I think it's best that we don't use words that would have the perverts coming in because they searched the proper words.

There's a mixed up word Bush used that I very nearly can't avoid saying as if it were real: misunderestimated. It's ALMOST right!

Karen

[SadieKate]

OMG!*

As in "Oh my goodness" or "Oh my gosh!"

That "G" can be very diverse. :D

[nancielle]

Prolly for probably. Makes me crazy.

I agree with the posters upthread with the inappropriate uses of apostrophes or homonyms (there, they're, their; your/you're; no/know; to, too, two) Or using "then" for "than".

Ok, I feel better now. :rolleyes:

[Eden]

Pedle for pedal.

And, yes, nucular. I heard it from an engineer supposebly (haha that one is funny) trained in "nucular engineering," couldn't believe my ears.

Somehow my husband has inadvertently picked this up, but the most frustrating part is that he cannot hear that he is saying it incorrectly.... He insists he is saying nuclear and will get very angry if you tell him he said nucular.... but I'm not nuts, someone else heard it too....

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Prolly for probably. Makes me crazy.


That reminds me....I cringe when people say "addy" instead of "address".

Yes we are all different.
I think 'the P word' is only derogatory if it's used in a derogatory manner. It can also be a loving term. :)
What's that Eleanor Roosevelt quotation?-
'No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.'

[carpaltunnel]

[QUOTE=carback;348137]

I seen (instead of saw) them.
QUOTE]

Just the other day I was wondering if I'm overly sensitive, or if people who "seen" things spend more time telling others what they "seen" than people who "saw" things do. (I really was!):rolleyes:

[Aggie_Ama]

My father had a rough early childhood (pushed through foster system) and struggled in school. When he is talking he says:

secetary
"I says" instead of "I said"

And his spelling is terrible probably the worst I have seen. When I first got to college AOL IM was very popular and I would talk to my dad on it often, my roommate and I would laugh at some of his spelling. At the same time it hurt me because he loves educational programs but because of where he started he can sound ignorant.

[salsabike]

My father had a rough early childhood (pushed through foster system) and struggled in school. When he is talking he says:

secetary
"I says" instead of "I said"

And his spelling is terrible probably the worst I have seen. When I first got to college AOL IM was very popular and I would talk to my dad on it often, my roommate and I would laugh at some of his spelling. At the same time it hurt me because he loves educational programs but because of where he started he can sound ignorant.

Just goes to show that how people sound isn't necessarily how they ARE. I know plenty of learning disabled people who can't spell but who are smart as hell, and not just smart, but wise as well.

PS I sure wish someone could tell me what "utilize" adds that "use" does not include.

[crazycanuck]

I know this is part of Aust language but it drives me crazy.. Every word seems to be shortened. It's especially true in Perth..

People will say: Go to the servo or Need to check your rego..

AGHG..

[Kano]

feb-you-airy
cran (cray-on)

OF -- used in place of "have" or the contraction " 've," as in "I should of" rather than "I should have." Even worse, "I was embarrassed OF my stretch marks." Good grief, one might be embarrased by or about something, but...

Karen in Boise

[Geonz]

I'm sorry, I don't know the correct name of the hospital. A google seach reveals that there is a John Hopkins hospital in Baltimore.....

It's Johns Hopkins... I'm sure there are sites google will find that get it wrong, too (or, *if* there were a plain ol' john hopkins, then the guy had the wrong hospital.).

It's the errors aand variations that make the language unclear and confusing that bother me (so I prefer tenacity to stick-to-it-ive-ness, too).

[csr1210]

I seen (instead of saw) them.

And messing up your/you're, they're/their/there and too/to.

ooh - me too!

My boss always says, "I seen..."! Makes me nuts -- I can hardly bring myself to use the word "seen" now -- even when it is gramatically correct!:mad:

(Though I hope my weird sentence structures do not make other people crazy -- I tend to use excessive "--", "....", and such on emails or boards, but I really (really;)) do know how to write correctly!)

[Eden]

(Though I hope my weird sentence structures do not make other people crazy -- I tend to use excessive "--", "....", and such on emails or boards, but I really (really;)) do know how to write correctly!)

I tend to use "....." and a few other things on message boards too, that I would never use if I were writing say, a research grant, or a term paper. I think it is because we are trying to recreate conversation when here. A little judicious use of devices like smilies or "...." or italics hopefully convey a lot of emotion that can otherwise be difficult to get across when writing informally. "I suppose, if it were preferred, we could add a narrator" said the writer, who winked and paused meaningfully.

[Crankin]

Well, I use the ellipses and semi-colons a lot on here, but not in formal writing. It's more for emphasis. I admit to using "frickin" and friggin', along with god. But I also use the real f word more than I should, too. Not at work, though!
CrazyC, they abbreviate everything here in Massachusetts, too. When I moved to Florida at age 15, I asked directions, something like, "How do you get to 77th Ave?" Here in MA, you never say avenue. The name of the street is Massav, Commav, etc. Man, I was laughed at for using that abbreviation in speech. Every school I worked at here called the lunch room the caf and when I was a special needs teacher, I didn't know what the heck they were talking about when they kept referring to "sped."
I use wicked once in awhile, as in the New England-ism Veronica refers to. When I used wicked-pissa once, when my kids were teens, it sent them over the edge. No one says that anymore, at least from what I can tell.
Ain't, I seen, dint, prolly :mad:

[indigoiis]

"these ones"
It's technically correct, but it is just so wrong.

[SadieKate]

I have a question for those of you who dislike certain words like "prolly." Do you hate every instance of it or do you recognize that it can be used in jest? I would never use the word in a formal situation, but to friends and family with the right inflection, it's just a figure of speech. Like times one uses the word "ain't". When I am speaking with someone, I can generally tell by the speaker's inflection whether she knows the difference between proper and poor grammar.

Out fishing with my brother once, he stumbled around for the name of young turkeys. He conjured up "turklets" and it's stuck. Not a real word, but who cares? He's not going to use it in a research paper.

Language is such a fluid thing and humor can come in many forms.

[Aggie_Ama]

Out fishing with my brother once, he stumbled around for the name of young turkeys. He conjured up "turklets" and it's stuck. Not a real word, but who cares? He's not going to use it in a research paper.

Language is such a fluid thing and humor can come in many forms.

I call a herd of moose MEESE. We are planning a trip to Alaska and were talking about seeing Moose. I told my husband, why is the plural of goose Geese but the plural of Moose isn't Meese? We got a good laugh and now we say it. Prolly would piss a lot of people off to hear it. :p

I think what annoys me is over use of words. My brother-in-law uses ain't all the time. Any my cheek tingles when I hear it remembering getting slapped for saying it over and over just to piss off my mom.

[rij73]

This thread is hilarious... I just remembered another one that REALLY gets to me.

I hate it when the word "crescendo" is used to describe a climax or peak. I've heard this pretty frequently as in: "His anger reached a crescendo." I think it has become an accepted use.

Crescendo means "growing" in Italian. It is used in music as an indication to increase volume gradually. It does not mean anything about the moment of greatest volume or climax!

My husband (an architect) hates it when "architect" is used to describe someone in a non-architectural sense. For example: "The architect of the 9-11 terror attacks." Drives him NUTS!

[teawoman]

Aunt Flo

It drives me crazy when I see grown women talking here in various threads and they are not able properly identify one of the main functions of their body ... they are like little girls who are ashamed of grown up words and are hiding behind a 'cutesie name'! Please, be real women and call it as it is:

Menstrual periods or Menstruation

Martina

Guilty as charged. I used that expression once in a post. What's weird is that I hardly ever use it in real life. :o

My peeve: defiantly instead of definitely.

[kfergos]

PS I sure wish someone could tell me what "utilize" adds that "use" does not include.

I'm a technical writer out here in the real world, so I'll try not to get started into the detail grammar/usage issues that get my goat. However: According to the American Medical Writers Association grammar guide, utilize means "to turn something to a practical use, as in finding a new or unusual use for something." Use, on the other hand, "means to put into service, or put to use." Therefore, use is almost always correct.

"Irregardless" ISN'T EVEN A REAL WORD. Hearing people use it really kills me.
"Prior to" - goodness me, what's wrong with "before"?
"Post" as in "she was post menopause" - "after," people, please!
"Infer" instead of imply - This just plain ain't:p right.
"All set" - I hear this at work a zillion times a day. "Are you all set?" "I'm all set with that," I don't know - maybe it's just overuse, but I can't take it anymore!

Edited to add: A coworker just said "He's shy and inverted." GAH!

[Jen-Jen]

Mine is not so much of a word, but a group of them.

KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

I work with a co-worker who will ask that several times in a hour for 8 hours!

Oohh..boy!

[cyclingmama]

I have a co-worker who finishes every other sentence with "and those kinds of things."

AAACCCCCKKKKKKKK!!!!! It's enough to make me want to pull me hair out every time I hear it.

[AuntieK]

I'm generally pretty easy going and tend to let people talk the way they want to talk, but there is one word misplacement that drives my crazy:

He borrowed me his lawnmower.

My DH and in-laws use "borrowed" in place of "loaned" all the time, and I really have to resist correcting them!

[OakLeaf]

"Post" as in "she was post menopause" - "after," people, please!

actually, postmenopausal IS a word. As are premenopausal and perimenopausal. Not that that prefix doesn't get put in some pretty odd places, usually before the name of a particular event.

[GLC1968]

I admit to using TTOM to describe: "Menstrual periods or Menstruation" But that's because I generally can't spell and I'd rather not take the chance of messing it up! :p

And I'll always have a space for "wicked" in my heart.

I hate 'Prolly' too. I don't mind it so much in spoken language, but I actually cringe when I see it written. Either in posts, in emails, etc...it drives me absolutely batty. I think it's because in my mind, if you make the effort to spell/type it out, you probably think it's a real word. :(

Oh, and I despise the non-word "sammich". Ugh...I really, really can't stand it when people say it. What is 'sandwich' too hard to say? :confused:

[TripleGem]

Panties.

Reminds me of those frilly, lacy things I wore under my dresses when I was 5. I am a grown woman now and I don't wear panties anymore, little girls do! It just feels juvenile...

[dachshund]

Panties.

Reminds me of those frilly, lacy things I wore under my dresses when I was 5. I am a grown woman now and I don't wear panties anymore, little girls do! It just feels juvenile...

However, "panties in a bunch" can be quite effective. Makes me chuckle every time.

[7rider]

However, "panties in a bunch" can be quite effective. Makes me chuckle every time.

Or "knickers in a twist" :cool:

[OakLeaf]

However, "panties in a bunch" can be quite effective. Makes me chuckle every time.

And as cyclists, we know EXACTLY what the phrase refers to :p

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Edited to add: A coworker just said "He's shy and inverted." GAH!

Sounds painful! :eek:

[silver]

a couple of things that Mr. says that annoy me:

"yada, yada, yada"

"and so on and so forth"


well, I guess I'm fair game now.......I'm sure he'll tell how he broke me of the "might could" habit. :p

[Tuckervill]

My ever-so-on-the-edge-of-it son cannot tolerate the word puberty. It's not like I taunted him with it before he I learned he hated it or anything. ;)

He's hated it since he was 10.

Karen

[Grog]

Mine is not so much of a word, but a group of them.

KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

I work with a co-worker who will ask that several times in a hour for 8 hours!

Oohh..boy!

I am currently in the midst of transcribing interviews for my research project. Hours at a time, days in a row. There are a lot more people than you'd imagine who say "you know" compulsively. (Note: I interview faculty members and people with or doing a Master's or PhD degree.)

[Paradox]

Okay, so people from the Northeast that use "wicked" (like in Boston and such): that doesn't bother me so much. It's the surfer-dude use of it I hear among my 20-something co-workers in Colorado that grates. They also seem to use the word "aggressive" to describe just about anything slightly over the top. I had never heard that word used in the context they use it in until recently. For instance, "adding all those raisins to your oatmeal is really aggressive, dude!"

My significant other mixes up "itch" and "scratch". It's kind of funny. Usually substituting itch for scratch, "I have to itch my leg." I've never heard anyone do that other than him! :)

[FlyingScot]

When people say "6 am in the morning"...not to be confused with 6 am in the evening! :confused:

[Zen]

ATM machine

What not

[7rider]

"a couple or three"

[csr1210]

Along with Zen's atm machine - VIN number - VIN stands for Vehicle Identification Number! What's really bad is that I actually say this daily at work because if I say what's the VIN? (without the redundant "number" at the end) I just get blank looks, or "huh?" At least when I type it, I refuse to type VIN# like some of our people do. Maybe I should just start saying the entire thing instead of the acronym - what an idea!:o (Though the times I've said that, the response has been, "oh, is that the VIN number???" Yeah it is is.;)

[SadieKate]

Garbanzo beans. Do you also say chickpea beans?

[cyclinnewbie]

I'm coming in a tad late here, but here goes...

People who interject R's into normal words, ie: Warshington, warsh the winduhs, etc.

Woof instead of wolf.

Ain't...I use it occasionally, but only in one or two sayings I use to make a point.

Overuse of the F word, and overuse of the word "like". I'm so over it...

Any word that is slurred or mumbled....my 14 year old has suddenly lost the ability to speak clearly. The kid mumbles EVERY word that escapes his mouth. Drives me NUTS.

Mammiogram. It's MAMMOGRAM. sheesh....

I seen...I just don't know where people learn to talk.

Geeze can you tell I was raised by a British mother who taught me to enunciate precisely? (I don't always, but I still like clear, appropriate speech).

<climbin down off'n mah soapbox>

[mimitabby]

oh yeah, thanks for reminding me. the prostrate gland EEEEK!

[Mr. Bloom]

Umm excuse me, some of us aren't religious & don't see why we can't say "oh my god"..

I'll keep saying it

CC: if someone made a statement on here that was offensive to Muslims or defamed Mohammed, this group would be on them like bees on honey.

Likewise, the unnecessary use of God's name is offensive to Christians. One of the 10 Commandments says in Exodus 20:7: "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name". "Misuse" is a different translation of the more commonly heard "Thou shalt not use the name of the Lord your God in vain..." where "vain" would have the meaning of "cursing in anger" or "unnecessary use".

So you can keep saying it, but just because you're not religious does not mean that you're not being offensive;). I am not Muslim, but I show enough respect for Muslim human beings to not intentionally offend them.:)

So, I agree with Flybye...:)

As for OMG, I prefer to think of that meaning "Oh My Gosh"...because the alternative makes me think of the disgusting inflection that Moon Unit Zappa gave it in "Valley Girl";):D

[uforgot]

Anyone else ever wonder about the word Chiropractic? For example, when I see "Springfield Chiropractic", I always wonder chiropractic what? Isn't chiropractic an adjective so it should be Chiropractic Clinic, or Chiropractic SOMETHING!

[Flybye]

Thanks Mr. Silver. I couldn't have said it better myself.

I guess it is acceptable to be politically correct, respectful, tolerant, and sensitive to the feelings of other unless it involves religion?? THAT baffles me. I think our mothers taught us better!

I try not to offend others, either. It really serves no purpose to offend another fellow human.

[Tuckervill]

Not to belabor the point, but just spelling out the name is offensive to some Jews. So you're being offensive, too. ;):):) ::notice multiple winkies and good-natured poke:::

Karen


CC: if someone made a statement on here that was offensive to Muslims or defamed Mohammed, this group would be on them like bees on honey.

Likewise, the unnecessary use of God's name is offensive to Christians. One of the 10 Commandments says in Exodus 20:7: "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name". "Misuse" is a different translation of the more commonly heard "Thou shalt not use the name of the Lord your God in vain..." where "vain" would have the meaning of "cursing in anger" or "unnecessary use".

So you can keep saying it, but just because you're not religious does not mean that you're not being offensive;). I am not Muslim, but I show enough respect for Muslim human beings to not intentionally offend them.:)

So, I agree with Flybye...:)

As for OMG, I prefer to think of that meaning "Oh My Gosh"...because the alternative makes me think of the disgusting inflection that Moon Unit Zappa gave it in "Valley Girl";):D

[Mr. Bloom]

Not to belabor the point, but just spelling out the name is offensive to some Jews. So you're being offensive, too. ;):):) ::notice multiple winkies and good-natured poke:::

Karen

I was not aware of that, so that gives me something to research...this is not something that I was previously aware of...;);):) Multiple winkies back at ya':D...and it's probably based on the same scripture verse that I quoted...matters of faith are particularly emotional and should be respected at a higher level than most issues IMHO

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

CC: if someone made a statement on here that was offensive to Muslims or defamed Mohammed, this group would be on them like bees on honey.
Likewise, the unnecessary use of God's name is offensive to Christians.

Oh boy.
'God' does not belong to Christians and Christianity. Lots of religions refer to God or to their various Gods. If I have my own God in my heart that I believe in and want to say Oh my God, that's my right and if someone else is offended by my mentioning my God then that's their problem- they can't expect the rest of the world to follow their religious rules. They are not the boss of me. :rolleyes:
I happen to believe that even if I didn't believe in any God and wanted to say Oh my God that's my right and it's not 'defaming' anything. My beliefs are my own and they should be respected too. I don't request that others practice them though. If some religion thought of dancing as being the work of the Devil does that mean no one else should ever dance in their own daily lives, so as not to offend or defame them?? Likewise, if some Muslims think it's offensive to Allah that women drive cars am I supposed to not drive so as not to offend them?
Too many people telling others what they can do and say if you ask me. :)

Mimi says:

oh yeah, thanks for reminding me. the prostrate gland EEEEK!
YES! I can never believe that one when I hear it. Plus, it reminds me of when my dork 50+ year old brother told me I should really be sure to get a prostate checkup the next time i go to the doctor. Ai, how clueless can you get??!

[Aggie_Ama]

I just keep thinking of things that people say that annoy me.

Pasty, pale, white (in a negative tone "you are so white")- I am fair skinned. F-you if I care about not having skin cancer. And yes, that f.

Vertically Challenged- no challenge here, I am short damnit. Sure I need a stool to get things off the shelf but don't act like being 5'2" is a handicap.

Zit- ugly word for an annoying issue.

C*nt- makes my skin crawl.

[kelownagirl]

That reminds me....I cringe when people say "addy" instead of "address".


Oops. guilty here. Will stop immediately! :o

[PinkBike]

right hand turn. it's a right turn. duh.
hot water heater. why heat it if it's hot?

oh, and i am another who agrees with mr. s and flybye about the cavalier use of "god". there are a lot of things in this world that you have the right to do but what about some consideration for those who have very deeply held convictions? just common courtesy in my book.

[lph]

This thread is hilarious :D "Inverted"??? :confused: :D

I'm guilty of some of them, and I'm afraid I will keep saying OMG in some situations as there's just no other phrase that fills the gap except ones that would offend even more of you. But I will try to refrain from excessive use, how's that? :p

Vicarious apostrophes bug me even though I misuse them myself sometimes, I'll blame Norwegian for that as they're used a little differently here. "Lose/loose" is another pet peeve. But I'm trying to be less of a spelling nazi as some of the nicest people I know can't spell.

Apart from all this - TE is one of the most literate boards I've ever seen (or is that I ever seen) ;)

[Mr. Bloom]

Oh boy.
'God' does not belong to Christians and Christianity.

You're right there. Christians, Jews, and Muslims all trace spiritual lineage back to Abraham...and therefore to the same divine "God of Abraham" whom they hold in equally high stature. Where these faiths differ is in other areas.

I'm simply saying that people of these faiths will be offended by the inappropriate use of God's name. As with any group, some will be more offended than others. But I will assure you that if someone repeatedly curses God in my presence, that I will ask them to refrain and/or I will leave their presence...and I have had several occassions to do just that.

Once they become aware of offensive behavior, in my experience, polite people have always been sensitive to it...and maybe all that's coming out of these posts is an awareness, but whether anyone is sensitive to it is their choice...

[7rider]

I just thought of 2 more last night.
Not words so much, but still set my teeth on edge. Thank you, Mrs. Josephs, my high school English teacher.....:rolleyes:

"Would have" in "If" phrases: "If I would have gotten home earlier..."

and

What Mrs. J referred to as "Contrary to fact:subjunctive": "If I was President, we'd do things differently."

[rij73]

Plus, it reminds me of when my dork 50+ year old brother told me I should really be sure to get a prostate checkup the next time i go to the doctor. Ai, how clueless can you get??!

LOL! :D

[SouthernBelle]

Lisa, it's certainly your right to say God in conversation. But what is your right, and what is appropriate or considerate, are not the same.

I have the right, with constitutional guarantees, to say all of the things that have previously been mentioned as irritating or offensive. However, I try to refrain from some of them as I try to be considerate of the feelings of those I happen to be around at the time.

Let's not confuse our rights with good manners.

[Jolt]

I just keep thinking of things that people say that annoy me.

Pasty, pale, white (in a negative tone "you are so white")- I am fair skinned. F-you if I care about not having skin cancer. And yes, that f.

Vertically Challenged- no challenge here, I am short damnit. Sure I need a stool to get things off the shelf but don't act like being 5'2" is a handicap.

Zit- ugly word for an annoying issue.

C*nt- makes my skin crawl.

I agree, "vertically challenged" is just dumb! It's one of those things that must have come from "political correctness" gone overboard. As for the "c word", that is just disgusting--worse than the f-bomb which is bad enough! BTW, didn't we have another thread like this a while back?

[lph]

Plus, it reminds me of when my dork 50+ year old brother told me I should really be sure to get a prostate checkup the next time i go to the doctor.

Well, I guess you could be nice and tell him that yeah, yeah, you remembered to get a prostrate checkup. :D

[crazycanuck]

Just another thing..Please remember that religion is not shoved down our throats down here as much as it is in the US.

Mr Silver, must you quote every single verse in the Bible? You don't have to point it out, the non religious folks are not complete morons thanks. It's not going to change my view about religion.

:mad:

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I'm simply saying that people of these faiths will be offended by the inappropriate use of God's name.

People get offended by all kinds of things. And what one person thinks is inappropriate, another might not at all. Who gets to tell others what to do/say or not do/say when it comes to spiritual beliefs?


But I will assure you that if someone repeatedly curses God in my presence, that I will ask them to refrain and/or I will leave their presence...and I have had several occassions to do just that.

Of course that is your right. :)
But a thought here- are people actually 'cursing' God, or is that simply your interpretation of what "Oh my God" or "God damn it" means? When I say Oh my God I am not saying anything bad about God. But you may feel I am.


Once they become aware of offensive behavior, in my experience, polite people have always been sensitive to it...and maybe all that's coming out of these posts is an awareness, but whether anyone is sensitive to it is their choice...

Your sentence says it all. You might call my behavior offensive and see me as me impolite and insensitive- when I don't see myself as being offensive or impolite at all if I say Oh my God (or oh my goddess or anything else for that matter). It's your interpretation that what I said is offensive.
The offensive aspect of it is coming from within you, and you feel I should then adjust to your rules.
I ask you- what if my personal religion states that people should be more accepting and tolerant of how others express themselves and of how others view their own God or lack of their own God? Will you then be more "polite" and "sensitive" towards me when I say Oh my God? :cool:
Do you consider that perhaps I am an atheist who finds your quoting of scripture on this forum to be disrespectful to MY beliefs? (in reality, though I think it is inappropriate, I know you are not trying to offend me by doing so, thus I don't see you as being impolite or offensive for doing so)
Truly, I do hear and understand what you are saying. I just don't agree with it.
To me it's not a matter of politeness or offensiveness but more a matter of just allowing people to be themselves spiritually instead of trying to enforce behavior on others that have differing beliefs.

My personal belief is that religions in general have attempted to impose their own behavior rules on others who are not of their religion, whether by force or by subtle intimidation or by using the implication that non-believers who are behaving in their own way that is not intended to insult are offending and behaving badly and need to adapt. This has been happening all over the world for centuries.

I have no problem with people of various religions having their own ideas and rules. It's great that there are many varied beliefs (including atheism, Christianity, Judaism, Paganism, Buddhism, etc etc). But people of any particular belief should not request or expect others to follow their behavioral rules as well, and they should not attempt to intimidate others into doing so by implying that not doing so makes them impolite, insensitive, or offensive. This last sentence is my main point. Respect goes both ways. We should not expect others to change their behavior to suit our own religious beliefs.

Well that's MY belief. I don't expect anyone else to follow it, and I am not being insensitive or impolite by behaving true to my own beliefs. ;)
I'll do my best not to continue a debate here though, because it's not really what this thread is about. :o

Other words that make one cringe?...
How about "fixin's" when talking about dressings, toppings, and condiments. {{cringe cringe}}.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Well, I guess you could be nice and tell him that yeah, yeah, you remembered to get a prostrate checkup. :D

Gee, I guess I do in fact have a "prostrate checkup" every time I go to the gynecologist! :D :D :D

[mimitabby]

I just thought of 2 more last night.
Not words so much, but still set my teeth on edge. Thank you, Mrs. Josephs, my high school English teacher.....:rolleyes:

"Would have" in "If" phrases: "If I would have gotten home earlier..."

and

What Mrs. J referred to as "Contrary to fact:subjunctive": "If I was President, we'd do things differently."

er, ahem. "If I WERE President..." is the correct use of the subjunctive.

and when I say OMG I mean OH MY GOODNESS!! :eek:



My personal belief is that religions in general have attempted to impose their own behavior rules on others who are not of their religion, whether by force or by subtle intimidation or by using the implication that non-believers who are behaving in their own way that is not intended to insult are offending and behaving badly and need to adapt. This has been happening all over the world for centuries.
Yes, Lisa, isn't that why most wars were waged?

[Andrea]

I think it's pretty awful, too, and I can probably count the number of times I've said it on one hand without using my thumb.

Once was directed towards a woman in an Escalade that nearly hit me with her mirror while I was in the bike lane (and put her passenger-side tires over the line to do so!), then swerved towards me again when I began to pull up next to her at a stoplight. I had to ride into the the gutter to get around her, and I let the c-word fly right into her open window :mad:

[bmccasland]

And then there is corporate speak.
"Are you engaged in this project"
"We need to take this offline"

Synergistic My project must "be synergistic" with other projects, including TDG's. We're talking cummulative impacts, so why don't we say so? Did someone learn a new word in school, so now they must use their new word everyday? GAAK!

[7rider]

er, ahem. "If I WERE President..." is the correct use of the subjunctive.


I guess you realized that I was giving an example (in both cases) of the incorrect statement??
I did not provide a corrected version in either.

[mimitabby]

Synergistic My project must "be synergistic" with other projects, including TDG's. We're talking cummulative impacts, so why don't we say so? Did someone learn a new word in school, so now they must use their new word everyday? GAAK!

yeah, where I work we play "corporate bingo" during meetings.


http://www.snyderfamily.com/cgi-bin/corpbingo


oh Jane, sorry; I thought you were using the one phrase as a correction for the other

[dachshund]

Or "knickers in a twist" :cool:

Yeah, that's a good one, too. :D
"Panties in a wad" is another crowd pleaser.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Yeah, that's a good one, too. :D
"Panties in a wad" is another crowd pleaser.

I suspect those phrases came about originally so that guys could savor saying the words 'knickers' and 'panties' in mixed company. :D

[kfergos]

I suspect those phrases came about originally so that guys could savor saying the words 'knickers' and 'panties' in mixed company. :D

I think it's the image that "panties in a twist" elicits that guys like so much.

I once read a book by Clive Cussler, my favorite bad prolific bad writer of all time, in which he said, "trapped like a duck in a closet." :confused:

[Flur]

Oh my god - I think the important word here is MY, not god. When someone says this, please remember they are referring to their god, who may or may not be the same as yours. Maybe their god is not offended by it? In any case, it's their relationship to their god that is on the line with that statement, not yours.

Now if someone says "Oh, your God!", you should take offense!

[Veronica]

Now if someone says "Oh, your God!", you should take offense!

Unless they are saying, "Oh, you're a bicycling, running, swimming, triathlon, knitting, sewing, beach combing....god(dess)."

V.

[cyclinnewbie]

oh yeah, thanks for reminding me. the prostrate gland EEEEK!


OH Mimi that reminded me of a patient I was caring for a few years ago...she was a 95 year old who was a tad on the hypochondriac (sp?) side. One morning I went into her room to do my morning check on her, and she says "I have this pain right here" and pointed to her pelvic area. I said "Is it new pain or has it been there awhile?" She says "Well it's been there awhile, I think my prostrate acts up every once in a while."

It was all I could do to not crack up right there! How do you explain to a little old deaf lady that she didn't have a prostate, much less a prostrate? I just let it be...

[Smilie]

Oh my god - I think the important word here is MY, not god. When someone says this, please remember they are referring to their god, who may or may not be the same as yours. Maybe their god is not offended by it? In any case, it's their relationship to their god that is on the line with that statement, not yours.

Now if someone says "Oh, your God!", you should take offense!

Now that is a very good way to look at it.

[OakLeaf]

Okay, I finally realized I do have one - if phrases count.

"It's always in the last place you look."

No DUH!


(And when I say "OMG" I do mean MY god, who/which apparently doesn't act anything like the God Mr. Silver's referring to...)

[Zen]

this group would be on them like bees on honey.



"This group"?

Yeah, you know how "those people" are...:rolleyes:

In common usage of the exclamation "oh my god" is used to express amazement, 'god' is not capitalized.

[melissam]

Wow. People have listed all sorts of words, phrases, misuses of grammar, etc. that irritate them. Personally, I think some people are overreacting a little bit, but hey, that's their right.

However, when some people say that the use of OMG irritates them, others feel a need to pipe in and say that it isn't OK for them to be irritated. Why can't we leave it alone and accept that some people, for whatever reason, don't enjoy hearing this particular phrase?

[Veronica]

Irregardless, I ain't going start likin' those garbanzo beans, because I would of had ta make a f-ing right hand turn after axing where the little grlls room' was because my panties got in a wicked twist prolly on accounta the cumulative impact of synergizing garbanzo beans.

Oh, my Godiva chocolate!!!! I certainly hope I haven't ticked anyone off who knows my addy.

V.


:p

[salsabike]

Irregardless, I ain't going start likin' those garbanzo beans, because I would of had ta make a f-ing right hand turn after axing where the little grlls room' was because my panties got in a wicked twist prolly on accounta the cumulative impact of synergizing garbanzo beans.

Oh, my Godiva chocolate!!!! I certainly hope I haven't ticked anyone off who knows my addy.

V.


:p


:D:D:D

[SadieKate]

Irregardless, I ain't going start likin' those garbanzo beans, . . . Pardon moi, but I believe the proper phrase is "I ain't gonna . . . "

[ilima]

Some one who acts like a coffee snob, yet calls the drink expresso.

[melissam]

Pardon moi, but I believe the proper phrase is "I ain't gonna . . . "

Ooh, your right!

[Veronica]

Pardon moi, "


Ya know if you would'nt of ate all those garbanzo beans , you would'nt gotta say that...:eek:

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

....my panties got in a wicked twist prolly on accounta the cumulative impact of synergizing garbanzo beans.

:D :D :D



Some one who acts like a coffee snob, yet calls the drink expresso.

Yes, that gets me too! :cool:

[Flybye]

http://www.degreegirl.com/Girl/Default.aspx


More Grrrrr from me.

I have read all of the arguments on the issue of whether or not it is offensive to say "Oh my God." Bottom line is that it IS offensive to most, if not all people who have a deep set belief in God. Doesn't matter if it is OMG, OMFG, or just plain old God. God is holy. His name is holy and is meant to be used with reverence and respect.

Women can decide being referred to as a c*nt is disrespectful, as well as what our body parts should and shouldn't be called. Are we to be called ladies, chicks, women, gals, girls, babes, etc.

People with disabilities get to decide what's offensive to them - are they retarded or developmentally disabled?

People with same sex preference get to decide what is offensive for them to be called.

People of color get to decide what is offensive for their race to be called.

People that are overweight get to decide what is offensive for them to be called.

I think you get my drift.

People who have a religious belief in God get to decide whether it is offensive to hear His name spoke out of disrespect or in vain. And, if I may be truthful here, as a believer in Christ, and to other Christians, it is actually God Himself who holds us accountable for the words we speak, including how we speak His name.

I am not preaching, but educating. This is what Christians believe and you'd better bet that if you say OMG, OMFG or just GOD, you will offend a Christian.

[SadieKate]

But if someone says, "OMG!" How do you know she is not saying "Oh my goodness!" or "Oh my gosh!"

Just asking. Seriously. How do you know?

I understand your objection to "Oh my god" but not "OMG!"

[teigyr]

I should know not to involve myself in this :D Sometimes I'm not that bright.

I feel word usage is all about intent. Words are just words, they are meaningless on their own. My god isn't anybody else's god and it is a generic word (to me) for whatever spiritualism somebody believes in. If god holds the speaker accountable, wouldn't be up to the speaker to justify themselves if or when it comes time to?

The way I see it all is this. I *am* a Very White Girl. I make fun of that. I'm piebald (ok, freckled) and get THE silliest tan lines ever. Sometimes I'm a "typical female" in a stereotypical way and it's hilarious. I'm tall and yeah, people tend to feel the need to comment on it sometimes. People can say what they're going to say. It doesn't affect me because I know what I believe in and I know who I am as a person. It's kind of scary to think that no matter what you say, you might offend someone. It is never my intend to offend (rarely, that is) but I am who I am and if I am comfortable with someone and it's appropriate (ie non work situation or not with my parents), I WILL be somewhat colorful. I grew up Episcopalian and can never recall being told what I can say or can't say. I like that.

There are plenty of things that set me on edge and I almost started listing them. Then I realized that some of the main offenders are people I actually like and if we were all the same, society would be pretty boring. Nobody I think highly of intends to offend any one group and I think we are entitled to say things without judgment. I'm not a big fan of censorship. I think sometimes the use of a particular word (or group of words) can mean a lack of vocabulary but should we fault the person because of that? I mean beyond the fact that maybe they need a thesaurus?

I can never keep up with what's PC or what isn't and sometimes things change from one to the other and back again. I suppose I could go through it all and pare down words that I use and swap some to other words but that seems like an awful amount of work and I prefer my friends to just be who they are and I'd like to think they feel the same about me.

[SadieKate]

Nicely said.

[Flybye]

But if someone says, "OMG!" How do you know she is not saying "Oh my goodness!" or "Oh my gosh!"

Just asking. Seriously. How do you know?

I understand your objection to "Oh my god" but not "OMG!"

There is no way to know whether it is "Oh my goodness" or "Oh my gosh", and I am not speaking to those. I am speaking to "Oh my God."

[Flybye]

On a lighter note :)

"quite actually"
"quite honestly"
and for sure
"irregardless"

[teigyr]

Mine is "texting".

It's not a word.

I have friends who say it, I let it go. It's all about the tolerance :D Sometimes I get cranky and say it's not a word but I guess words evolve and if it really isn't a word, it will be soon.

For those people who are annoyed by fragments and run on sentences, don't read my posts. It's late :p

Thank you SK. It just dawned on me that truly it's actions vs. words. I know some people who might use a bit of creativity when describing something but their actions are incredible. I also know some very "giving" and "kind" people who do things like leave their shopping carts in the middle of parking lots. (Yes, that sets me off.) I've worked in the service industry and it shocks me how the most "ethical" and PC people don't live up to how they speak. Wow, I could've been succinct. Oh well.

[jesvetmed]

Wow -- I've just spent 20 minutes reading this one thread! This is a good one!
Mine, and I hear it VERY often: "SPAYDED" (I'm not even sure how to spell that!).
As in, "Yes, Doc, she was spayded as a pup and got her shots".

Oh, and "Pancreatis" instead of "Pancreatitis".

This is medical snobbery, I know. But these two are really common and I have to suppress the giggles when I hear them.:D

On a non-medical note, if I hear "Get-R-Done" one more time.....!:mad:

[uforgot]

Wow -- I've just spent 20 minutes reading this one thread! This is a good one!
Mine, and I hear it VERY often: "SPAYDED" (I'm not even sure how to spell that!).
As in, "Yes, Doc, she was spayded as a pup and got her shots".



Oh, I like the spaded one too! (I'm not sure how you would spell it either). Usually when someone says something about a pet getting spaded, I usually reply..."You hit them with a shovel?"

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

http://www.degreegirl.com/Girl/Default.aspx


More Grrrrr from me.

I have read all of the arguments on the issue of whether or not it is offensive to say "Oh my God." Bottom line is that it IS offensive to most, if not all people who have a deep set belief in God. Doesn't matter if it is OMG, OMFG, or just plain old God. God is holy. His name is holy and is meant to be used with reverence and respect.

Women can decide being referred to as a c*nt is disrespectful, as well as what our body parts should and shouldn't be called. Are we to be called ladies, chicks, women, gals, girls, babes, etc.

People with disabilities get to decide what's offensive to them - are they retarded or developmentally disabled?

People with same sex preference get to decide what is offensive for them to be called.

People of color get to decide what is offensive for their race to be called.

People that are overweight get to decide what is offensive for them to be called.

I think you get my drift.

People who have a religious belief in God get to decide whether it is offensive to hear His name spoke out of disrespect or in vain. And, if I may be truthful here, as a believer in Christ, and to other Christians, it is actually God Himself who holds us accountable for the words we speak, including how we speak His name.

I am not preaching, but educating. This is what Christians believe and you'd better bet that if you say OMG, OMFG or just GOD, you will offend a Christian.

And every time a Christian tells me I shouldn't say or do something because it is not pious or righteous, it offends ME. Do you care if you are offending me and MY beliefs? Am I telling you what you should say or not say in your daily life?
The difference here in your argument above is that when I am saying oh my god, I am not calling a Christian anything. I am referring to my god. It's NOT the same as calling someone something. Yes, Christians get to decide what it is that they like to be called, just as in your other examples above. They like to be called Christians, correct?
But just because you think God is frowning on people who speak her name in daily casual talk, doesn't mean I have to adapt to your beliefs. I don't ask you to adapt to mine.

[crazycanuck]

Lisa-thank you.. For once, I second what you say. :p That's what I was trying to get accross but I was a bit peeved when i posted previously & didn't get my thoughts out exactly how i wanted.

[Tuckervill]

There is no way to know whether it is "Oh my goodness" or "Oh my gosh", and I am not speaking to those. I am speaking to "Oh my God."

Well, not really, because in post #156 you said this:

"This is what Christians believe and you'd better bet that if you say OMG, OMFG or just GOD, you will offend a Christian."

My position on all this is: This is the internet. You are going to be offended by something if you walk around with your offensometer running all the time, and sometimes if you weren't even paying attention! I'm offended by sweeping generalizations and jokes about mothers-in-law. When I see one, I either try to enlighten, or I just ignore it. To carry on trying to change someone's mind when they don't want to change is futile. Just telling my story is enough for me. It might not change them, and they may continue posting things I deem to be unfair to mothers-in-law or offensive or perpetuating a stereotype. My life is too short to police my haunts for MIL jokes all the time. It serves a bigger purpose in my life to ignore them, so I do.

Perhaps it would serve a bigger purpose for those who object to OMG, et al, to put their efforts towards something they can change?

Karen

[Flybye]

Well, not really, because in post #156 you said this:

"This is what Christians believe and you'd better bet that if you say OMG, OMFG or just GOD, you will offend a Christian."

My position on all this is: This is the internet. You are going to be offended by something if you walk around with your offensometer running all the time, and sometimes if you weren't even paying attention! I'm offended by sweeping generalizations and jokes about mothers-in-law. When I see one, I either try to enlighten, or I just ignore it. To carry on trying to change someone's mind when they don't want to change is futile. Just telling my story is enough for me. It might not change them, and they may continue posting things I deem to be unfair to mothers-in-law or offensive or perpetuating a stereotype. My life is too short to police my haunts for MIL jokes all the time. It serves a bigger purpose in my life to ignore them, so I do.

Perhaps it would serve a bigger purpose for those who object to OMG, et al, to put their efforts towards something they can change?

Karen

Karen, I am going to drop out of the argument. I think the topic is too heated and there is too much emotion. It will still bother me when people say OMG, OMFG and yes, really, because I am speaking to Oh my God, Oh my Fing God and God. It really is offensive. Really. I have the right to be offended. I won't apologize or back down.

And I think it would be wise for people to put their efforts toward something they can change as you said. You can't change the fact that when a person says Oh My God, it offends a Christian.

All that I think after this is said and done is that there are some who will continue to say OMG - Oh my God, without even realizing that it offends. It isn't a word to be thrown around lightly. Do with it what you may. Say it out of spite if you must, or be sensitive and think twice about others next time it is about to slip from your lips. Karen, I am not speaking to you in this paragraph, just to people in general.

I hear it all of the time. I always will and it will always bother me.

I know that it bothers several other people who won't take a stand on the forum b/c I have recieved PM's in support.

Being a community is about respecting one another. Out of respect for those of us who are Christian or who believe in God and believe that His name isn't something to throw around in casual conversation, just be sensitive to the fact. In the TE community, I have seen more respect than disrespect.

Now, this debate has been around for centuries. It won't end because we here on TE decided that:

It offends Christians.

It offends others that it offends Christians.

You can still say it if you want to.

Some people really don't care.

Some say it out of spite.

Soooooooooooooooooo, I am going to cruise other posts, have a great Saturday, and get ready to go camping.

I still love TE. I really don't care what you believe on the subject of OMG. It is just one of those words that REALLY makes me grit my teeth.

That is it for me on the subject.

[Crankin]

Thank you, Lisa.
My thoughts exactly. I know this topic is controversial, but it makes me want to say I believe in God and I don't care if anyone says Oh My God.
I say a lot worse and they are all just words...

[Chile Pepper]

I just ran across "I could care less." I suppose I really could and should care less than I do about other people's grammar, but that one drives me crazy.

[mupedalpusher]

I don't like being referred to as Mrs. Jim XXXX. I have a name and it's Pam. It's not the "Mrs." I dislike or the last name because I chose to take his name. I don't get this one often, but when I do I just politely say "my name is Pam". I'll probably get hammered for his one but I just feel I deserve my own identity. They can call me Mrs. Pam XXXX but at least give me the respect of using my name.

Recently I had a tall woman mention my height (5'4") and basically make fun of me for being short. I just very politely said "I'm fine with being petite, I've really never wanted to be a big woman". She shut up fast. I guess she didn't like being called "big". I'm not making fun of tall women here, so please if you are tall don't take offense because I could care less about how tall someone is...just wanted to shut this gal down in a hurry!

[Crankin]

I haven't had anyone call me "Mrs. Steve XXX" since my grandmother died. She used to address letters to me that way and when they arrived in the mail (back in the old days) my husband would open them because he saw his name!
I don't mind the Mrs. either, especially from all the years of teaching, but now I regret changing my name. It's not a huge "thing,"but it's too late to change it back after 29 years.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Recently I had a tall woman mention my height (5'4") and basically make fun of me for being short. I just very politely said "I'm fine with being petite, I've really never wanted to be a big woman". She shut up fast. I guess she didn't like being called "big". I'm not making fun of tall women here, so please if you are tall don't take offense because I could care less about how tall someone is...just wanted to shut this gal down in a hurry!

You just said "I could care less"!! :D :D ;)

Yeah, the "Mrs. John Smith" thing always used to bother me too. I saw a lot of that one year when I joined a garden club and many members were seniors and pretty straight-laced. It's an old tradition from our grandmother's and great grandmothers' time, so I can understand older people still using it. I think it is fading out on its own. :rolleyes:

[OakLeaf]

The worst was when my high school (prep, but bohemian kind of prep, so I really expected better) heard from my mom (who was a teacher in the Lower School) that I'd gotten married to my first husband. School decided to start addressing all my alumna mail to "Mrs. Ron XXX"... when I'd kept my own freakin name, my first name AND my last name. They got an earful from me on that one!

I always assumed that "I could care less" was, um, would it be sarcasm, or another figure of speech? I thought it was intentional to state the opposite of what was actually meant, anyhow.

And - well said, Lisa.
<tying my fingers behind my back so I don't keep going on this one>

[Chile Pepper]

I always assumed that "I could care less" was, um, would it be sarcasm, or another figure of speech? I thought it was intentional to state the opposite of what was actually meant, anyhow.

Um, no, but then I couldn't care less about the derivation of the phrase.

[Zen]

And - well said, Lisa.
<tying my fingers behind my back so I don't keep going on this one>

I'm wearing my oven mitts :D

[lph]

Well I thought the phrase was really "I couldn't care less (about x,y or z)", ie. "I don't care at all". :confused:

Re: "the other discussion": this thread was started to let people vent a little on words or phrases that upset them in general. So I think it's only fair to let everybody say which phrases upset or offend them no matter what they are and no matter if you happen to use them. No-one's decreeing that you can't say this, that or the other, and as long as it's mentioned in a reasonable manner I find it rather enlightening what bothers people.

Sorry, that syntax sucked. :rolleyes:

[kelownagirl]

Both are correct according to Wiki.

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/could_care_less

I could care less
I couldn't care less

[Blueberry]

Ohhh....I hate "Mrs."

My prior law firm wanted to run an ad announcing I had joined the firm. They wanted to refer to me as "Mrs. CA." It ran as "Ms. CA." I'm not sure they ever understood why I cared, but I didn't feel the need to advertise my marital status. One way or the other.

CA

[boy in a kilt]

Irregardless
mismessaged
At this point in time
"Access" used as a verb
"Image" used as a verb
Members of the media using military jargon
Most buzz words
not un...

[LBTC]

lph - I agree about the "other discussion" Well said.

That said, Lisa, I agree with you wholeheartedly, although, as lph said, am not sure this is the right place for the discussion (which, I think, is what you and CC both were saying about the turn in the conversation way back when).

And now back to our originally scheduled discussion:

Nascar speak can be quite irritating at times. It always irks me to hear compedness.

H&B
~T~

[salsabike]

"compedness"?

[Mr. Bloom]

It's your interpretation that what I said is offensive.

Lisa, I think the world of you and agree with much of what you said in this post (even what I didn't quote above) – but particularly with this statement. But let’s look more closely at what transpired here:

First, Flybye posted a comment that was “on topic” with the gist of this thread. Two minutes later, the response was:


Umm excuse me, some of us aren't religious & don't see why we can't say "oh my god"..

I'll keep saying it

I suppose that I could take the same phrase, change a couple of words, and say this:


Umm excuse me, some of us aren’t overweight and don’t see why we can’t say something offensive to overweight people



Or,


Umm excuse me, some us aren’t men and don’t see why we can’t say something offensive to men

This was a disrespectful response to Flybye’s on-topic and unoffensive post. She didn’t attack, she didn’t chastise…she simply stated how she felt about something meaningful to her.

So then, I explained why I agreed with Flybye and I gave the foundation of my belief and support – I believe without an attack and without making it personal - using a single verse from scripture, and I get this response:


Just another thing..Please remember that religion is not shoved down our throats down here as much as it is in the US.
Mr Silver, must you quote every single verse in the Bible? You don't have to point it out, the non religious folks are not complete morons thanks. It's not going to change my view about religion.

:mad:

Umm, excuse me? :mad: For the record, the Bible has over 31,000 verses;)

This is a generally lighthearted place and I hope to contribute to it staying that way, but simply said:


I will stand up for what I believe and will not accept the current world view that holds that people of faith are fair game for attack when they express the basis for their beliefs - whether it's here or anywhere else.

Having said this, Mr. Silver joins Flybye in allowing this issue to rest.;):)

[salsabike]

LB, what is "compedness"?

[boy in a kilt]

Is this starting to drive you nuts salsa?

Seems like one of those words that can be used in any situation. Could be a new way of saying competitiveness?

[salsabike]

Is this starting to drive you nuts salsa?

Seems like one of those words that can be used in any situation. Could be a new way of saying competitiveness?

1. YES

2. Good thought. Like "bidness". Thank you!

[Flur]

God is holy. His name is holy and is meant to be used with reverence and respect.

Okay, I have to say that it really irks me when someone refers to the Christian God as the only god in existence. I think we can all agree that in this world there are many gods for different religions, whether you believe in them or not. Numerous religions have their own gods, and there are so many gods in the Hindu religion I can't even count them all! "God" does not ALWAYS refer to the Christian god whose name is God, it could also refer to Vishnu or Ganesha, or Hera for that matter. Not all gods are male. So please don't make these assumptions or you'll offend ME.

[boy in a kilt]

new addition:

"As a... I feel..."

[salsabike]

Yes indeed.

Right-sizing.

[OakLeaf]

Cop-speak, particularly made-up words like "complaintant," but including all the three-syllable pig-legalese.

ETA: for any cops here, the pun was originally unintentional and I don't think ALL cops are pigs, it was just meant as a play on "pig-Latin," but I'm leaving it in because it's apropos. Cop-speak isn't even real legal language, just something they use that sounds like it to them.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I think everyone has stated their views pretty thoroughly on the OMG issue, so I for one am going to try to move forward. We are not going to change each others views on it, so the best we can hope for is just to make our own views known, which has now been done pretty thoroughly. That's good!


As to "Nascar-speak" I can happily say that I don't even know what that is! :cool:

[Crankin]

At the risk of getting shot, I feel like I have to explain why the OMG is not offensive to me. It is based on what Flybye said about in Christianity, God is considered holy and the word should be used with respect. It is the same in most religions, I would expect. It is definitely the same in Judaism. But, despite the fact that I don't deny the existence of God, and I belong to a synagogue that I actually go to once in awhile, I guess that makes me a not very good Jew! I use the expression all of the time and just about all the people I know do, too. It just is not offensive to me. Of course, I freely admit I swear, too. I have often said that lightening is going to strike me at any moment, which is OK with me. Our family theme song is "Born to Be Wild."

This is the end of my soapbox. I will not mention this again, even if someone says something that resonates with me. So, again, please don't shoot me, I am merely explaining how I feel. Now I am going to go ride my bike.

[Flur]

FWIW I only mentioned it because it makes me "grit my teeth".

[bmccasland]

if I hear "Get-R-Done" one more time.....!:mad:

We just had new team jerseys made, and someone wanted that very thing on the jersey! Fortunately it got over-ruled. Now reads "getting it done!"

[ilima]

I have another one to add. Inspired by an episode of HGTV's House Hunters. Cali woman looking for a home in Hawhy near Whykikee where she truly feels at home.

If you truly feel at home here at least have the courtesy to learn the proper pronunciation of the native language. That upside down backwards apostrophe is a glottal stop--please learn how to use it!

[Aggie_Ama]

I don't mind being called Mrs. Amanda XXX. I don't mind getting things addressed to Mrs. C. XXX. I actually do not like being called Ms. It is Mrs. for me.

I changed my last name but to hold onto my maiden name I got rid of my middle name (hated it anyway) and now my maiden name is legally my middle name. I like it and I like being a Mrs.

My husband and I are team and I feel like having the same last name is a way of being a team. Others do not and that is okay with me. I rarely miss my maiden name, probably just a couple times in 5 years since I ditched it. I still am very proud to be a member of my family and proud of their name.

When people call me Miss Amanda I want to slap them though. That is only for little bitty kids and the sweet old lady (76) who worked for me at Lowe's. We called her Miss Jenny. :)

[Flur]

I also took my husband's name, but I kept my middle name. My university, however, refuses to accept this and continues to send mail to Keri (maiden name) (last name). How many times do I have to tell them that's not my name?!?!

[ilima]

Along the lines of "Miss Amanda" one of my pet peeves are folks that go by Dr. Firstname, like Dr. Phil.

I find it a strange mix of pseudo-familiarity and also wanting to maintain a position of superiority. One or the other, please: Dr. Lastname OR Firstname only.

[LBTC]

"compedness"?

Yeah, it took me several televised races before I figured out he was referring to competitiveness.

:D
H&B
~T~

[Aggie_Ama]

Along the lines of "Miss Amanda" one of my pet peeves are folks that go by Dr. Firstname, like Dr. Phil.

I find it a strange mix of pseudo-familiarity and also wanting to maintain a position of superiority. One or the other, please: Dr. Lastname OR Firstname only.

My college roommate is a second year resident, I call her Dr. Barb. :p I do not think she introduces herself to patients that way it is just us.

[Zen]

I always thought Miss (insert first name here) was a southern thing.
I use it with people I know.

[milkbone]

Whatever.

Drives me nuts when it is used during a conversation, or disagreement, especially during a "heated conversation". It conveys such a lack of concern or caring.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Whatever.

Drives me nuts when it is used during a conversation, or disagreement, especially during a "heated conversation". It conveys such a lack of concern or caring.

I remember when my younger daughter (now 27) went through her teenage "whatEVER" stage for a about a year or so. Used to drive me insane but I figured she could be saying worse. She eventually grew out of it and is now a delightful young woman. :p

[Kimmyt]

Oooh, the last name thing got me.

I hate, absolutely HATE when someone addresses a woman as Mrs. John Hislastname.

Hate it to the point where I will ask the woman in question when she changed her name to John.

I do not understand why, if a woman so chooses to take her husband's name, she then is referred to by his first name. Isn't his last name enough? She can't even keep that bit of her own identity??

:D

[tc1]

This has cropped up at work, because we historically refer to training days as orientation days. So people will speak of being orientated to something.

Something even worse is a pseudo-technical term, "kicked in". Arrg! What does that mean? Usually referred to something starting. Picked up is a technical term that is OK.

Or, "hike" for any kind of rate or price increase.

Or, the trend of computer speak to use hard-hitting action verbs to refer to something that is really only happening at the software level- fragged, crashed, etc.

Nucular for nuclear makes sense to me, it seems a regional thing -much easier to say. Greezy for greasy drives me round the bend.

I could go on, but I better stop.

[OakLeaf]

When people call me Miss Amanda I want to slap them though.

I had a few older, male clients who called me Miss Susan. I thought it was rather endearing, actually :cool:

[kelownagirl]

Whatever.

Drives me nuts when it is used during a conversation, or disagreement, especially during a "heated conversation". It conveys such a lack of concern or caring.

That's exactly what it's supposed to convey. :p

I remember bugging my teenaged daughters a few years back that I was going to shorten whatever to 'tev and start a new thing. I kept using it and trying to get them to pick it up. They still laugh about it today and we still say 'tev as a joke.

[TsPoet]

Oooh, the last name thing got me.

I hate, absolutely HATE when someone addresses a woman as Mrs. John Hislastname.

Hate it to the point where I will ask the woman in question when she changed

:D

The floor I work on has two groups and managers of those groups are on either end, they are also married, I'll call them Brian and Karla Smith. I once heard a high level person in the company introduce a group of people to several of my coworkers, as "This is Dr Jones, and this is Dr Smith, and this is Mrs Smith". Karla is also a PhD.
I was furious. Karla did nothing, but I don't know what she could have done.
I was standing there, and I wasn't introduced at all, but that didn't make me nearly as angry as Karla not getting the same respect as the two guys there at the time.

[ilima]

The floor I work on has two groups and managers of those groups are on either end, they are also married, I'll call them Brian and Karla Smith. I once heard a high level person in the company introduce a group of people to several of my coworkers, as "This is Dr Jones, and this is Dr Smith, and this is Mrs Smith". Karla is also a PhD.
I was furious. Karla did nothing, but I don't know what she could have done.
I was standing there, and I wasn't introduced at all, but that didn't make me nearly as angry as Karla not getting the same respect as the two guys there at the time.

My dissertation advisor & her husband both graduated from Wisconsin. She said the alumni mail sent to her husband is addressed as Dr. while hers is Mrs. She laughed about it, but she was a bit chuffed about it, too.

Karla's hubby or the other person should have taken the opportunity to refer to her as Dr. So-and-so.

[Aggie_Ama]

I always thought Miss (insert first name here) was a southern thing.
I use it with people I know.

It probably is souther just like honey, darlin, dear, sweetie are accepted from complete strangers. I think why it bugs me is several of my last supervisors did it and it feels more condescending. Yes they are my bosses but it makes me feel very inferior because they say it like I am a little kid.

I don't hate being called Miss Amanda as much as I hate when people call me Manda, Manders or Mandy. The only thing short for Amanda I ever go by is Ama. :rolleyes:

[Aggie_Ama]

I hate, absolutely HATE when someone addresses a woman as Mrs. John Hislastname.


:D

I don't mind getting mail addressed to Mrs. C. XXXX but if you called me it I would reply, "My first name is Amanda".

[Jolt]

I changed my last name but to hold onto my maiden name I got rid of my middle name (hated it anyway) and now my maiden name is legally my middle name. I like it and I like being a Mrs.

My husband and I are team and I feel like having the same last name is a way of being a team. Others do not and that is okay with me. I rarely miss my maiden name, probably just a couple times in 5 years since I ditched it. I still am very proud to be a member of my family and proud of their name.


That's a cool idea--using your maiden name as a middle name. Don't some Hispanic cultures actually use the maiden name as a second middle name? That also makes a lot of sense. Your point about having the same last name being a way to express being a team was well said--that's how I feel about it as well. so when I eventually get married I will have no issue with taking his last name but may keep my maiden name as a middle name to keep that part of my identity at the same time. That would also (hopefully) cause less confusion professionally.

[Crankin]

Jolt, that practice is very common right here in New England. I dropped my middle name when I got married and have always used my maiden name as my middle name. I don't use a hyphen, since it would be a mouthful, but I always sign my name with both last names. It's my legal name.
Both of my sons have my maiden name as their middle name. They hated it when they were little, in AZ, but as soon as we moved here and more than half of their friends had hyphenated last names, they never said another word!
My husband felt strongly about me changing my name when we got married. It's one of the few things we ever disagreed on, and I gave in. Of course, now, he could care less and I did contemplate dropping his name, but I didn't want the bother of doing it legally.
I also hate the "hon," sweetie, etc. I know it's southern, but I find it degrading.

[Aggie_Ama]

My mom did that same thing when she got married. The main reason was her mother was declared legally blind and thus unable to drive. My mother would often run errands and write checks off her mom's account so it was easier to have the last name as her middle name. Oddly they both have the same first name so it looked like the same person.

Another reason I did it is my Pawpaw died 3 weeks prior to my wedding. My maiden was his last name and I desperately wanted to hold onto a little piece of him. I still want that and I have it on my drivers license. I sign my name Amanda _. ________. It (maiden name) is a horrible German mess of a name to spell so I don't write it out or hyphenate. Plus the hyphenated names confused me when I was younger and put a dislike of them in my brain forever. :p

[mimitabby]

I did it too. My Middle name starts with the same letter as my maiden name, so that made it really easy. It's an easy way to show my heritage.

[Zen]

Maiden name.

"Maiden"?
When I encounter a form that asks for a maiden name I scratch out 'maiden' and replace it with 'birth'

[mimitabby]

Maiden name.

"Maiden"?
When I encounter a form that asks for a maiden name I scratch out 'maiden' and replace it with 'birth'

score! sheesh. never thought of that. I guess i'm clueless :cool:

[bmccasland]

Well Zen, I was a fair flaxen haired maiden, once upon a time, in a land far far away! :p

So when I said "I don't" and signed the paperwork, I took my maiden name back, which for some reason ticked my X off.

But somewhere along the way my stepdad felt slighted. Had a birth name, natural father was killed in the line of duty when I was 3 days old, Mom remarried when I was 2, and I started using his name. Back then it was not common for kids to have different names than their parents. Turned 18 and had to use my "legal" name - Dad never adopted me. Anyway in a 10 year period, I had 3 different last names.

On another note - it is often common among southern ladies to drop their middle name and used their maiden/birth name as their middle name.

[Aggie_Ama]

Beth- I find it curious that you refer to you dad as your natural father. Only because my dad was adopted and refers to his mother and father as "natural", not "biological". My father's natural mother died when he was three, his natural father when he was 10. My grandparents adopted him at eight. I wonder if there is a generational difference, although I am sure you are younger than my dad (born 1953)? His biological parents had 3 sons, he calls them his natural brothers. He does call the one he has become friends with just his brother sometimes.

My friend's ex was also mad when she had her maiden name restored after the divorce. He is still controlling after the divorce and it just really angers him. I am like, jeez she didn't want you why would she want your name??

[mimitabby]

natural vs biological

when the parent is not a contributing member; ie deadbeat dads and even sperm donor dads (another pejorative)
we call them biological.

but if you lose your dad through death and have a stepdad, you might call your real dad "natural"

[OakLeaf]

"natural" is the term that's used in legal proceedings. So if someone's been through a lot of court or administrative proceedings, that's the term she'll have heard all along, and probably the one she'll use herself.

[Dianyla]

"Maiden"?
When I encounter a form that asks for a maiden name I scratch out 'maiden' and replace it with 'birth'
The other one that really gets me?

"Ladies". It's not quite as bad as "Laydeezzzzz" but it's getting there. I know some people (mostly men, sometimes women) are just trying to be polite, but I find it degrading. I usually give them a deadpan stare and reply "I'm not a lady." :rolleyes:

The best part is that now I've got several coworkers trained. They'll come over to my workspace (which is, curiously, where all of the females in our mostly male department are all clustered together) and say "Hey, Ladies? (And Diane?)" :D

[ikkin]

wow, long thread. haven't read the whole thing, so i'm not sure if this has been mentioned before, but i hate the whole "if you will..." thing. especially when used relentlessly in the cube farm. :rolleyes:

"i went to the store to get broccolli, if you will..."

if i will what???!! it means nothing. arrggh!!! :rolleyes::mad::D

[bmccasland]

How about starting with... "can I ask you a question?" then ask the actual question. What if I say NO to question #1?

If you need my attention, and have a question, how about starting with Excuse Me, where/what/how .....?

I have been known to answer Can I ask you a question?, with No. Then ask why do you use that leading phrase? Just ask the question! (and the voice in my head is phasing it a bit differently and less polite. Bad voice bad bad voice).

[bmccasland]

I suppose I grew up hearing my biological father referred to as my "natural" father. As Mom remarried when I was a toddler, my "real" Dad to me is legally my Step-Dad - as he's the one who was tangible.

The "biological" reference is a more recent bit of nomenclature, and I agree, it's usually in the context as a sperm-bank doner or a dead-beat dad. Genetics is the only relationship.

To me, my "father" was the man who died in 1959. My "Dad" is the one who taught me to ride a bike.

Can I ask you a question....?

[7rider]

How about starting with... "can I ask you a question?" then ask the actual question. What if I say NO to question #1?


Sure. You "can." But you MAY not! ;)

[emily_in_nc]

Can I ask you a question....?

I have a co-worker who, if you ask him that, always replies:

"You already did."

I love it. :p

I try to remember never to approach him with that question...!

[Geonz]

I think it's pretty awful, too, and I can probably count the number of times I've said it on one hand without using my thumb.

Once was directed towards a woman in an Escalade that nearly hit me with her mirror while I was in the bike lane (and put her passenger-side tires over the line to do so!), then swerved towards me again when I began to pull up next to her at a stoplight. I had to ride into the the gutter to get around her, and I let the c-word fly right into her open window :mad:

When I was teaching reading in tutorials, we would end each session with paired read-aloud (taking turns reading) from a book of the student's choice. This ninth grade girl chose Cujo. When she'd come to a 'bad word,' she would simply skip it, so I did the same.

When the c-word came up and I skipped it, she called me on it... "You skipped that word!" - and she was concerned that I'd skipped it because she'd never heard of it before. I told her what it meant and that she probably hadn't heard of it because it was considered even more 'inappropriate' and rude than other 'bad words.'

I did suggest that she not announce at the dinner table that she'd learned a new word...

[Geonz]

(snip)
I can never keep up with what's PC or what isn't and sometimes things change from one to the other and back again. I suppose I could go through it all and pare down words that I use and swap some to other words but that seems like an awful amount of work and I prefer my friends to just be who they are and I'd like to think they feel the same about me.

My junior high kiddos would play the "but I was just kidding" when they'd tease and try to get reactions from people. They'd use the "it's what it means to me" argument.
I would ask them how they felt when somebody called them ignorant. At least in that part of the planet, "Ignorant" was used for stupid, ugly and otherwise unpopular. Then I'd show 'em the dictionary definition and ask if they thought it was okay for me to call them ignorant, since "all it means" is you don't know about something.
They actually kinda sorta "got it" - that words from the giver can hurt even if it's not intended (and some of 'em that if you offered Miss Geonz your 'reasons,' she would bore you to *death* with her explanations, so don't bother...)

I *am* bothered at the sensory and intellectual when words are mispronounced ('expresso') in ways that mangle their meaning. If I wanted to start a flame war on educational discussions, I'd say "It's that whole language attitude" and get on my phonemic awareness soap box :D

[Crankin]

Please don't start that battle...

I also had several kids who would stop when we were doing any kind of read aloud and they came to a "bad word." Since the YA lit I chose rarely had anything worse than h*ll or da*n, I had to tell them it was really OK with me to say those words. And these were kids who would think nothing of saying the f word or others when not around an adult. I mean, I was happy that they sort of knew about the "context" of swearing, but it seemed to really make them fearful to say those words in front of me.

[NoNo]

Outside the South, I don't want to hear the "word" y'all. Especially if you're addressing a single person. Just bugs me.

"Clicks" when refering to kilometers. I think that was due to overuse on a trip to Canada I took a few years back.

I know there are more, they escape me at the moment...

[Zen]

How about starting with... "can I ask you a question?" then ask the actual question. What if I say NO to question #1?

If you need my attention, and have a question, how about starting with Excuse Me, where/what/how .....?


"Quick question" really bugs me.
It's obviously a question and usually not quick.

[OakLeaf]

"Clicks" when refering to kilometers.

I hate that word too, but not as much as I hate using four syllables every time I'm trying to say how far away something is (outside the USA). I've started just saying "K," but I'm pretty sure that's non-standard and no one but DH would understand it automatically without having to think about it.

[SouthernBelle]

Y'all should never be addressed to a single person. It's plural.

[emily_in_nc]

Y'all should never be addressed to a single person. It's plural.

Exactly... :D

[SadieKate]

And here’s my soapbox rant about mispronunciations. Is it obvious ignorance on the person’s part (nuclear vs nuculer) or just subtle mispronunciation (espresso vs expresso). You ever think about speech problems?

My MS may not be apparent to you, but my intermittent swollen cotton tongue is VERY noticeable to me. So, rant on . . . .

I’m painfully aware of my phonic challenges.

[Pax]

Whatever.

Drives me nuts when it is used during a conversation, or disagreement, especially during a "heated conversation". It conveys such a lack of concern or caring.

Along that same line, I grit my teeth whenever someone uses "anyway" to resume speaking in conversation. It's dismissing whatever the previous speaker said so you can get on with what you want to say. Very rude.

[Grog]

It should be mentioned that in some countries "expresso" is a fully accepted pronounciation.

In France for example one who orders a small coffee ("un petit café") is very likely to hear the server call out loud "un express!" to the bar tender. "Espresso" is really the Italian spelling of the word, some countries where this preparation mode is equally popular have "translated" the word.

So it always makes me smirk a little when someone corrects another person who said "expresso..." :o

[kelownagirl]

Exactly... :D

I thought "y'all" was singular and "all y'all" was plural?

[emily_in_nc]

I thought "y'all" was singular and "all y'all" was plural?

Nope. Y'all is a conjunction of "you" and "all". No way it can be singular. It's like "You guys" is up north.

"Y'all all" is just plain wrong. :D

Emily, born and bred in the south...

[michelem]

"Y'all is a conjunction of "you" and "all". No way it can be singular."

So, Emily, I was right in looking around to see who else my roomate was talking to when she said, "Are y'all fixin' to go to bed now?" I was the only other person in the room, so this just did not make sense to me . . . nor did "fixin'" . . . how does one "fix" to go to bed??? :confused::confused::confused:

[michelem]

"Circle back." I REALLY grit my teeth when I'm told, "I'll circle back with you on that." Ugh!!!

Also, "like." It drives me nuts, and in my opinion makes the person sound LIKE a ditz! :eek::rolleyes: Especially when the person is in a high-powered position. :rolleyes:

[OakLeaf]

I thought "y'all" was singular and "all y'all" was plural?

I thought the same thing.

[Zen]

this just did not make sense to me . . . nor did "fixin'" . . . how does one "fix" to go to bed??? :confused::confused::confused:

You know darned good and well what 'fixin' means.
In the case that I might be mistaken and you truly are ignorant as to the use of the word, it's a southern colloquialism meaning 'prepare to do something; to perform ablutions'.

Now I'm fixin' to have me some supper.

[lph]

Along that same line, I grit my teeth whenever someone uses "anyway" to resume speaking in conversation. It's dismissing whatever the previous speaker said so you can get on with what you want to say. Very rude.

That is appallingly rude! I only use it when I myself have been rambling or gone off on a tangent, and am getting back on topic.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Now I'm fixin' to have me some supper.

Are you fixin' to put some fixin's on it? :eek:

[kelownagirl]

I thought the same thing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y%27all

Both are correct. I guess it depends on where in the South you live. I had a Texan friend explain all the "y'all" to me once.

And this one that backs up the singluar idea. http://anotherhistoryblog.blogspot.com/2006/12/more-than-yall-wanted-to-now-about-yall.html

And through most of the South, it is plural. Unless someone is intentionally misusing it for effect, "y'all" seldom refers to just one person. The problem is, lots of folks have intentionally misused it, from the makers of movies and television shows with exaggerated southern characters (often for purposes of ridicule) to the writers of those ubiquitous little books with titles like "Advice for Yankees Moving South": "Remember, 'y'all' is singular. 'All y'all' is plural. 'All y'all's' is plural possessive."

[Zen]

Are you fixin' to put some fixin's on it? :eek:

Only if you go to Roy Rogers, where they have the Fixin's Bar :D

[AlwayzOnDaMove]

I hate the word "ain't" and not fond of the word "reckon."

I hear some people say "I ain't got none." :mad:

Oh, this isn't a word but, I hate when people put "ed" at the end of a word when they don't need to or add an extra "ed" to a word that already has it.

[michelem]

You know darned good and well what 'fixin' means.
In the case that I might be mistaken and you truly are ignorant as to the use of the word, it's a southern colloquialism meaning 'prepare to do something; to perform ablutions'.


Very funny. :(

I did NOT know what fixin' meant when the term was first used in my presence (my first year in college, when I was paired with a roomate from Arkansas). I was not and am not "ignorant." I was not raised in the South and had never heard that term before. Yes, I do know what it means now . . . I guess I should have used the saracastic smilie in my post.