Tags
Annoying Phrases, Grammar Pet Peeves, Irritating Phrases, Overused Words, Phrases That Need To Go, Words and Phrases to Avoid, writers, writing
The proper use of “like”.
“Free image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net”
On July 5th we groaned about annoying phrases we would like (used correctly here) to see banned. I promised a follow-up post with the additions you made in the comments. You guys are hysterical!
So here are the additions to the list along with a link to who added the word or phrase. I hope I didn’t miss anyone. Going back and forth to link everyone’s blog made me dizzy!
Too much information. ~ Subtlekate
“I could care less.” vs “I couldn’t care less.” ~ Subtlekate and Promethean Times and JMMcDowell
Like ~ Bringing Europe Home and Ramblings of the Insane Girl
I hear you. ~ Fly Away Home Book
I feel you. ~ Robin Coyle
Basically ~ The Laughing Housewife and Promethean Times
Literally ~ Personal Growth
I’m just saying. Or, Just saying ~ Blurt and Brain Splats
No probs. ~ Vanessa Jane Chapman
Are we on the same page? ~ Comedy in Crisis
“Hella” and “irregardless” ~ Readncook
If you want the truth. ~ Legion Writer and Laughing at Everyday Life
You are too funny. ~ Lori’s Lane
Ya know, I totally get you. You rock. You’re the bomb. I got your back ~ J. Keller Ford
You may not believe in God, but he believes in you. Bullseye. Totally. Everything happens for a reason. The grand finale. ~ ahamin
Back in the day. High end. Yous. You know what I’m sayin’. That’s special. ~ Beyond the Brush
Whole ‘nother thing. If viewed in this context. ~ Promethean Times
I so get where you are coming from. ~ Carrie Rubin
Chill. A fabs listen, babe. Soz. Laters. ~ Ms. Katykins
Have a nice day. Help you? No problem. What’s up wit dat? ~ Diabetic Redemption
It’s a heavy lift. ~ News of the Times
Low hanging fruit. ~ Robin Coyle
I’m starving. ~ 4amWriter
It’s not you, it’s me. Have a nice day. I’m not being funny, but . . . ~ Dotty Headbanger
What’s new? ~ On the Homefront and Beyond
I couldn’t be bothered. Honestly. ~ Writing by the Numbers
Everything happens for a reason. ~ Richard Coyle
Robin Coyle 
It is what it is.
That phrase makes my teeth itch.
I am now scratching my teeth, and Zoey the Cool Cat is looking at me like I’m crazy………..I thought she knew I was……..lol
Just as long as she doesn’t start scratching her teeth.
She scratches here teeth on my arm……lol
Robin- There is one I did not see and I am surprised.
“Let’s keep it real.” or “If I’m keeping it real”
My teeth start to grind when I hear it.
How the heck did we miss that one!? Great addition to the list, Dennis.
lol… Good list.
Of course we are all guilty of using these phrases from time to time…
I am! Guilty as charged. There are a few of them I never use . . . they make my teeth hurt.
Nice post! I’m starting to rewrite for the third or fourth time soon, but my main character is a teenager so I might have to put some of those in the dialouge! 😀 Haha oh some of those I could never imagine using…and others…I’m guilty of…. I think that the word suddenly can be overrated when interducing an action scene. Like for instance, “suddenly the door swung open.”
~Natalie
“Suddenly” falls into the category of pesky adverbs. Along with quickly, rapidly, and swiftly. There is always a better way to indicate action. However, it isn’t always easy to do!
It is not easy to do most of the time! But I guess that’s when we really get to use our brains 🙂
Haha brilliant. I have another. Sort of! What do you mean soft of? Be definite.
Oh gosh! Don’t read my post on “tell.” I used “sort of.” But, I meant “sort of!” I couldn’t be definite, but you are right! “Sort of” is bland.
It’s soft of bland. I had a nurse who asked me if I sort of had pain and I said “NO SORT OF ABOUT IT BABY!”
My daughter’s friend has a super short hair cut with one side over her ear shaved in about two inches. I think she copied you. She looks sassy!
I’m a fashion inspiration at last!
Hi, Robin,
Great collection!
Ha ha! Great, or depending on how you look at the list, really bad!
😎
I feel you. ; )
So funny–there is a restaurant in our neighboring town called, “Irregardless.” As a restaurant name (and it has excellent food!), I love it. As a saying, it is like nails on a chalkboard (another overdone phrase?).
Irregardless is a great name for a restaurant! It makes me laugh.
Fingernails on a chalkboard is a perfect description for “irregardless” in speech. Think of this though . . . school kids these days have never heard fingernails on a chalkboard. Nor will they ever.
Tragic. The sound of a SmartBoard breaking? The sound of a stylus scraping the screen? Nope. There’s nothing that works in its place.
Gone is a “whack” on the knuckles with a ruler from Sister Mary Margaret too . . . thank goodness.
Really great!
And/or annoying, depending on how you look at the list!
Great list.
Really sick of that “have a blessed day” thing as it is over used here – especially by obviously hostile people….I hear that and step back from them…waiting for that lightning strike…..
Weird. I replied to Tess’ comment but it ended up under your comment. Sorry about that.
Oh yes, “have a blessed day” bugs me too. People say it as tho they are the Pope.
Oh I hate this one too. And it’s always said by people whom you know would rather see you die than see you have a nice day.
Now how could anyone want to see you dead? I don’t believe it for a minute.
I’m like, totally guilty of using ‘no probs’, literally.
I enjoyed this 🙂
“No probs” may be a British thing. Vanessa Jane Chapman put the expression on the list. I don’t hear it hear. We say “no prob.”
😀
Low hanging fruit – lmao big style! 😉
I first heard “low hanging fruit” at work and I thought it was clever. Then, the same person said it all the time and I found it annoying!
Surely the odd one of these is worth saving to add to “annoying character” dialogue, in current or future projects? – Funny all the same.
Having an “annoying character” say “annoying phrases” is a great idea.
Can I add “I know, right?” to this list. So overused. Great list!
I am guilty of “I know, right?” Oops. It is on the list now!
Very cool post! No wonder your head is spinning – this is brilliantly thought out.
I’ll be checking out all the links 😉
Putting together the post took hours! However it was fun to visit blog posts I missed while taking a blogging break. Please do check out the links. Great group of bloggers here!
A great list. I’ve heard some of these but haven’t used any. They don’t fit into my old lady jargon. I used to think they were ridiculous and meaningless. Obviously not–to some.
There is a generational element to this list for sure. We could do a list for each decade. Such as “groovey” for the 60s, “daddy-io” for the 50s, etc.
This was very cute. I’ve noticed a giant leap of usage to this word in the last 10 years or so and I always want to say something. Especially when they use it 5 times in 1 sentence. I think perhaps those that use it constantly are the same ones who were dropped on thier head at the age of 15.
Ha ha! Or as infants.
Maybe, but at least then we didn’t have to hear them say The Word. Thought we did have to deal with the crying a lot.
That is so, “like,” true. Argh!
is it okay to use “I’m just sayin'” in an ironic way? This was eye-opening –thanks for getting dizzy – it made a good post.
Ironic and sarcastic? Sure! I forgot to ask if folks have more to add. I’ll pop over to do that now. However, we may have exhausted the list!
I don’t think you can exhaust this list. There is always more.
One of my favs is when teenagers hold up their fist and say ‘pound it’. Oh and then there’s that annoying ‘favs’ instead of favorites. 🙂
Hmmm . . . never heard “pound it.” “Favs” is annoying for sure.
Isn’t it funny how we all have our pet peeves and yet don’t think twice about the ones we use that annoy other people? I know I use some of these enough to make certain bloggers want to slap me! 🙂
No one would want to slap you darlin’
I’m not so sure…. 😀
Oh stop.
Ack! I’m not listening to my own advice. Let me rephrase my reply to you.
“No one wants to slap you darlin’
🙂
I’m slinking into the shadows, too, paulaacton. I’m terribly guilty of using many of these. Ugh. Hangs head in shame.
We can all huddle in a corner together.
Sadly, I still use too many of these. In my speech, not my writing. I think. 😉
I think it is hard to work most of these words and phrases into our writing since they are figures of speech.
Hmmm I may be guilty of a few of these, slinks back into the shadows
Ha ha! I can see you . . .