Readers Weigh In On Annoying Phrases That Need To “Just Chill”

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 5^th 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

Annoying Phrases That Need To “Just Chill”

Tags

Annoying Phrases, Grammar Pet Peeves, Irritating Phrases, Phrases That Need To Go, writers, writing

Certain phrases set my teeth on edge. How about you? These phrases are tired because we hear them multiple times a day.

What would you add to the list? Comment below and if we get a good list going (I am confident we will), I will do a second post and credit you for your addition.

 It is what it is.

If it wasn’t what it is, what would it be?

My bad.

Poor substitute for saying “I’m sorry.”

At the end of the day . . .

But it is still midday.

He reached out to me . . . as in, “He called me.”

Rather touchy-feely.

Don’t go there.

Where would you like me to go?

Just chill.

How? Stick my head in the freezer?

I, personally think that . . .

 ~ Or ~

In my personal opinion . . .

~ Or ~

My personal preference . . .

If it isn’t your personal whatever, whose would it be?

The reality is . . .

Thanks for clearing up what is real and what is fake.

I literally (insert verb)

As in, “I literally exploded.” If pieces of you aren’t stuck on the ceiling, you didn’t literally explode.

I actually (invert verb)

As in, “I actually fainted.” If the paramedics weren’t called, you didn’t literally faint.

It’s all good.

No it isn’t. That phrase bugs me.

If you are interested, I did two posts (ages ago) on my grammar/usage pet peeves here and here.

Grammar Rules Can be Fun – Part 1

Tags

Chicago Manual of Style, Grammar, Grammar Pet Peeves, Mignon Fogarty, writers, writing, Writing Advice, writing tips

Together we are slashing needless words and weak verbs. I thought we should lighten the load by throwing in some amusing takes on grammar rules. Because they are priceless, I will give it to you in two blog posts.

High school was eons ago, and although I was in Honors English, Mr. Julian Julian (yup, that was his name) didn’t make me diagram a single sentence. When editing my book I decided I should bone-up on “passive voice” and “split infinitives” (still not sure what the heck that is). I referred to serious tomes such as The Chicago Manual of Style, as well as the breezy and insanely popular Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing by Mignon Fogarty. I also turned to our friend Mr. Google because he knows everything.

I thought I found the definitive site for all things grammar at curiouser.co.uk. When I read down the list, I was chuckling by the fourth “Rule” and gaffawing by “Rule” seven. You will see what I mean.

For those of us who cringe when we hear a preposition at the end of a sentence, this list is like fingernails on a chalkboard.

Oops, I broke the “Rule” about not using clichés.

Sorry.

Oops, I broke the “Rule” about one-word sentences. So sorry again!

Enjoy!

Rules for Writers

• Verbs has to agree with their subjects.
• Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.
• And don’t start a sentence with a conjunction.
• It is wrong to ever split an infinitive.
• Avoid clichés like the plague. (They’re old hat.)
• Also, always avoid annoying alliteration.
• Be more or less specific.
• Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are (usually) unnecessary.
• Also too, never, ever use repetitive redundancies.
• No sentence fragments.
• Contractions aren’t necessary and shouldn’t be used.
• Foreign words and phrases are not apropos.
• Do not be redundant; do not use more words than necessary; it’s highly superfluous.
• One should NEVER generalize.
• Comparisons are as bad as clichés.
• Don’t use no double negatives.
• Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.
• One-word sentences? Eliminate.
• Analogies in writing are like feathers on a snake.
• The passive voice is to be ignored.
• Eliminate commas, that are, not necessary. Parenthetical words however should be enclosed in commas.
• Never use a big word when a diminutive one would suffice.
• DO NOT use exclamation points and all caps to emphasize!!!
• Use words correctly, irregardless of how others use them.
• Understatement is always the absolute best way to put forth earth shaking ideas.
• Use the apostrophe in it’s proper place and omit it when its not needed.
• Eliminate quotations. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “I hate quotations. Tell me what you know.”

Thank you to Jenni Larsen for submitting these rules to curiouser.co.uk.

 

Grammar Pet Peeves Part II

Tags

Dear Abby", Grammar, Grammar Pet Peeves, writers, writing

Some twenty years ago Dear Abby did a “grammar rant” in her column with a great list of her pet peeves – Dear Abby’s Grammar Rant. I shared some of my pet peeves with you here.  I have a few more to add. What are yours?

• I watched an interview on television where the reporter asked the winner of the game, “What are your future plans?” Aren’t all “plans” in the future?
• Saying “my own personal preference” as opposed to “my preference” drives me crazy.
• “Would of/could of/should of” instead of “would have/could have/should have” makes the speaker sound like they are five-years-old.
• If I ask someone how he or she is doing and they say, “I’m good” I want to say, “I wasn’t asking about your behavior. I was asking if you are well, as in healthy.”
• When people end their sentences with a preposition, I want to tell them this joke.

A snobbish English teacher was sitting in an Atlanta airport coffee shop waiting for her flight to Connecticut. A friendly Southern Belle sat next to her.

“Where y’all goin’ to?” asked the Southern Belle.

Turning her nose in the air, the snob replied, “I don’t answer people who end their sentences with prepositions.”

The Southern Belle thought a moment, and tried again.

“Where y’all goin’ to, BITCH?

• My girls have grown up hearing me say, “Cakes are done and people are finished.”
• Similar to Abby’s pet peeve about the overuse of the word “basically,” the use of the word “literally” is rampant. Literally.
• A friend said to me recently, “The reality is, at the end of the day, it is what it is.” Huh?
• How about “orientated,” administrated,” and “preventative?” It is “oriented,” “administered,” and “preventive” even though spell check doesn’t mind them.
• I heard this one recently and it made me laugh. Someone described a person as a “pre-Madonna” as opposed to a “prima donna.”

Pre-Madonna? (Image via RottenTomatoes.com)

So, what are your grammar pet peeves? I hope not people who rant about their pet peeves!