More words that made you gag in 2008
Cats: Uncategorized, blogs|See my Herald column over here.
It’s funny how words rile. I had a lot of feedback on my “words that make me gag” column last week.
People wrote in with way more than I had room to mention.
And they weren’t all just words. Excessive use of exclamation marks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Admittedly, it bugs me too. IT’S LIKE PEOPLE WHO FEEL THE NEED TO SCREAM WITH ALL-CAPS. Once exclamation mark is fine as is one or event two all-cap words for emphasis.
But !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND THIS are over the top. If you feel that strongly, why not express it in real words. They tend to work better.
Some people don’t like IMglish like Cya l8R. Personally I like this. It’s witty, funny and convenient when txtng. But I am told by young hip things, that LOL!! is now considered old-fashioned and over used.
And what about verbal redundancies like Hospital for Sick Children, paying customers or free gifts. This raises the spectre of hospitals for well children? Non-paying customers and gifts you have to pay for.
There’s lots more too. Go here to read the rest.
January 16th, 2009 at 11:16 am
Something I hate – and you used it in the paper- is “first annual”. Something can be the “inaugural”, but it can’t be the “first annual”. It’s an oxymoron.
January 16th, 2009 at 11:28 am
I love it.
January 16th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Let me be clear, Typist, I am the divider…er, decider.
January 16th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
I heard Harper describe his government as “new” again yesterday. GAG!!!!!!
I would stay away from the “new” meat and cheese platter if you ever have tea with him.
I wonder if he introduces his kids as his “new” children?
January 16th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
We will never run out of words to hate. Clever (or lazy) people will just keep inventing new ways to drive us insane. It’s heartening, really.
January 16th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
Lindsey, yoiks! Caught out. That’s good. I love getting caught at my own game. Thanks.
Megan, thank you.
Cormac, let me be clear, you are weird, but I like weird people. Though not weirdos. (You’re not a werido are you?)
Dick, I guess old, tired and washed up is Harper’s new. I wish he’d introduce another Prime Minister as Canada’s new PM.
Barbara, where would be if we could beyotch.
January 16th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
I like this post and your column. Playing with words and language is great fun because it keeps changing. Keeps me on my toes!
January 16th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
Dang it. I’m going to run posts by you, my new best friend forever (no abbreviations here), before hitting publish. Wouldn’t you know I used the term scope-creep just today?
I do love the British phrase “gets up my nose.”
January 16th, 2009 at 10:01 pm
Why cube, thank you. And yes words are one of the great conversation pieces of any time.
Lisa, ok, we’re out now -best friends forever. But dont tell Espanya as she is also my BFF.
BTW, I’m a Can-Brit dual citizen so that explains the “up your nose” bit
January 17th, 2009 at 1:50 am
I have this rule, no caps. Italics only.
January 17th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
I’m currently reading “Eats, Shoots and Leaves” which I am sure you probably have read already but your posts made me think of how illiteracy is plaguing our world these days, especially online.
I care about words. When I screw up, it’s because I made a mistake. I can’t imagine writing without trying to get it right but people can be so lazy.
January 18th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Allison, love Italics.
Sacred Suzie, welcome to GT. I read LT in hardcover. Being a typist, I like words too, but what really fascinates me is everyone else’s relationship to words
January 18th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Er, that plummeting bomb was me riffing on Dubya’s “let me be clear.”