OK. Let's see if anyone is up for this. Give us a word or phrase that is misused, misunderstood, or just plain irritating. I'll start with an obvious one.

Irregardless

A word used by pompous, poorly educated morons who are attempting to impress others. It is useful only in identifying these folks quickly.

Well I've heard a couple of fellas around the area I'm at come up with some of the most retarded new "cut-down" phrases. One of our "more tactical than thou" guys stated he needed some "ear-pro," obviously cut down from ear protection. Also "eye-pro." Makes my skin crawl.
Acronyms have also driven me up the wall almost my whole life, which is starting to make me wonder if I really should have joined the military in the first place. Maybe I'd have more hair if I hadn't!

Well, Metalsmith, at least he wasn't referring to some penis-pro. I think this is getting into the subject of jargon. That's where folks use sophisticated-soundig words that don't mean much in an attempt to give an impression of exclusivity. Think educators! Can somebody present us with some good jargon?

The most irritating to me is " co-conspirator" the 'word ' is already in the dictionary and it's a surprize when I hear the proper 'conspirator.Psycho-babble, techno-babble and bureaucratese are loaded with meaningless words.But since our education system has collapsed there is no hope.

the word yes when used by my wife, when she really means shut up and leave me alone

I think you're a lucky man, Keystone. That ain't what my wife says.

How about "decimated"?

People use it to describe great destruction or near annihilation. In fact, it has a rather interesting history.

If a Roman army failed to perform as instructed in battle, they lined 'em up, had every tenth man step forward, and they killed those. Hence, the army (or division, etc.) was decimated.

Paradigm

Paradigm is a big word people like to pull out when they are trying to sound intelligent. I hear it used frequently in presentations and seminars.

I last heard it a seminar when I was sent to an organizational management seminar on behalf of a group I was in charge of at the time. I was to be sold an entirely new paradigm that would enable me to manage a more successful organization and solve all our problems. I came away from the seminar feeling uninspired and decidedly lighter in the wallet...

Using the word calvary to describe a highly mobile army component mounted on horseback or moving in motor vehicles.

Cheers

Le me ax you a queshun.

Tautology (the unnecessary use of two words to express one meaning)
Free gift
Foot pedal
Hand grip
New innovation
Lonely isolation
Quiet silence
etc.

Never use grandiose words when diminutive ones suffice. Gianni

You Know?

"Let me tell ya whut."

"I'm ona tell ya whut."

Or one of the other permutations of this phrase. For cripes sakes. Don't tell me your gonna tell me something, just tell it!!!

Past History (Is there any other kind?)

Where are you at?

Any other sesquipedalians out there? Or some with sesquipedal inclinations?

reverend.

Nachos

"You know what I'm talkin' about?"

Yes I do, you stupid motherf----r, but do you know what you're talking about?

Cheers

Lithograph
As in this piece of art is a lithograph!
Your newspaper a lithograph, also!
Jim

refi

as in short for refinance

1) Some use "differential" as a noun. This is ok if it is short for differential equation or meaing the ratio of two differences.

But your average stereo salesman trying to sound authoritative uses "differential" when he should use "difference".

2) Some use "comprised of" when they should use "composed of", again trying to sound sophisticated, but fail. "Contain" is a better synonym for "comprise" than "compose".

Why am I a grammar Nazi?
My kids are crucifying me over my grammar

It's never too late to learn, tnekkc. I'd be proud of the kids. Mine give me hell when I correct them.

So, here's a misused phrase:

"The cat's out of the bag."

The referenced cat is not of the feline variety, and it's not a cute phrase by any means. As a matter of fact, it suggests very unpleasant images.

The cat referred to is the lash used to discipline sailors, the cat-o-nine-tails. It was a filthy thing, embedded with rotten gore, so was kept in a sack. When the cat was out of the bag, the appeal period was over, no going back.

It was used in US vessels until the mid-1800's, when an attorney was able to convince Congress to pass the Seamens' Act. (Not exactly the right title.) He went to Harvard, but had to leave when his eyes failed. His doctor advised him to do something that did not require close work, so he signed on a hide ship to the coast of California. He was badly treated, returned to Harvard and got his degree, and wrote Two Years Before the Mast. He was Richard Henry Dana. I recommend the book. It's genuine history, maybe of special interest to the Navy guys.
Brice

i hate acronyms...caterpillar engineers design all sorts of stuff , use the initals tto creat a word... then all the tech guys use it... like ET (electronic technician)... or STW (service technician workbench)... both of these are the software that electronic engines use....

French, like in "Kerry? He looks French!"

My most annoyingly favorite-

competency in place of competence.

One's competency would be the period during which one was competent, would it not?

1. All sentences ending with a preposition.
2. "Have a nice day!"
3. " No problem."
4. Britany
5. Leslie
6. Braxton Bragg

quote:

Originally posted by Gary Surko:
You Know?

The best answer for that remark is, "No, I don't, do you?" Ya know.....

quote:

Le me ax you a queshun

bothers me, too, but I saw the spelling in a letter written in Middle English, which means it was pronounced that way in the 14-1500's... makes ya wonder.

What did you mean, when you said what you though you meant?..............DOH!

Singular of species is ???????????????

That's right all you hook and bullet writers, it's species. And no, you may not say or write "very unique." Unique means unique, only one. It cannot be very only one.

When my kids say, "HP" they don't mean Hewlett Packard, they mean Harry Potter.

Data and statistics

Data are not statistics. Statistics are measures such as mean, median, standard deviation, variation. Data are used to derive statistics.

A five-shot string produces five pieces of velocity data. The average (mean) of the data is a statistic.

"unthaw" every time someone tells me to unthaw something I say, "so you want me to put it in the freezer?" Always leads to some strange looks.

The term "git er done" I don't know why but I hate that one.

Refering to antelope as "goats" they are not goats. I suppose calling them "speed goats" is better in my eyes-at least we now what the hell it is you're talking about.

Calling tires "boots" what the F*** is that one about?

quote:

Originally posted by calgarychef1:
"unthaw" every time someone tells me to unthaw something I say, "so you want me to put it in the freezer?" Always leads to some strange looks.

I never noticed that.
Now it is going to bug me

Have a good one
Put your hands together

Referring to pronghorns as antelope. They are not antelope, but a unique species. They are closer to goats than antelope. Sorry, Calgarychef1, nothing personal. (I might eat in your restaurant someday.) I heartily agree with you on the thaw/unthaw usage.

I have 3 vocabulary peeves. Mostly abused by dumb-ass journalists.

Calling something cement, when it's really CONCRETE (water + sand + aggregate + cement.) Do you make a sandwich with two slices of flour? Think about it. The Construction trades don't help things out here - e.g. cement finishers.

Tarmac. Journalists love this British term. Planes are always sitting on the tarmac. Give me a break. There isn't a single airport in the U.S. that uses tarmac (stone + tar + macadam.) Planes sit on the runway, taxiway, apron, or hardstand.

Cordite is another one that journalists still think exists too.




MM

Speaking of the press, maybe we could have a whole series on reporters' knowlege of firearms. For example, have you ever seen a reporter write about a rifle that waswn't high power? Do you think there is even one reporter in the entire US who knows what point blank means?

Does any newspaper or TV reporter know the difference between a bulldozer, a front end loader or a backhoe? I don't think so.

English is wonderfull .Where else can boned and deboned mean the same .Slim chance and fat chance mean the same !...Acronyms -years back in the early planning of a High Speed Nuclear Attack Submarine [HSNAS pronounced hiss-nass ]everyone got to know and use the term. When the project finally went ahead full speed the Admiral said the term HSNAS shall no longer be used !!

People who use the possessive when they mean the plural:

ROSE'S FOR SALE



Drives me crazy.