(no subject)

Jan 26, 2009 14:39

I love this. They didn't find "self-styled" (my current least favourite descriptor) to be objectionable, but that's OK.

Also, lately, any use of the inherently bogus word "outdoorsman" sends me into hysterics, especially if said "outdoorsman" is "accomplished".

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From: http://blog.wired.com/underwire/2008/11/oxford-research.html

Not all University of Oxford researchers are uptight and humorless, "irregardless" of what you might think. In fact, a bunch of them compiled a list of the Top 10 Most Irritating Expressions in the English language -- just because we needed one.

Though maybe "you could care less," the scholars in question keep track of linguistic mangling and overused buzzwords in a database called the Oxford University Corpus. The voluminous record keeps track of books, magazines, broadcast, online media and other sources, watching for new overused, tiresome phrases and retiring those that fade from use (or misuse).

The great hierarchy of verbal fatigue includes:

1 - At the end of the day
2 - Fairly unique
3 - I personally
4 - At this moment in time
5 - With all due respect
6 - Absolutely
7 - It's a nightmare
8 - Shouldn't of
9 - 24/7
10 - It's not rocket science
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