When Kurt Andersen took over as editor of New York Magazine, he wrote a list of all the words he found annoying and told his staff not to use them during his tenure. They made me laugh out loud.Do you agree with this list? What other words do you find annoying? (I hate triangulate and moist:)
(Via Swissmiss, via The New York Times)
"snarky". "nom nom". "brilliant".
ReplyDelete"smitten".
"moist" doesnt bother me at all. Most of the words on that list don't bother me actually!
I hate "makeshift," as "a makeshift morgue was set up in the gymnasium..."
ReplyDeleteAs an ex-journo I agree with his list! We'd always been taught to not use too much flourish with our words so I say this list is spot on.
ReplyDeleteI love this list...I use some of these words!
ReplyDeleteVery cool
nicole
Too many of these peoples' replies made me laugh out loud! So many funny words! I'd personally have to agree with "moist" so. disgusting.
ReplyDeleteAnother one I shudder at the thought of is "gargle".
I hate trendy words like "epic". If I have to hear one more person exclaim "last night was epic!"...
ReplyDeletePartner as a verb. Ugh, ugh, ugh.
ReplyDeletepanties - yuk!
ReplyDeleteNibble. I hate that word.
ReplyDeleteMissy, you are totally right. The word "epic" should be banned from the world.
ReplyDeleteIt's a phrase, not a word, but I was so happy when "It is what it is" fell out of use. Very few things are outside of one's influence or control; mostly, people were using the phrase to deflect their responsibility.
ReplyDeleteI had a conversation recently about words I love and words I dislike and they thoguht I was weird, thank you all for making me feel normal.
ReplyDeleteWords I dislike
Panties
Shampoo (although I have to use it I really dislike it)
Stoked
Bestie
Preggers
Tats
Cheesy
Shut it (to ask a person to stop talking because what they are saying is unbelievable)
Words I love
Illegal (The meaning is not that wonderful but i love the sound of it)
Wonderful
Grand
Outstanding
Beau
Lovely
Adore
Dreary
Soirée
Lullaby
tapioca, plethora, and "gifted"
ReplyDeleteMoist is just the worst.
ReplyDeleteAnything "a go go".
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteclot. as in blood clot...makes me queasy. however, just because it bothers me, i wouldn't block other people from using the word. i find his list to be annoying and arrogant.
ReplyDelete'curated' - it's so overused that it's annoying.
ReplyDelete'dungarees' which my dad still uses to this day...gives me the willies!
'bud' as a nickname for all the little boys out there...for whatever reason it drives me nuts!
'pumps' - like in the small heeled shoes...also gives me the willies.
and i so agree in 'preggers'....yuck!
I CANNOT STAND 'bistro'.
ReplyDeleteI also dislike panty.
I hate the word 'ointment' and also when people say "yeah, nah..."
ReplyDeleteWhat a diva. If I went around making those demands, I'd get laughed out of my career, regardless of how many years and experiences I had in my resume and under my belt.
ReplyDeleteHa! All of mine are already listed: moist, pop instead of soda, preggers, irregardless instead of regardless.
ReplyDeleteOMG my sister-in-law is going to DIE when I show her this. Her all-time most hated word is MOIST. She can't even say it, she has to spell it out if it's ever necessary to say!
ReplyDeleteI can't stand DIVA. Or when people pronounce "mature" as "matoor".
This list is hysterical. And I'm pretty sure Kurt Anderson would slash my ass up with a big red pen!
So many of these are word-pet-peeves of mine. I think writing "intoned" instead of "said" and "queried" instead of "asked" are some of the worst ever. Thank you for sharing this. "Tapped" is only okay for "chosen" in playground games. "Eatery" is never okay.
ReplyDeleteI love this list! I wish I could have a list like this that people actually followed. My vocabulary peeve is when people speak with inflections... does everything need to be a question?
ReplyDeleteJust as with San Fran, I hate it when people say Cali. Only people who aren't from California call it Cali. Also the unanimous panties and moist!
ReplyDelete"Proverbial" is such a fluffy, overused word. It's like nails on a chalkboard every time I hear it.
ReplyDeleteI hate when people say "whatev" or "whatevs" as in, "whatever." Seriously? Finish the word! I also hate "syringe." (Just the sound of it makes my arm hurt.) My favorite word is "serendipity." : ) Love this list, Jo!
ReplyDeleteHaha, this is hilarious! As I type I'm afraid I might use a word that somebody hates!! As for me, for some reason the word "embed" freaks me out. I completely agree on the "le sigh/le tired" thing--annoying and I don't get it. Stinky/Smelly--ew. "Cool beans"--kinda corny. So many more!
ReplyDeleteI cannot stand "moist" either. gross. there was a How I Met Your Mother episode about it bc Lily hates that word too so Barney did a "play" where he just said "moist" "moist" "moist" over and over again.
ReplyDeleteas a photographer I hate "pics" why? And I'm a huge fan of shortening words except not that one...and hubby. ew. hubs, yes, sometimes but never "hubby".
I hate the word "comical"!
ReplyDeleteNot a big fan of "heya" or "hiya". Just say hi or hello please :)
ReplyDeletewhile I have pet peeve words, I'm more impressed and elated when seldolmy used ones pop in pieces I'm reading. It's refreshing, and I like being challenged, even if it means dusting off the dictionary.
ReplyDeletedon't think I'd like an editor who was so limiting! everyone has their own style.
Words I LOVE:
bucolic
lilt
catalyst
libations
bilouminescent
nude
palimpset
cunt
sanguine
halcyon
heinous
insousiance
hahahaa why would he make such list? and what if a staff accidentally use one of these banned words? haha!
ReplyDelete"IT IS WHAT IT IS"
ReplyDeletewhenever someone says this i can't help but think... no shit.
i also can't believe this many people hate preggo and preggers and i still hear it multiple times a week. dis.gust.ing. please pass it along to friends to take it out of their vocab. pleeease.
ReplyDeleteBut I wouldn't mind if Stephen Fry used any of these words. Especially "moist".
ReplyDeleteI hate hubby too. It makes me cringe whenever I hear someone say it. The word is husband. Shouldn't it be husby?
ReplyDelete"Task" used as a verb. Drives me mad.
ReplyDeleteEvery inch of my skin crawls when I hear people use the word "curate" in a completely ridiculous and improper way. Sorry, your list of "fave sushi places" isn't curated. Maybe it's because I am a museum curator... but I find it incredibly annoying.
ReplyDeletei can't stand "hubby"--and when someone says "awesome" in every other sentence.
ReplyDeletepanties---brrrrrrrrrrrr
ReplyDeleteI agree with moist! Another one that makes me shudder is 'crusty.' Ew.
ReplyDeleteI like old-fashioned words that feel like they came out of a black and white film. Like 'darling' or 'fabulous' :)
it's funny you put this here because my mother and i are both english teachers and often have discussions about words we dislike. her least favorite word is when people use' impact' as a verb rather than 'have an impact on'. my least favorite word is 'verbage.' can't stand it.
ReplyDeleteI hate "jarred," as in "jarred salsa." I actually wrote a letter to Real Simple magazine about it; it just drives me crazy! I imagine the salsa being startled and discombobulated.
ReplyDelete"per se" because it sounds pretentious.
ReplyDelete"ironic" when mistakenly used to mean "fitting".
Utilize! We already have a word for that. It's "use."
ReplyDeleteoh god. my friend wrote me an email that she was going to make a "resy" -- as in reservation -- for dinner.
ReplyDeleteI agreed to go so long as she never used the word "resy" ever again
"OM NOM NOM."
ReplyDeleteI hate that. SO MUCH. I don't know why, but it is so aggravating to me. It makes me think twice about a person when they use "om nom nom."
I also hate "pamphlet," but really only when spoken aloud.
I hate it when people say "orientate". It's supposed to be "orient". Like when they say... I need to get "orientated" NOOO!!!! It always makes me cringe.
ReplyDeleteWhen people say they "lurve" something. It's so gross and trashy sounding.
ReplyDeletehahah I get most of these but LIFESTYLE?
ReplyDeleteMani, pedi, vacay, bestie, hubby, hubs, preggo, preggers. And I hate it when people say, "I know, right?"
ReplyDeleteHa, my teenage daughter hates the word "moist" and I've never heard of anyone else having an issue with it. I laughed so hard it made my eyes moist! (Yeah, okay, well I can see...)
ReplyDeleteAh Alex, so cute to leave a comment for your wife. Jo - funny that you hate moist, I can't stand the word moisture.
ReplyDeleteWords that should not be:
ReplyDeleteon trend, on-message, mission statement, jonesing, gifted (when used as a verb, when you mean to give somebody something).
can we add "swoon" to that list?! so overused!! haha!!
ReplyDeleteThought of more...
ReplyDeleteflange
trolleys (English slang for male underwear)
absolutely (whatever happened to saying yes)
belly (shivering here, people)
crimbo, crimbles instead of Christmas (again, English)
archive meaning to put away for a bit
I live in San Francisco, I hate the word "Hella" and "Frisco", just typing them made me cringe.
ReplyDeleteI moved to the area in which I live about 8 years ago. There are many, many phrases from this region that really annoy me. Examples:
ReplyDelete"It's pouring down the rain."
"Are you being have?"
"Whenever I was younger..."
"So don't I."
I am most annoyed by grammatical and spelling errors. Spell/grammar check was invented for a reason!
Please use the correct form of there/their/they're and its/it's. I do not like when the word "color" is pronouced "collar."
Weird is not spelled wierd.
I find it really ugly to write LOL
ReplyDeleteHoly cr*p! I hate the word "moist"! It makes my skin crawl!!!
ReplyDeleteLOVE this!! I think the world can absolutely use a lot less of all of these words.
ReplyDeleteI hate the words casserole and slacks. Yuck yuck yuck. That list is hilarious, and I see what he's saying!
ReplyDeletetogetherinadream.blogspot.com
I hate the word "funky"...people throw that word around and it just feels dated, things were funky in the 90's maybe but I don't think funky belongs in this millenium...just sayin':)
ReplyDeleteThis list is hilarious, and Alex's comment on it is also hilarious! I never really thought about all the generic-trendy words used in journalism (and blogs, etc.), and I can see why they would irritate the crap out of someone after a while!
ReplyDeleteI agree with the people who hate Prego/preggers - my husband said it once, and then I smothered him with a pillow.
Also I hate words that aren't words. Or phrases gotten wrong - Irregardless, Addicting, and All of the sudden all inspire violent tendencies in me.
I tried to write this before! Can't believe he banned the word "zeitgeist". I love that word and deliberately try to stick it into something. You gave me an idea to blog about. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI hate "to go" as in "Coffee to go, please." I far prefer the more traditional (in my country, anyway!) "Coffee to take away, please."
ReplyDeleteOh my, he's a kindred spirit. My husband keeps a list of words that he knows not to use around me. I regularly update it. A number of them are business jargon terms that are not part of the official English language, but are making their way into everyday speech. Well, not if I can help it!
ReplyDeleteMelissa
how about "natch" (short for naturally)?! it took me forever to figure out what the hell people were trying to say, but i kept seeing it in blogs and magazine articles. it is so ridiculous!
ReplyDeletealso hate "pop of color", panties, lover, hubby...
oh, and also when people say "Hotlanta" instead of Atlanta. that drives me mad!
i also can't stand the overuse of quotes and air quotes, which i find myself guilty of often. (ahem, maybe even in this post)
Hahaha- I love this- esp. the way he's titled the list "Words We Don't Say" like he's talking to a bunch of children!
ReplyDeleteEveryone's hatred of "moist" makes me laugh! Bestie should be banned everywhere! It's just so saccharine it makes me want to puke. Along with "totes" as an abbreviation for "totally". Also on my hate list: when people say "I feel that..." when they're stating a thought or opinion (are you really afraid to say that you "think" something people?!). Yeah, and "epic" (in the overused hyperbolic sense).
ReplyDeleteI love "perfunctory". I'll also admit to being a person who has commonly said "Cali" and "San Fran", but I may cease doing so now that I've read this list :-)
Worst words:
ReplyDeleteCumquat
Hubby
Muggacino (as in a mug sized-cappucino)
Classy
...And the mother of all cringeworthy words: "Scrummy" (as in, a mix of scrumptious (which is bad enough) and yummy. Eg: "Mmm, these scones are so scrummy!" BLERG!
And ginormous. It makes me feel violent inside.
ReplyDeleteMy boss says ridonculous. I want to bonk him on the head.
ReplyDeletechillax, flag up, play date.
ReplyDeleteThis list works and eponymous is overly used, especially in fashion copy.
ReplyDeleteMeh
ReplyDeleteArtisanal (overused)
Vis a vis
Absolutely! (to express total agreement)
Vacay
Loved this post and all the comments, too! I had no idea that so many people hate the word "moist," and will have to start using it more often to see what happens :o
ReplyDeleteI cringe when I hear or read, "oh so" as in "that was oh so wonderful" and also whenever someone says, "that's how I roll."
I hate the word "dollop". Gross.
ReplyDeleteI work in advertising in Australia and I can't stand the word "bespoke" or the phrases "moving forward"; "at the end of the day"; and "we'll just have to suck it and see".
"Panties" is pretty much the worst word ever uttered by man. What genius decided that women's underwear resembled pants more than those worn by men?
ReplyDeleteI think with most of these words that people dislike it's the way you have to enunciate them--"Pahn-tees". If you say them quickly to get it over with, it becomes an issue--"pannies" can become pennies or penis when said fast without enunciation, and that devolves into a whole different situation. Another word that is similarly frustrating and cringeworthy: menstruation. Think about it "men-strew-ay-shun" vs. "men-stray-shn" (Penn Station?).
Too funny!
ReplyDeleteSupple
Panty hose
CROTCH is the most foul word
ReplyDeleteI HATE the word "moist" unless you're referring to a cake or a towelette! ;)
ReplyDeleteOMG - ORGANIC, BOUTIQUE AND CURATED are my least favourite things EVER right now. I feel like people say organic for everything these days.
ReplyDeleteThe best is "I'm curating an organic, boutique party for such & such." UUUUGH. worst.
I'm not quite fond of "perky" lol
ReplyDeleteI'm not big on 'moist' either, but it instantly makes me think of this clip from "How I Met Your Mother":
ReplyDeletehttp://youtu.be/zk20WWY15uc
@"Liesl Ayers-Southwell"; "Zeitgeist" does not mean "rythem ghost" but "time ghost" > zeit = time... I'm from Denmark and have been learning German since the age of ten (still hate it though)
ReplyDelete"Zeitgeist" is such a trending word in the Danish fashion world these days - sounds funny, but I've heard it a little too much lately ;)
(Not to be a nerd or anything - just wanted to clear things up) :)
I really dislike the word "slammed" as in so and slow slams so and so. It just is so overly dramatic! I think journalists should ban that word because they use it too often.
ReplyDeleteI don't like the phrase "___ is the new ___"
ReplyDeleteVagina is an ugly word too.
Worst words ever:
ReplyDeletePlacenta
Nibble
And the people that mispronounce the word "tortilla" or "quesadilla"-- the double L is a Y sound and not an L sound.
Worst? Is when a person over the age of 5 uses "heart" instead of like or love. As in, "I heart this".
ReplyDeletea LOT of people I know don't like the word "moist"!! what is it with that word that offends so many people?? haha
ReplyDeletelavieetme.blogspot.com
My best friend and I are known for not liking Purple. Not just the word (which is icky) but pretty much the whole color. At first, you think, well that's ridiculous. You can't not like a whole color. But I do. Or, don't.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone mentioned mauve?
Holistic! Hate it.
ReplyDeleteMy dad hates "as well" he thinks it's a pretentious way to say "also"
ReplyDeleteHe calls people who overuse it "as well people" as in:
she's an as well person
I'd add overuse of "awkward," especially when situations described are not so.
ReplyDeletei kept wanting to comment here but i forgot--i keep reading blogs, especially craft or diy blogs, where the author writes that a project is "easy peasy lemon squeezy"!!!! it embarrasses me just to write it.
ReplyDeletesaying "heart" instead of "love." JUST SAY LOVE!!
ReplyDeletevisit us on lifeandstylemag.com
ReplyDeletehttp://whois.domaintasks.com/lifeandstylemag.com
Here what i found -> vision correction
ReplyDeleteHere what i found -> vision correction
ReplyDeletelol on the "panties". That's #1 for me, too! And when did it become "I 'heart' NY"?! The little hand gesture making the heart while saying it is doubly annoying. Here's a list I did, you may like it:
ReplyDeleteBest 5 Words to Drive WordNerds Crazy
http://www.best5everything.com/best5ListPages/words-drive-wordnerds-crazy-74844.php
In my opinion one and all should browse on this.
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Why do you consider all these words are annoying? I think I can save ¡some of these, for example the world zeitgeist I can save because all things that documentary mentions is totally truth, I think you should watch the video in order t see the reality of life.
ReplyDeleteWhy do you consider all these words are annoying? I think I can save ¡some of these, for example the world zeitgeist I can save because all things that documentary mentions is totally truth, I think you should watch the video in order t see the reality of life.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the article, quite effective information.
ReplyDeleteCalgary apartment rent | Rothesay real estate | Avoid the line
Haha, I think everybody hates the word moist.
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with many of these comments; would like to add that I hate it when people say PIN number, ATM Machine and so forth- when my manager says ABN number (Australian Business Number) to me I cringe. I also cannot stand it when people get plurals wrong: E.g. "Date of births", "Brother in laws"..it's insanity. Finally, when people use "I" in a situation where they should use "me" - "look at this photo of Jo and I" instead of "look at this photo of Jo and me".
ReplyDeleteHowever, if someone could please provide a synonomous alternatve for lifestyle, I'd greatly appreciate it! My recently established blog is based entirely around that word! To make matters worse, the domain is actually a PUN based on the word! Oh dear...
Word that make me cringe: Menstruation, flacid, diarrhea, circumcision, just to name a few.
ReplyDeleteSnog! Ugh.
ReplyDelete
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Excellent information and facts. Only real difficulty I was basically receiving was viewing the pics. No idea exactly why.
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I agree, for the most part, but don’t you feel as if the issue is more complex than that?
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ReplyDeleteThis site is one of the best I have found :
" Progressive Home Insurance "
" allstate home insurance "
" progressive home insurance "
Excellent information and facts. Only real difficulty I was basically receiving was viewing the pics. No idea exactly why.
1.Best Home Interior Interior Design Seattle
2.Best Minimalist Design Minimalist Interior Design
3.Best Interior Design best interior design schools
I agree, for the most part, but don’t you feel as if the issue is more complex than that?
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=> Specs Wallpaper: Mercedes Benz C300 <=
=> Specs Review Modifications: 2013 Audi TT RS <=
ReplyDeleteThis site is one of the best I have found :
" Progressive Home Insurance "
" allstate home insurance "
" progressive home insurance "
Excellent information and facts. Only real difficulty I was basically receiving was viewing the pics. No idea exactly why.
1.Best Home Interior Interior Design Seattle
2.Best Minimalist Design Minimalist Interior Design
3.Best Interior Design best interior design schools
I agree, for the most part, but don’t you feel as if the issue is more complex than that?
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=> Specs Wallpaper: Mercedes Benz C300 <=
=> Specs Review Modifications: 2013 Audi TT RS <=
"incentivize" "paradigm" "volunteerism" in politics, like they are trying to make the word more than it is. I also don't care for non-profit speak either with all of their hyphens and ambiguity, words like.. at-risk, capacity-building, project-based, participatory.... so fluffy
ReplyDeleteI don't mind people who mess up grammar or use words incorrectly though, everyone makes mistakes.
fart
ReplyDeletethunk (as in "Who would have thunk it?"...makes me violent when I hear it!)
dovetail
preggers
oh, i so totally hate "gifted" as well. i always think, "what? when did that become a word?!? isn't the past tense of give "gave"? "gifted" just sounds so pretentious.
ReplyDeleteI dislike the phrase "price point". Can't "price" or "cost" be used instead? Also being Canadian I don't like the word "foyer" pronounced with the "r" at the end.
ReplyDelete"rythem ghost"? Geist can also mean mind or spirit (as in this case) and Zeit is always time. Anyway, I love how people use German words in their language. The pronounciation! To die for. I heard some Americans also use "schimmflügel". Is that true? And why is it that you have to choose the most complicated words?
ReplyDeletehate the phrase "touch base" unless it is a literal baseball reference dont use it!
ReplyDeleteThe world SPELT is really annoying or when people say "FINNA" - really?? That's not a word!
ReplyDeleteSuper funny post because my hubby and I talk about words that bug us all the time that people in/not in our lives say!
http://iheartlittlelovebug.blogspot.com
wrank....its not even a real word
ReplyDeleteflippies instead of flip flops....
& per--referencing 'according to'
Errands. I've always disliked that word.
ReplyDeleteSo many here that I dislike, but I haven't seen the phrase that has been bugging me lately: 'nuff said.
ReplyDeleteMakes my skin crawl. If you don't need to say anything, then don't say anything! And I'm also annoyed by silly abbreviations.