BS: Abuse of words

Subject: BS: Abuse of words
From: Bunnahabhain
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 09:09 AM

Are there words or phrases you hear regularly that are abused enough to really annoy you?

I'll start the list off.

Disaster- The hurricane is a real disaster.

September the 11th was a terrorist attack, not a disaster, as it was called by a number of places.

There have been various train 'disasters' in the UK in the last few years. They have had lower casulties than an average day on the roads. They're accidents, not disasters.

Anyone got any others that come to mind?

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: artbrooks
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 09:17 AM

Decimate: the word means to reduce by 1/10, but it is almost always used to mean "totally destroyed".

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 09:18 AM

People in everyday street clothes who describe themselves as "soldiers" fighting for whatever freedom it is they believe they're owed. Real soldiers wear uniforms!
G..

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Rapparee
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 09:20 AM

"Penultimate" does not mean the "the very top."

"More clear" -- the word (like many others) is "clearer."

"Past history" -- well, yeah, most history is past. All of it, in fact.

"Point in time" (you don't say "point in space" do you?)

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Amos
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 09:32 AM

Well, yes, actually. People do say "point in space" quite often, as in discussing LaGrangian orbits: "As far back as 1978, NASA's International Sun-Earth Explorer 3 was plopped into the L-point, becoming the first spacecraft to orbit a point in space rather than a heavenly body."

A

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: GUEST,Mrr
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 09:32 AM

I thought decimate was to reduce TO 1/10th, not BY 1/10th.
How about the new use of literally to mean anything but literally?

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: John Hardly
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 09:34 AM

It's a brand new Tennessee waltz
You're literally waltzing on air...

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 09:35 AM

MacKenzie, wearing a uniform doesn't make you a soldier either, though. There's much, much more to it than clothing...:)

E

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: rumanci
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 09:40 AM

"at this moment in time"

how about using just NOW instead ?

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: JennyO
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 10:19 AM

Surprised no-one has mentioned "anonymous volunteer fellow posters" and "impose their personal judgement" yet.

And "peace could well break out" has been ruined for me forever.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Midchuck
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 10:27 AM

"Presently" - which actually means "real soon now" but is almost always used as though it meant simply "now."

Peter.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: GUEST,Guy Who Thinks
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 10:32 AM

Genocide

Freedom-fighters

Fascist

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 10:33 AM

Epona, don't become philosophical. Cling to the regulations. Wearing uniform is one of the four prerequisites for soldiers due to the Hague Land Warfare Order [translation could be wrong, I'm afraid]; also under   uniform leadership, carrying the weapons in the open, and respecting the laws of warfare. Anybody failing one of these prerequisites may be shot at sight.

Mrr, decimation is the old Roman punishment for mutinous units. Every tenth man was killed, mutineer or not.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: mack/misophist
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 10:39 AM

IIRC, decimation was last used in WWI. For cowardice, not mutiny.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 10:39 AM

As a soldier, and in charge of many more, there's nothing philosophical about it. Wearing a uniform does not make you a soldier. Very simple and concise, Wilfried. Thanks for your input though. :)

E

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: GUEST,Tír Chonaill
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 10:41 AM

"Anybody failing one of these prerequisites may be shot at sight"

Time to review the regulations, maybe, Wilfried.

They've reviewed the Geneva Convention to accomodate the present state of affairs.

In China, villagers have formed their own 'armies' (albeit with pitchforks and scythes) to resist State Sponsored removal programmes. No uniform, no uniform leadership, and probably not aware as to the laws of warfare.

Would you agree these people should be shot on sight?

Giok?

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: GUEST,Tír Eoghain
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 10:49 AM

Bit like The Plantation of Ulster all over again....

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 10:52 AM

"Only."

And it "only" costs (insert totally ridiculous dollar amount."

Substitute "just" for variety.

"Free" is another one. When phone solicitors tell me something is "free," and I'm feeling particularly ornery and don't hang up, I keep asking "How much does it cost?" until eventually they get to the point in their sales pitch where they use the word "only," and then I say... "Then that's how much it costs?"

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 11:15 AM

"costs only" would be the correct form in the context you cited, Jerry - it's a good example of a word often placed inccorectly rather than given the wrong meaning.

Mack, what army resorted to decimation in WW1?

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: GUEST,Guy Who Thinks
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 11:16 AM

For a low, low price of just...

Congratulations on your purchase....

Fair and balanced

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Amos
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 11:25 AM

You guys are gonna make me barf!! These are some of my most despised manipulative platitudes! LOL


A

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Pseudolus
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 11:28 AM

"...and the sign said anybody caught trespassin....would be shot on sight."

Not sure why I posted that...it just popped into my head...

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: JennyO
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 11:31 AM

"Your call is important to us!"      

NOT

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: John P
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 11:33 AM

Anyone care to take a stab at the current meaning(s) of the word "virtual"?

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 11:46 AM

"working vacation" NOT!

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Wesley S
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 11:56 AM

In order to serve you better.....

For your convenience....

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Little Hawk
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 12:03 PM

"shot on sight"

Well, it's not too easy to shoot someone who is not in sight is it? Except with long range artillery, I suppose...

sexist - way overused these days.

racist - ditto.

"I'm like...blah, blah, blah. So, she's like, blah, blah, blah. And I'm like...blah, blah bah. But she's like..."

HI*&%GHEI:GHIEJ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: akenaton
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 12:03 PM

"freedom"
"democracy"
"civilisation"

I could go on ad-nauseum....Ake

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Bill D
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 12:10 PM

on the news yesterday, a National Guard officer assured reporters that a large 'contingency' of troops was on the way!

I think that's what's worrying folks.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: artbrooks
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 12:15 PM

Peter K.: Petain, commander of the French army, threatened decimation during/after the great mutiny in Spring, 1917. He backed off, individual trials were held, 554 soldiers were condemned and 49 actually executed.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Little Hawk
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 12:16 PM

Oh, GOOD ones, Ake! Remember "Gott Mitt Uns" (the slogan of the Wehrmacht)? It means "God is with us". And they believed it, of course... Why wouldn't they, being typical normal human beings in the grip of an ambitious ruling $ySStem?

Here are some of a different kind:

"hood", when you mean neighbourhood
"fro", when you mean afro
"bro", when you mean brother
"'ite", when you mean "all right"
"know'm'sayin'" when you mean "Do you know what I'm saying?"
"Nam" when you mean "Vietnam"
"humungous" when you mean huge
"bodacious" when you mean beautiful
"hellacious" when you mean hellish
"kick ass" when you mean "win a major victory"

It makes me feel ill. It's like the total devolution of human consciousness to the lowest level of insentient brutality and idiocy. And it is constantly glamourized in American movies and TV shows, as if it was something cool or good! That's not a civilization to be proud of...it's a deranged, sick mind and body waiting to self-destruct.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 12:19 PM

Bill D,
All National Guard troops still left in the states have been put on alert for activation.

E

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Little Hawk
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 12:24 PM

The French troops were right to mutiny in WWI. It would have been more appropriate to execute the generals who kept sending thousands of men to die in futile attacks on entrenched postions, if anyone.

The Russian army also mutinied in 1917, and simply started walking home. That sparked a revolution which overthrew the Czarist system.

The German army and navy finally mutinied at the very end of the war in the fall of 1918.

With a little more awareness on the part of the individual soldier, ALL the citizen armies would have mutinied way back in 1914, and have ended the whole useless misery right then and there. They were dying for nothing.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Bill D
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 12:28 PM

Epona...here's hoping some of them know the difference between 'contingent' and 'contingency'

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 12:29 PM

That's an officer for you, Bill. :)

E

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Cluin
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 12:29 PM

"Don't get ignorant!"

To be ignorant means to lack knowledge or information; it is not synonymous with obnoxious... though the two often go hand in hand.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Wesley S
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 12:31 PM

Veggies. I hate the word veggies. What's so damn hard about saying vegtables ?

And "party" is not a verb. It's a noun.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 12:40 PM

Not all armies are composed of soldiers!

Ending almost every sentence with the word 'like' said with a rising inflection. Saying 'absolutely' instead of yes without qualifying it; 'absolutely what?' I always ask.

Giok

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Bill D
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 12:42 PM

well, u kno, i hate lots of wrds that pple r just 2 lazy 2 type anymore. 4 sure!

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Cluin
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 12:43 PM

F##kin' Ay!

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Little Hawk
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 12:45 PM

Yeah, "veggies" is annoying. So is "hubby". So is "jammies" (pajamas). So is "brekky" (breakfast).

Are people becoming too lazy to say entire words?

Here's one that annoys me frequently. Waitress or other person says to me, "And how are we doing today?" I think, sarcastically, "I'm doing fine...I don't know about you."

"Do we need anything?" she says, interrupting my quiet meal for the 3rd or 4rth time. (If "we" did, "we" would probably have waved at you and called you over!!! Go away!)

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 12:50 PM

Don't forget people in some service jobs are required to say such things or face reprimands or loss of jobs.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 12:53 PM

Not all armies are composed of soldiers? True enough with all the civilians that are army personnel and help support the mission.

I'm guilty of that, Bill, esp. when I text ppl! :)

E

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Pseudolus
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 01:02 PM

Hot enough for ya?????

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Bill D
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 01:07 PM

I am not guilty of that often, Epona ...I am an old, grumpy curmudgeon who likes to think that clarity can seriously suffer when abbreviations and shortened forms are used. I 'will' sometime type 'thru' for through, but there is little doubt what I mean, and it may be a better way to spell the word anyway!

The language is full, fascinating and rich, and it behooves (see?) us to learn it and use it. The various examples above show different KINDS of laziness and 'dumbing down', and I suppose there are places for some of them, but I shudder when I hear/read someone who cannot or will not approximate 'standard' usage.

ah, well...

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 01:08 PM

Haha! Good for you Bill!

E

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: GUEST,Mrr
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 01:33 PM

Guy who Thinks - I have to agree about Genocide - see my comment on the Genocide in New Orleans thread.

Also, I don't like racism to mean any kind of bigotry - it should be based on skin color to be racist. Sexism, for instance, isn't racism, not are many of the other -isms.

On the other hand, Curmudgeon is way UNDERused. I did ask my boss who showed up to work dressed perfectly normally on Halloween if he was dressed as a curmudgeon, once... funny, I don't work there anymore!

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 01:35 PM

Veggies. I hate the word veggies. What's so damn hard about saying vegetables ?

"Veggies" means vegetarians in England. Vegetables would be "veg".
..............

I get annoyed at "rebut" being misused, especially when public figures are trying to lie their way out of some embarassing revelations.

"Rebut" means to prove that some allegation is untrue. Just saying it is not true is not a rebuttal, but when it gets described as such people are liable to tricked into thinking that the charge has in fact been rebutted, or disproved, when in fact it has just been denied.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Little Hawk
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 01:38 PM

You're quite right, Kat. The management requires them to do it. My beef, clearly, is with the management, not the waitresses. If it's a chain, then the management gets their orders from the head office, so my beef is with some damned committee at the head office!

That's modern life, isn't it?

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Wesley S
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 01:40 PM

McGrath - Maybe we could claify these threads by having a Joeclone relabel them "In the UK" and "In the USA".

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Amos
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 02:00 PM

Wesley:

You're just ASKING for trouble, man!! 7,000 posts of 300 words each, minimum, from some obscure corner of England, just for suggesting it!! LOL


A

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Ebbie
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 02:02 PM

As listed by others, the misuse of 'literally' bugs me. Slang is one thing (note 'bugs') but when a word is misused frequently enough it becomes the norm, the accepted word, and that is a pity. The roots and actual meaning of a word are left behind and forgotten.

'Decimated' is another of those words. I think some people use it because they think it means 'devastated'.

Words are tools, true. And tools wear out, true. But you can't beat the right tool for the right job.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 02:06 PM

How about "simply" in printed assembly instructions written by someone in Japanese, and badly translated. Or even written by someone in American. :-)

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Grab
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 02:12 PM

"Irregardless". For heaven's sake, it's not a word! This seems to be an American perversion - I've not yet heard it on this side of the pond.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: John Hardly
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 02:19 PM

I just want "str" to lose the "h" it somehow picked up in the last decade. Is that asking too much?

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 02:21 PM

Then there's another of my betes noir 'very unique' a thing is either unique or it isn't.
G..

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 05:31 PM

Epona - stop philosophizing. Cling to the regulations. Combattants are recognized as such by wearing uniform or a uniform sign clearly visible, uniform leadership, wearing arms in the open, and respecting the laws of land warfare. I think that is what Giok means. If they do not, they are criminals (like our Red Army Fraction) and are not protected by the Hague Treaties [no pardon, shot immediately].

Mrr - decimation is a reduction of 10 percent. It was the classical old Roman punishment for mutinous units. On parade every tenth man was counted out and killed on the spot, mutineer or not.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Charmion
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 05:52 PM

Epona, I too have a bone to pick with you. Civilians, even those employed by the government department that directs and supports the armed forces, are not members of those forces even though they are engaged in the same mission.

Trust me on this: I've been a soldier, and now I'm a civil servant (snivel serpent). The differences are striking, most notably the fact that I'm never going to be posted someplace fraught with snipers and anti-tank mines, and lacking flush toilets. Also, I now pay union dues and receive a rather less lavish benefits package.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Raedwulf
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 05:55 PM

The French troops were right to mutiny in WWI. It would have been more appropriate to execute the generals who kept sending thousands of men to die in futile attacks on entrenched postions, if anyone.

The Russian army also mutinied in 1917, and simply started walking home. That sparked a revolution which overthrew the Czarist system.

The German army and navy finally mutinied at the very end of the war in the fall of 1918.

With a little more awareness on the part of the individual soldier, ALL the citizen armies would have mutinied way back in 1914, and have ended the whole useless misery right then and there. They were dying for nothing.

Bullshit, LH, but if you want a proper rebuttal (sic), PM me or start a new thread. I shan't mess up this one!

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Ebbie
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 06:03 PM

I hear 'irregardless' fairly frequently and it surprises me every time. I think it's used mostly by people who are not really 'into' words and they haven't registered that 'less' is already a negative. They may be influenced by words such as 'irredeemable', 'irrational', words of that sort.

I have a musician friend who does something I've never heard anyone else do. She pronounces 'usual' as 'yooz you al' and I noticed the other day that 'cordial' comes out as 'cord ee al'.

She does not have a speech impediment, and she is a very bright, logical person. I have never commented on the oddities but I suspect that she is on a one-man (person?) mission to change the world's habits.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Raedwulf
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 06:04 PM

Grab - Irregardless of wot yew fink, yes it is a word. According to the OED it's early 20thC, no indication that it's Yank (I've heard & seen it used in the UK, & used it myself), & they reckon it's an informal combination of irrespective & regardless. Personally, I've always regarded the "ir-" as an intensifier & use it when I particularly want to emphasize the 'regardless' bit. Which seems to sit pretty well with the OED combo origin!

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Raedwulf
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 06:11 PM

Queer & gay - can't use either word without people hearing the (homo-)sexual meanings. Gay is particularly annoying, given that it was deliberately hijacked by the homosexual community. Queer ('strange or odd'), if largely derogatory in this context, is at least technically accurate, since the majority of homo sapiens is hetero.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: John Hardly
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 06:13 PM

shtrong
shtrength
ekshtreme
ekshtrapolate
shtrohs
shtring
ashtronaut
ashtronomy
unshtrung
Meryl Shtreep
Neil Armshtrong
Lance Armshtrong

arg. I can't take it anymore.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 06:19 PM

I just want "str" to lose the "h" it somehow picked up in the last decade. ??? What's that about?
............................
One phrase - and I know phrases is drifting the thread a bit - that has annoyed me many times is when someone being tackled about failure in the system says "In a perfect world...", meaning "All right, it's wrong, but I'm not going to be arsed about trying to do anything about it." When I was a social worker you could alway spot the ones who'd climb up the greasy pole, because they'd say things like that.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: John Hardly
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 06:33 PM

"What's that about?"

In the same way that I might be drawn to look at an auto accident as I drive by it, I sort of wonder how it started. If you watch American TV I think it is impossible to not eventually notice how many Americans now pronounce "str" as "shtr" (see list above).

I originally thought it came into the culture via pro athlete worship -- it's a very "ebonic" pronunciation. But that just isn't a satisfactory explanation -- too many do it all across the culture. Out miss-pronouncer-in-chief does it -- "it will take true shtrength and curge!".

There are things that slip into a culture unawares -- a fascinating phenomenon. For instance, fashion is almost always traceable to some popular figure -- a movie star, athlete, or other public figure does something a certain way and suddenly everyone is doing it...

...but I remember reading in the late '80s or early '90s that "big hair" had no such precedent. Though you couldn't go to a small town in the US and not find a large number of the girls wearing big hair, there was no popular precedent -- no Farrah, no Dorothy Hammil(sp) setting the trend. It just happened and spread. Spontaneous bad taste.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 07:47 PM

Folk Music.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: akenaton
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 07:49 PM

Politicians these days are always about to "redouble their efforts"

Sounds like bad news for us chickens...Ake

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 07:59 PM

Wiston Churchill used to do that, John - it can be (and was in his case) a kind of way of dealing with a lisp really (a way of avoiding the "s" sound when that's hard to say, so it comes out "th"). It's also quite common in lots of places where they speak English, for example Ireland.

It's an interesting variation, and it's intriguing the way that public language shifts in that kind of way, but I can't see why it should be anything to get annoyed about.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Bill D
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 09:35 PM

shibboleth

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 10:31 PM

And what in the world is the "exact same?" I used to bug my son about that phrase but his English teacher said that I was wrong. If it's the same, can it be pretty much the same? Kinda like almost pregnant.

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: John Hardly
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 10:34 PM

MofH, I'd agree with you for the most part -- sorry though, in this case I think it's developed as a fashion. It's too hand-in-hand with other new ways of speaking.   

For instance, "Valley" made a huge impact in the way youth now speak in America -- from exponential growth of the annoying (understatement of the year) use of "Like", not to compare something, but rather as a verbal "filler" -- a way to flavor the language -- not the dictionary definition of "like" that's important -- instead, an "attitude" one intends to convey when using the word.

And ALL narrative is first person, present tense. ".....so, I'm like climbing the shtairs and he's, like, not, and I go "can't you, like, help me?" and he's like "...whatEVER"

I had a friend's kid in my shop the other day and he was talking about "KAY-bruhs". I could NOT figure out what he was talking about. Turns out "kay-bruh" is "valley" for the snake that the mongoose kills.

Drives me exshtremely crazy.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 10:47 PM

"my bad"...I absolutely abhor that expression!

on the news, today: something about an "immediate need, now" isn't that a bit redundnat?

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 11:08 PM

"GREAT" seems to mean at least average, when referring to folk singers.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 03 Sep 05 - 12:50 AM

Folk Singer - on two counts...

Folk & Singer

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: LadyJean
Date: 03 Sep 05 - 12:58 AM

Calvary is the Episcopal church on the corner of Shady Avenue and Walnut Street. Cavalry are mounted soldiers.
Then there's shit. The most overused noun in American English. As in: "Get that shit off the table before dinner". (And then sterilize it please.) or "I got to get my shit together for the trip". (Can't you make more when you get there?)
Pissed off isn't much better. Get angry for heaven's sake. Nobody will wonder about your bladder.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Amos
Date: 03 Sep 05 - 01:01 AM

Calvary is the name given in the King James version of the Bible for the hill where the Crucifixion occurred.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 03 Sep 05 - 04:42 AM

Libary for library
Umburella for umbrella
Febuary for February

BTW John Hardly, I recommend you avoid listening to Tony Benn!

G..

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Blowzabella
Date: 03 Sep 05 - 05:23 AM

I get really annoyed about the way in which the word 'community' is used nowadays - such as 'community art', 'community musicians', 'in the community', 'the (insert sub-group) community' - worse, though, are the phrases 'community school', 'community hospital' and 'community fire stations' - is it really necessary to elaborate on 'school', hospital' and 'fire station'? Who else are these places serving? A private club?

And 'unique' - as mentioned above - things can't be 'almost' unique or 'quite' unique - they either are unique or they aren't.

Mutter......

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: JennyO
Date: 03 Sep 05 - 05:26 AM

'cordial' comes out as 'cord ee al'

So what's wrong with that?

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 03 Sep 05 - 05:37 AM

Holocaust - using a book title and a word signifying an old sacrificial procedure for the cruel "liquidation" in Nazi times creating a certain distance to the beholder. I prefer the original and sincere German word "Judenvernichtung" = Destroying Jewry.

American orthography - it's kool, insn't it?

This person's army (formerly this man's army)

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 03 Sep 05 - 02:13 PM

LadyJean: "It's better to be pissed off than to be pissed on!"

:)

E

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 03 Sep 05 - 02:38 PM

"Valley" - I take it that that's what those American girls on the telly, who quack every time they open their mouth, are speaking?

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: John Hardly
Date: 03 Sep 05 - 02:40 PM

Like, whatEVER.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Michael
Date: 03 Sep 05 - 05:37 PM

One that like gets on my tits is 'real' as in 'real good'as opposed to 'pretend good'I presume.
Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: GUEST,Barrie Roberts
Date: 04 Sep 05 - 01:16 AM

How about 'I could of' instead of 'I could have'? That always drives me wild, but I've found it in printed UK English back to the 1940s.

As to Raedwulf's comment about 'gay', I'm not sure from where he thinks the homosexual community hijacked it. Two hundred years ago 'gay' as an English adjective could mean 'randy or promiscupos or sexually available': as a verb it meant 'to copulate', and there were odd phrases like 'gaying pole' and 'gaying pintle' meaning the penis. The Victorian prostitute's come-on was 'Are you gay?', meaning 'Are you looking for sex?' and prostitutes were referred to as 'gay women'. I have a Home Office report of about 1910 which refers to prostitutes as 'gay women' and doesn't feel the need to explain or comment. I thought the modern usage by homosexuals arose because they were the last group to preserve the question 'Are you gay?' but gradually let it change its meaning, from 'Are you looking for sex?' to 'Are you homosexual?'

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Peace
Date: 04 Sep 05 - 02:13 AM

This Christmas song says it all.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Raedwulf
Date: 04 Sep 05 - 02:34 PM

Barrie - whatever past meanings it could have (which also included carefree & happy *without* any sexual connotations!), it now means homosexual & nothing else. Try saying "I'm gay" in public & see what reaction you get. If you say you're giggly, no-one will bat an eyelid; if you say you're merry, some people may, if the context is appropriate, think you've been imbibing. Gay, these days, means one thing & one thing only.

As to "hijacking", I'm sure I remember reading somewhere that there was a deliberate movement on the part of the homosexual community to label themselves as gay, in preference to the highly derogatory "queer".

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: GUEST,Sandra
Date: 04 Sep 05 - 03:06 PM

Particular....."at this particular time"...."in this particular place"....

scenario....thank heavens this one seems to be dying out

How are you doing? Good, and you? ....what does this mean? anything? I wish it did, does anyone wait for a real answer, I know this is a polite greeting....but the words do not match the situation....often said to passing strangers.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Sep 05 - 04:34 PM

From The Straight Dope:

Where, when, how, etc., did the good-natured word "gay" pass into the vernacular as a designation for all things homosexual? Can one be homosexual without being gay, and vice versa? --Tom M., Los Angeles

Cecil replies:

Hate to tell you this, Tom, but the "good-natured word 'gay'" has been leading a double life. Although many people believe "gay" simply meant lighthearted or cheerful until it was shanghaied by the preverts, the truth is the word has long had a secondary connotation of sexual licentiousness. As early as 1637 the Oxford English Dictionary gives one meaning as "addicted to social pleasures and dissipations. Often euphemistically: Of loose and immoral life"--whence, presumably, the term "gay blade." In the 1800s the term was used to refer to female prostitutes; to "gay it" meant "to copulate."

By 1935 the word "geycat," meaning a homosexual boy, had found its way into print, giving a clue as to the direction things were starting to go. Sure enough, by 1955 "gay" had acquired its present meaning, as P. Wildeblood notes in Against Law: "Most of the officers had been "gay' ... an American euphemism for homosexual." Actually, gays had probably been using the term among themselves long before.

Ghettoization of the term began to occur in the 60s so that today "gay" in the sense of "homosexual" has chased out all other uses of the word. This is more the result of the squeamish attitude of the straight world than any organized campaign on the part of gays, and in any case it's no big deal; there are plenty of other words that cover the same territory that the non-sexual meanings of "gay" did.

At one time "gay" referred strictly to male homosexuals; female homosexuals were called lesbians. (This distinction may no longer hold true--today one hears lesbians being referred to as gay.) Whether all male homosexuals would consent to be called gay--whether, for the matter, all gays would consent to be called homosexual--is a question I will not presume to answer. I am quite certain, however, that most gays would reject the implication that "gay" necessarily implies promiscuity.

--CECIL ADAMS

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Peace
Date: 04 Sep 05 - 10:35 PM

'at this point in time'
'paradigm'
'think outside the box'

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Sep 05 - 04:05 AM

"reasonably optimisitic" (sorry if this is a repeat)

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: GUEST,Dazbo
Date: 05 Sep 05 - 06:42 AM

Hero - for someone who did something for themselves (i.e. survived cancer)
The increasing replacement of the T sound with the D sound in English (regadda etc.)

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: GUEST,Dáithí Ó Geanainn
Date: 05 Sep 05 - 07:32 AM

Here's a couple more to share...

Refute - doesn't mean deny, but most journalists seem to think so.

Disinterested - means impartial, not "uninterested". Refereees/umpires SHOULD be disinterested in the game.

Very Comprehensive - like "unique", something is either comprehensive or it isn't.

And has anybody in the UK noted the increasing tendency to pronounce "sixth" as "sikth". Not from any speech impediment - even Jeremy Paxman (national TV news presenter) seems to have fallen into this one.

Of course, some would argue that the language is just developing and that words have always changed their meaning over the years. not to mention geographically.

"Momentarily" means either "in a moment" or "for a moment" depending on which side of the Atlantic you're on.

What japes, Pip!
D

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: mandotim
Date: 05 Sep 05 - 07:44 AM

Newsreaders who don't know the difference between 'diffuse' and 'de-fuse'. As in 'Police attempted to diffuse the situation'. How does spreading it out help?
Tim

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 05 Sep 05 - 08:03 AM

Dug up from somewhere in Australian Politics... :-)


"resile from"...

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 05 Sep 05 - 12:46 PM

words....spineless turdy little things, insinuating themselves into all sorts of bloody places where they are devoid of use and meaning. whole flipping computer hard drives full of shitty crappy verbiage!

that's what i call abuse of words

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 05 Sep 05 - 12:58 PM

McGrath of Harlow told us:

"Rebut" means to prove that some allegation is untrue. Just saying it is not true is not a rebuttal, but when it gets described as such people are liable to tricked into thinking that the charge has in fact been rebutted, or disproved, when in fact it has just been denied.

Au contraire, mon frere!

I think you are confusing "rebut" with "refute", which indeed means to disprove. Rebuttal is that phase in a trial or debate in which the party having the burden of proof can come back after the defense case or argument and attempt to shoot holes in the defense. Usually the scope of rebuttal is limited to new matters brought up in the defender's case or argument. The rebuttal may or may not be successful in refuting the defense, but it's rebuttal just the same.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 05 Sep 05 - 01:07 PM

According to Little Hawk:

"shot on sight"

Well, it's not too easy to shoot someone who is not in sight is it? Except with long range artillery, I suppose...

LH, you need to recognize the difference between "on sight" and "in sight".

"Shot on sight" refers to the time or circumstances of shooting--that is, as soon as the target is seen, without argument or delay.

----
Then one of my own pet word-peeves is "epicenter". It's often used as if it means "the center" or "the middle", or even "the source", and that's wrong.

"Epicenter" is a technical word, and means (as we usually see it properly used, with regard to earthquakes) "the spot on the surface of the earth ABOVE the center of the earthquake" (which is somewhere down below).

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 05 Sep 05 - 01:55 PM

words ...don't trust them as far as you can throw them.

next time you see a word, smack it in the mouth

this was how i used to think, i was one sorry dude.

now I have joined a support group and handle my feelings of aggression towards words with more restraint

big al - word abusers anon
the neo conservative ward

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Lighter
Date: 05 Sep 05 - 02:28 PM

Major motion picture

Wonderful world of... (This one's kind of dated - thank God)

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: GUEST,DB
Date: 05 Sep 05 - 02:29 PM

Phrases/words I hate:

'Saving/costing the Earth' - the human race has little power to save or destroy the planet, but we can make it uninhabitable! Then, when we're gone, in a couple of million years, it will recover and carry on as though we never existed. 'Crimes against nature' are crimes against our species - why does no-one seem to understand that?

'Collateral damage' - a noxious term meaning the wanton or negligent slaughter of innocent civilians.

'Centre of Excellence' - Usually means all presentation and no substance. I usually substitute the word 'crap' for 'excellence'.

'Centre' - a word usually meaning 'shop' - somewhere there must be a 'Central Centre Managers' Training Centre' - where, presumably, candidates can be taught how to revolve in circles.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Amos
Date: 05 Sep 05 - 04:27 PM

Tighter and tighter circles...until they disappear....

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Cluin
Date: 05 Sep 05 - 04:36 PM

LSSU's Banned Words List for 2004.

They come out with one every New Year's Day to cover the year just past.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: John P
Date: 06 Sep 05 - 09:42 AM

Totally, as in "Hi Bev, I'm totally at the mall" or "I totally heard him say it"

I know someone who keeps talking about "flushing out the plan"

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Little Hawk
Date: 06 Sep 05 - 11:47 AM

Well said, Uncle DaveO. ;-) You are so right.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: John Hardly
Date: 06 Sep 05 - 12:42 PM

and now "refugee" is not allowed. A perfectly good, perfectly accurate word, but since someone is offended by its use -- somebody who, incidentally, is wrong in their inference about the use of the word -- the PC police have banned its use from the media.

sheesh.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: HuwG
Date: 06 Sep 05 - 02:16 PM

The actual location or focus of an earthquake is the hypocentre. As Uncle_DaveO correctly says, the epicentre is the location on the earth's surface above the hypocentre.

Note that in most cases, the hypocentre and epicentre are not points, but linear zones. (In the case of the Boxing Day tsunami, the earthquake which caused the tsunami resulted from the slip of a fault almost 200 miles long. That didn't stop all UK TV channels from giving us maps of the Indian Ocean with a neat circular bullseye drawn north of Sumatra.)

According to UK tabloids, every newsworthy infectious agent (e.g. necrotising faciitis or MRSA) is a "killer virus", be it bacterium, protozoal parasite or member of the class rickettsiae. Well, I suppose you can fit VIRUS!!! in "end of the world" typeface onto a tabloid newspaper, where "protozoal parasite" would not only crowd the page but also go several feet over the readers' (?) heads.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Peace
Date: 06 Sep 05 - 08:02 PM

"Abuse of words"

Almost anything ever said by George Bush.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Peace
Date: 06 Sep 05 - 08:32 PM

misunderestimate

". . . people that had been trained in some instances to disassemble — that means not tell the truth." —George W. Bush

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Peace
Date: 06 Sep 05 - 08:41 PM

I'd rather have them sacrificing on behalf of our nation than, you know, endless hours of testimony on congressional hill.

And so, in my State of the - my State of the Union - or state - my speech to the nation, whatever you want to call it, speech to the nation - I asked Americans to give 4,000 years - 4,000 hours over the next - the rest of your life - of service to America. That's what I asked - 4,000 hours.

This administration is doing everything we can to end the stalemate in an efficient way. We're making the right decisions to bring the solution to an end.




Folks, I ain't makin' these up.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Sep 05 - 02:20 AM

Nuculur for nuclear--arrggghhh!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: GUEST,Dáithí Ó Geanainn
Date: 07 Sep 05 - 05:33 AM

...and can somebody please tell me what the f*#K "pushing the envelope" actually means?

(or why I put in that superfluous "actually"!?)

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Sep 05 - 06:29 AM

Americans seem to have replaced the simple word "ask" with aks or is it spelled ax...infuriating.
"He turned around and says..then I turned around and I says"
Where does all the turning around end up? The phrase means to take an opposite view from one previously held...grrr

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: HuwG
Date: 07 Sep 05 - 08:34 AM

"When it comes to testing new aircraft or determining maximum performance, pilots like to talk about 'pushing the envelope.' They're talking about a two dimensional model: the bottom is zero altitude, the ground; the left is zero speed; the top is max altitude; and the right, maximum velocity, of course. So, the pilots are pushing that upper-right-hand corner of the envelope. What everybody tries not to dwell on is that that's where the postage gets canceled, too."

— Admiral Rick Hunter, U.S. Navy.

Quoted in skygod.com

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Sep 05 - 09:13 AM

"Words are the coins minted by men with which realisation may be purchased"

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 07 Sep 05 - 10:07 AM

GUEST,DB told us:

'Collateral damage' - a noxious term meaning the wanton or negligent slaughter of innocent civilians.

That is indeed a misuse of words. "Collateral damage" is a technical term, and refers to unintended damage to neighboring infrastructure. It is NOT intended to refer to harm to human beings, although careless speakers and writers sometimes use it that way.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 07 Sep 05 - 10:23 AM

And what I take to be another GUEST ventured:

Americans seem to have replaced the simple word "ask" with aks or is it spelled ax...infuriating.

The pronunciation "ax" for "ask" is neither new nor, as I understand it, American. It's from England, and at least as early as the 18th Century. I don't at the moment have right at hand the language-history book where I learned this gem.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: GUEST,An Imperfect Speaker (US)
Date: 07 Sep 05 - 02:10 PM

Amazing, Awesome's new replacement
Actually, the sentence filler that Basically used to be.
Wallah, when the speaker meant to say Voila!
Addressing all people as Guys.
Substituting There is or There's for There are or There're.
Telling a story about one's experiences in the present tense.
So as in I am so not going to do that.

Does anyone else lose the thread of a conversation that is liberally peppered with Like?

An Imperfect Speaker (US)

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: GUEST,Dáithí Ó Geanainn
Date: 08 Sep 05 - 04:18 AM

Thanks Huwg!

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 08 Sep 05 - 04:41 AM

People who don't know the difference between compared to and compared with!

Drives me nuts when newsreaders do it.....

'How are you doing?' - how am I doing what? Now 'How are you?' and 'What are you doing?' I can cope with.... but I've no idea how I'm doing.

People who use 'ultimate' when they mean penultimate. Contractions like 'gonna, wanna, innit and shudda'. ARGGGHHH!!!!

Sheer bloody laziness.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: s&r
Date: 08 Sep 05 - 04:46 AM

McGrath is correct: rebut and refute have the same meaning. There is a separate legal meaning of rebuttal which could be (but isn't) replaced by refutation. Ref OED

My pet hates are dye-sect for dissect (short i) and one that is creeping in to UK announcers' vocabulary "Courter" for quarter (like the old semi French "kestionaire")

Stu

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 08 Sep 05 - 05:47 AM

People who, on meeting a celebrity, or being on a TV/Radio show, ask for a 'signed autograph'.... Well DUH!!!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Gurney
Date: 08 Sep 05 - 06:09 AM

When a sixteen stone Anzac says "Bikkies for brekky....."
'Chronic' really means 'recurring', not 'bad' or 'serious'.

Pronouncing words like 'grown', 'sewn' 'own', as if there is a 'U' in there. 'Growun', 'Owun phowen'. I'd applaud it if it was for groan.

Last months Readers Digest word quiz had only two words that I'd seen before. New words from the official scrabble dictionary or something. That's the first time in forty years that I've got less than 'excellent.' Must be getting stupid in my old age. Someone, anyway.

I looked up 'Army' in Collins, and it is from the Latin for "The armed forces of a country." So, the other meaning 'A large group of people' must be recent, eh?
Finally, my personal un-favourite. "An horrific....." "An historic....." Drop the bloody Aitch or don't, one or the other!

There, I feel SO much better now!

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Snuffy
Date: 08 Sep 05 - 09:19 AM

Pronouncing words like 'grown', 'sewn' 'own', as if there is a 'U' in there. 'Growun', 'Owun phowen'. I'd applaud it if it was for groan..

That's how Suffolk folk have always spoken. A pint now costs more than two powends at the Rose and Crowen dowen in towen

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: s&r
Date: 09 Sep 05 - 05:15 AM

And when will southern newspapers realise that 'up' up north is pronounced with a short 'u' quite guttural, but cerainly not 'oop'

Stu

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Snuffy
Date: 09 Sep 05 - 09:24 AM

Only words like hoop, book, look and Luke sound like 'oop'. We just say "up North", while southerners say "ap North" or even "ap Norff"

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Hawker
Date: 09 Sep 05 - 10:42 AM

How about 'Guests'
surely if no one invited them they are Gatecrashers!!!!!!!
;0)
Lucy

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Bill D
Date: 09 Sep 05 - 02:50 PM

Nic-uh-RAG-you-uh...that country in Central America, as explained by certain UK TV journalists.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: s&r
Date: 09 Sep 05 - 02:59 PM

Belorus - should be b-yellow-roos

Stu

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Amos
Date: 09 Sep 05 - 03:17 PM

My biggest button in the abuse of language is the refusal to duplicate something said, such as a question, which to my mind is symptomatic of serious aberration in communication skills. Reporter asks President Bush, "Are you satisfied with Robert X's performance?" This is a yes or no question. Answer: " "We are proud of all the people working around the clock....". Do you see an answer to the question in there somewhere? Nope.

This evasiveness and refusal to copy the question asked correctly, answering instead some other imagined question, is true nutsiness.

Obsessive alteration isn't just limited to questions. You tell someone you will meet them at 3 at the corner of Fifth and Main and they copy it as "I might be there sometime this afternoon, or somewhere else, whatever....:". Drives ya nuts, doesn't it? Especially in a working environment where you depend on straight information relay. If you have a boss who does this it is even worse!!

And the reason it drives ya nuts?? Because it IS nuts. It is the essence of nutsiness.

Rant off.

A

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Bill D
Date: 09 Sep 05 - 03:54 PM

oh, yeah....a minor abuse in spelling, from a certified pedant-in-residence.

when attempting to simulate a sneaky or surruptitious laughter, it is NOT "he,he,he"...that is a row of men! When referring to laughter, it is "hee, hee, hee."

thank you...

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: HuwG
Date: 09 Sep 05 - 04:18 PM

A pet hate of mine, which mercifully seems to be less prevalent nowadays; the use of "situation" in PR-speak.

"We have an ongoing fire situation ..." Why can't the mealy-mouthed fool just say "The building's on fire!"

Mix with "Catch-22", and practically every conundrum is described as a "Catch-22 situation". The one thing I can guarantee about people using this cliche is that they have never read Joseph Heller's work.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Bill D
Date: 09 Sep 05 - 08:06 PM

HuwG... it is taught in 'public service' jobs... why say "then the drunk got out of the car and took a swing at me"? when you can elegantly explain that, "..at this point in time, the inebriated individual exited the vehicle and attempted to assault my person"

I assume they "apprehended the alleged perpetrator"

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Bunnahabhain
Date: 09 Sep 05 - 08:32 PM

This evasiveness and refusal to copy the question asked correctly, answering instead some other imagined question,

You've answered your own question. It's simple evaisiveness. Politicians want to answer the question they'd like, rather than the question they actually got. Doesn't work nearly so well if the questioner has the oppotunity and desire to follow up until they get an answer. It's not nutsiness, it's deliberate.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: HuwG
Date: 10 Sep 05 - 11:50 PM

Another pet hate; modern pop stars, apparently inspired by Liam Gallagher. Asked, "What are you doing next ?", they answer, "Well, I'm kind of, like, on tour."

Are you on tour or aren't you? In what dimension are you, "kind of, like" in any state ?