I saw an article a few weeks ago about people’s most despised words. Apparently, ‘whatever’ was voted the most annoying word by about 50% of respondents in a US poll. I don’t have a problem with it, but I have got in trouble for using it when I couldn’t be bothered finishing an argument before (oops – must try harder).
So to follow up my words I like, here are some (or their uses) I don’t:
1) ‘Of’ used incorrectly. It’s should have, or should’ve, people. Not should of. I know it’s a common dislike, but I don’t always have to be different.
2) ‘Gay’ to mean something someone dislikes. It just annoys me.
3) Most business speak. This includes words like ‘synergy’, ‘moving forward’, ‘stakeholders’, ‘strategic development’, and dozens of others that make me twitch.
4) ‘Literally’ when people are exaggerating or using metaphor. You’re literally starving? Someone call World Vision! You literally died of embarrassment? Aaaah! Zombies!
A lot of people I know hate the word ‘moist’ (mind, meet gutter) but I don’t really. It makes me think of cake, and I like cake. Especially moist chocolate cake.
