After last week’s You Tell Me in which we discussed our favorite words, reader John Ochwat had the good sense to suggest this week’s topic. And it’s even better:
Hey, I AM a proctor! I just got home from my job proctoring. Rubber gloves are not involved, I swear.
My least favorite word? I used to be fanatically opposed to “ish” as an abbreviation of issue (of a magazine, I mean). I still think it’s a horrible pseudo-word, but it doesn’t make me want to do violence against the speaker/writer using it.
But my biggest pet peeve is words that are made up: possimistic chillax I know all words were made up at some stage and Shakespeare added a number of words to the language in his plays & sonnents but the people who use the above words are not Shakespeare
Lately my pet peeve words if pore. As in to pore over something. Because pour makes more sense to me, and yet is wrong. Pore is just a hole in your face for a pimple to form up on.
I see a trend here. Our favorite words had more to do with how they rolled off the tongue. A large number of our least favorites seem to have something to do with their meaning.
Going along with that thought, my least favorite is ‘puke’.
I hate words that are just lazy abbreviations of existing words. Examples: “whatev,” “vacay,” “fav,” etc. Grr. The sheer laziness of it all appalls me.
Additionally, my greatest pet peeve of all time is when people speak in chatspeak—out loud. (Instead of saying “lol,” why don’t you just, I don’t know, laugh out loud?)
I have two. The first, is ‘stupid’. When I was a kid, my father used to say my mom was stupid. My sisters and I decided when we grew up, it would be a dirty word in our houses.
The second is really a phrase. “I don’t care.” When someone says that to you, they’re dismissing what you’re saying, and in essence you. So, I don’t like the phrase. I guess ‘whatever’ is a single word in that same vain I don’t like too.
Perhaps I should add that I loath it only when it’s used as an adjective, not a transitive verb. I’m all in favor of appropriations. But only if they aren’t appropriate appropriations. Inappropriate appropriations are ok, I guess.
I need …well clearly, something appropriately therapeutic.
I’m with kidcuisine — Awesome has been ruined for us all by the Valley Girls and Nikelodeon.
But here’s something better — don’t you love the way that language changes by the minute. As a good example, a friend of mine points out that there is no verb that can’t be nouned and no noun that can’t be verbed.
(lol, mortgage was a good one, whoever posted that)
Also, Nathan, I have a new-ish blog and I’m trying to bring it to life by posting about writing-related blogs/posts/sites that, as an aspiring writer, I’ve enjoyed and found useful. Kicked the series off today with, well, you. The post is here; I thought you’d like to know. Who doesn’t want to know when people are talking about them?
Re: “Wow, I don’t know if I can even type it. Growing up we were NOT allowed to use the word…fart”
When I was growing up, I never saw how the word “fart” was spelled – so I thought it was spelled: “faurght.” (I guess I liked a lot of letters in a word when I was a kid, what can I say.)
abc says
Vein.
I get so uncomfortable when people talk about veins.
Linda says
Actually, two words used together – sea change. Overused. Just like its sister – watershed. Ugh. Peace, Linda
elizaw says
Rural.
Whenever I say it, it sounds wrong. Like I’m growling, or slurring. There is no good way to pronounce that word.
Katie Alender says
elizaw, you must not be a 30 Rock fan! “The Rural Juror” is the best movie title of all time. 😉
I’m back to add to my list:
limpid
Nick Travers says
Like
When it’s used as an intensifyer. As in, “it’s like, moist in hear.”
Nick
NickTravers.com
K.C. Shaw says
Hey, I AM a proctor! I just got home from my job proctoring. Rubber gloves are not involved, I swear.
My least favorite word? I used to be fanatically opposed to “ish” as an abbreviation of issue (of a magazine, I mean). I still think it’s a horrible pseudo-word, but it doesn’t make me want to do violence against the speaker/writer using it.
Anonymous says
Rejection
Furious D says
Puce.
Don’t know why, the word just bugs the crap out of me.
Anonymous says
laved- especially in romance novels…yuck!
Oh_bother says
Raging.
Raging fires, raging rivers, raging storms.
Just once, I’d like to read about an indifferent form of nature. That’s actually more frightening when you think about it.
Beatrice Tate says
I agree with elizaw
Rural is hellish.
Anonymous says
supercalifragilisticexpealidocious
hate it hate it hate it
(and so did my word verification, which asked me to spell:
VOMKIZA)
Shell I says
Needles
Innoculation
BLOOD TEST!
Tear
They are words that scare the hell out of me.
But my biggest pet peeve is words that are made up:
possimistic
chillax
I know all words were made up at some stage and Shakespeare added a number of words to the language in his plays & sonnents but the people who use the above words are not Shakespeare
sex scenes at starbucks says
Hey, that’s two for PUCE!
I also hate word verification.
Nikki Hootman says
There’s no specific word I hate, but as a category I despise brand names. Brand names do not belong in novels, songs, or poetry. They just don’t.
For instance, I heard a song the other day which included the word “Rogaine.”
No, no, no, no, NO!!!!!!!
austexgrl says
vulva and..uvula…..!
Di Francis says
Lately my pet peeve words if pore. As in to pore over something. Because pour makes more sense to me, and yet is wrong. Pore is just a hole in your face for a pimple to form up on.
katherinelw says
Bucolic.
It sounds like a dreaded sickness and nothing like the green fields and pastural bliss it’s supposed to conjure.
Sophie W. says
amalgam.
It’s so ugly. Ewwwww.
clindsay says
Yeah, moist is up there for me as a crap word. Also, the words pus and pustule just do me in, seriously. Make me gag instantly.
::: running off to hurl :::
Kara says
Rural
That’s my least favorite word. It’s hard to say drunk or sober.
Anonymous says
Please Nathan,
I live in Cincinnati, home of PROCTER and Gamble. Our economy is bad enough can you choose another word?
My least favorite word is Pittsburg.
Inner Child says
Overdraft – for the obvious reasons. Seriously, is there anybody who likes that word?
Josephine Damian says
Can’t believe nobody guessed the “nuance” line!
Quite the young crowd here, I guess.
It’s from DINER and Paul Rieser (sp?)said the line – he later named his TV production company “Nuance.”
Red Stick Writer: I’ve also heard it pronounced YER – ah – nuss.
Like they’re really fooling anyone?
kidcuisine says
Awesome.
losemymouth says
Orientated. Why the extra syllable?
Delta Dupree says
Slobber.
Kadi Easley says
I see a trend here.
Our favorite words had more to do with how they rolled off the tongue. A large number of our least favorites seem to have something to do with their meaning.
Going along with that thought, my least favorite is ‘puke’.
Michelle says
I hate words that are just lazy abbreviations of existing words. Examples: “whatev,” “vacay,” “fav,” etc. Grr. The sheer laziness of it all appalls me.
Additionally, my greatest pet peeve of all time is when people speak in chatspeak—out loud. (Instead of saying “lol,” why don’t you just, I don’t know, laugh out loud?)
Hope Clark says
Um, I can’t even say it. This word is just too vulgar to me. The four-letter “C” word in crude reference to a woman. Just hurts my ears.
Hope Clark
Anonymous says
Hey Sex Scenes – Check Anonymous 9:57 and you’ll see there are 3 Puces. I puced and rallied early on.
Jeff Allanach says
Facility.
Words are supposed to invoke images. “Facility” makes me picture nothing but someone who can’t choose the right word.
J. M. Sabel says
I have two. The first, is ‘stupid’. When I was a kid, my father used to say my mom was stupid. My sisters and I decided when we grew up, it would be a dirty word in our houses.
The second is really a phrase. “I don’t care.” When someone says that to you, they’re dismissing what you’re saying, and in essence you. So, I don’t like the phrase. I guess ‘whatever’ is a single word in that same vain I don’t like too.
wood duck says
CUNT is offensive. But, I have an aversion for TAMPON. Menstrual blood creeps me out.
Constance says
orientated. It just sounds wrong…
Lynne says
No.
Runner-up: concerns. We have concerns. We are concerned? No! We just *have* concerns. Warning: ‘concerns’ produce seizures.
Anonymous says
“Menstrual blood creeps me out.”
Grow up!
Betty Atkins Dominguez says
I agree with Hope Clark. I never even think of that word because it makes me cringe.
I’m cringing now! Susch a hateful word!
Sarah says
Fungible.
Denise says
Hope, I’m with you. The C word is just obnoxious. So is turgid. I want to direct the poor man to the nearest ER.
I also loathe many ‘new’ words including prezzies and gifties. If you’re over 5yrs old, you should be forbidden from saying either of those words.
Janet Reid says
I’m shocked and dismayed that no one has yet mentioned
appropriate
I loathe it beyond reason.
Janet Reid says
Perhaps I should add that I loath it only when it’s used as an adjective, not a transitive verb. I’m all in favor of appropriations. But only if they aren’t appropriate appropriations. Inappropriate appropriations are ok, I guess.
I need …well clearly, something appropriately therapeutic.
Anonymous says
Ebonics.
Julia says
Either “squat” or “turd”.
wood duck says
Anymore I hate ‘Like’, i.e. it’s like you don’t care. Either I don’t care or I do, but it’s not LIKE I do!
Scott Jones says
I’m with kidcuisine — Awesome has been ruined for us all by the Valley Girls and Nikelodeon.
But here’s something better — don’t you love the way that language changes by the minute. As a good example, a friend of mine points out that there is no verb that can’t be nouned and no noun that can’t be verbed.
Tricia Sanders says
Pustule
It’s so gross!
Jolie says
Bladder. Ha, I’m snickering as I type it!
(lol, mortgage was a good one, whoever posted that)
Also, Nathan, I have a new-ish blog and I’m trying to bring it to life by posting about writing-related blogs/posts/sites that, as an aspiring writer, I’ve enjoyed and found useful. Kicked the series off today with, well, you. The post is here; I thought you’d like to know. Who doesn’t want to know when people are talking about them?
4RunnerMom says
I have two words that I despise: suck and gay. Those two words are so overused by teenagers today.
As a teacher, I can’t tell you how many times I hear “you suck” or “that’s gay.”
It’s so damn annoying!!
Wanda B. Ontheshelves says
Re: “Wow, I don’t know if I can even type it. Growing up we were NOT allowed to use the word…fart”
When I was growing up, I never saw how the word “fart” was spelled – so I thought it was spelled: “faurght.” (I guess I liked a lot of letters in a word when I was a kid, what can I say.)