Researchers at Oxford University recently compiled a list of the top ten most irritating phrases. This list is very useful to business writers because we certainly want to avoid using them, and they illustrate the morphing nature of language.
The researchers who compiled the list monitor the use of phrases in a massive language database, called the Oxford University Corpus, which comprises books, papers, magazines, broadcast, the internet, and other sources.
The database alerts the researchers to new words and phrases, and can tell them which expressions are disappearing, or being overused so much they have become irritating to hear or read.
The top ten most irritating phrases:
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
Are there other phrases you find annoying in business writing?
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I occasionally hear:
“We’re a truly global business in every sense of the word”
Truly global? What? As opposed to only partially global? And in every sense of what word? Global? Oh, like “spherical”? Huh?
So many annoyances; so little time…
“going forward”
“reach out” to someone, as in “We reached out to our stakeholders.”
“stakeholders”
“additionally” (What happened to “and” and “also?”)
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RT @sherrynoik: Top 10 irritating phrases to avoid in your writing: [link to post] — ‘Go forward basis’ RRRRR!
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RT @sherrynoik: Top 10 irritating phrases to avoid in your writing: [link to post] [RT @goodcopybadcopy / @M_Cullen]
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RT @carolbory Top 10 irritating phrases – avoid these in your business letters! [link to post]
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With all due respect I personally believe at this moment in time and 24/7 that a fairly unique person absolutely shouldn’t of known at the end of the day that its a nightmare and its not rocket science.
Thank you for a great post. In my opinion, by far THE most annoying phrase is ‘to bite the bullet’.
I hear it used all the time and it evokes these images of the War of Independence and it usually is being used by city-types who don’t look like they’ve been outdoors recently.
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[link to post] The ten most Irritating Phrases in business communication,couldn’t agree more. Dutch list would be approx the same..
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RT @paulgeurts [link to post] The ten most Irritating Phrases in business communication. Cool study and very recognizable
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I know some irritating business words:
* first and foremost
* first of all
These are already written on the first part of the letter, there’s no need to say “first…”
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RT @UpWrite: Top Ten Irritating Phrases | Business Writing Info [link to post]
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Top Ten Irritating Phrases | Business Writing Info [link to post]
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@M_Cullen You’re welcome! Great post!
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The one that’s currently setting my teeth on edge is:
“It is what it is.”
Those twitter comments are annoying. They add nothing constructive or useful to the comments.
Keldorn,
It’s important to incorporate all discussion, of course, but it can get cluttered with simple retweets.
I’m going to research solutions to separate the Twitter comments (many of which add helpful insights) from direct blog comments. I agree with you that they can clutter direct comments.
Thanks for the feedback.
Agree with Melina…”It is what it is…”
I suspect this masks “I don’t know what it is.”
I hate “FYI” !!!!
I can’t stand “no problem”
You’re doing your job, it should never be a problem to do that
I have posted this link to my Business Writing students at University of MD, University College. Great list. However, I would add: “I’m just saying” and “my bad.”
Being a non-native English writer, I feel trouble writing English. I don’t see any problem in these phrases (Except the truly global one).
I wish I could be a native English speaker.
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RT @M_Cullen Top Ten Irritating Phrases [link to post]
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Have to agree with “going forward” as posted above. What the h#ll else are we going to do? “Go backward”??? Other peeves:
1) Synthesizing new verbs simply by adding the -ize suffix, e.g. “incentivize”.
2) In the past year or so the growing incidence of “authentic” when used to refer to individuals. e.g. “Our company is staffed by authentic employees.”
The one that is bothering me is
“Circle Back” As in, once you have completed this project, circle back and we’ll go over it. Really???? I can’t just “get back to you”? You want me to litterally do a circle dance first!! Hate it!
My personal favorite:
“Please find enclosed…”
Am I being told it is enclosed because they assume I’m blind? Is that why they suggest finding the enclosure? And, is ‘please’ used because they are attempting some sort of nicety after presuming I’m an idiot because I need to be directed to locate some enclosure?
There are a few more irritating phrases out there that I constantly hear:
Not for nothing
Who knew?
ASAP (makes me want to scream!)
Whatever
Alls I know (makes me cringe)
How could I forget…
It is what it is
my fav is “I need it ASAP”
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RT @StorytellersEU: RT @M_Cullen Top Ten Irritating Phrases [link to post]
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‘Touching base’
A former colleague used that expression ALOT and even now, several years on, it makes me cringe.
In writing ‘business’ prose, I think many of us are guilty of repeatedly using staid phrases simply because we’re generally too busy to think more imaginatively about what we’re writing. Many times I have cringed as I write on the fly. In fact, my current bugbear at work is what feels like the over indulged use of ‘Perfect for’ or ‘Ideal for’ when describing products — I don’t wish to detract from the topic of this thread but any alternative suggestions are welcomed!
Oh yes, and ‘exclusive/ly’, is another term used all too freely (I’m guilty of it too).