Like, So Anyway, Whatever Dude...It Is What It Is, You Know

Perhaps you're wondering about the title of today's post? No worries; it's all good; like, I think the title is so awesome...no, make that phenomenal! Irregardless, let me be clear about something!

Well, if you haven't clicked out of this post yet, I am obviously being totally annoying and most days, I don't speak, or write, like this! That said, last week I was reading about Marist Poll of terms "most annoying in conversation" according to Americans surveyed. If you aren't familiar with the results, you can go here and read more. Beyond the terms that appear in their study, I have listed some additional words that my clients have told me they don't like to say, or hear; feel free to add your own most annoying word to the list.

From the Marist Poll of Most Annoying in Conversation, the words include: "whatever; you know, it is what it is; anyway; at the end of the day." Do you say these words?

From my clients, here's a list of some terms I've compiled through the year of words they'd rather not hear, or say, especially in a professional interview or business meeting:

1. Be that as it may; that being said; that said
2. To be quite honest
3. To make a long story short
4. No brainer
5. Awesome
6. Awesome dude
7. Dude
8. No worries
9. It's all good
10. Sup
11. Irregardless
12. Delish (for delicious)
13. Fab (for fabulous)
14. Phenomenal
15. Bottom line (yikes, I say this a lot!)
16. Clearly
17. Talk to me
18. Um
19. Like
20. Look
21. Etc.
22. So forth and so on
23. and such
24. heith for height
25. liberry for library
26. moist
27. sodie; sodie pop
28. young folks
29. youngsters
30. folks (when addressing an audience)
31. supposably for supposedly
32. are you gettin' this?
33. sucks; this sucks; that sucks
34. So
35. and so
36. Altheimers for Alzheimer's

What word or words do you find most annoying in conversation, especially at a job interview or professional networking event?  

cross-posted at billiesucherblog

Comments

[Sital]

37. It wasn't my fault
38. Yes, but....
39. Haven't we met in a past life??

[Melissa]

There's a few on that list that I use a lot...

I agree with #36, though, only since I used to work for a local chapter of the Alzheimer's Association early in my career.

I do have another suggestion to add:

40. Anything that a person repeats again and again (i.e. I had great co-workers, my bosses were great, this is a great opportunity)

[Adriana]

40. You Know what I'm saying?..

[Maureen McCann]

Oh what a great post! #11 and #38 are the ones that sit quietly on my last nerve until I hear them. At which point I go sideways.

Two more to add:

41. Anyways; if it must be said use "anyway" (singular) please
42. "The fact of the matter is..."(I hear this from lawyers and judges often)

[billiesucher]

Sital ~ love your additions ~ #39 makes me cringe when I hear it! Aggggggggggh!

Melissa ~ yes, yes, very good point you make about repeated usage of a single word.

Adriana ~ how about that....that phrase is what my client said to add to the list, along with another which I'll add as

43. surreal

Maureen - yes, yes, yes -- I hear "anyways" all the time.

To all, many thanks for your "totally awesome" and "fab" contributions! :)

~ Billie

[Timt]

I'm beginning to get tired of the overuse of the word "obviously." I watched the end of game interview with Alex Rodriguez after the Yanks won their series...he used it at least three times within a minute.

[Scott Woodard]

How about, "I'm a people person;" and the use of the "Royal We" when referring to an individual effort. As in, "when we were at ACME Corp., we developed a new sales territory that..."

~ Scott

[billiesucher]

Timt ~ good one...that's also what Melissa was saying in her post above.

Scott ~ I hear many candidates say "I'm a people person"...and "Royal We"...that's also good addition.

Thanks to both of you for sharing your thoughts!
Billie Sucher

[Lisa E.]

Nuculer for nuclear.

[Marsha]

Everyone is overlooking a biggie -- "At the end of the day..."
Argh!

[Sital]

44. what Beyonce said was much better that what you just said..

[billiesucher]

Lisa E. ~ that word definitely gets mispronounced!

Marsha ~ agreed ~ that is one of the terms also referenced in the poll.

Thank you for your comments!
Billie Sucher

[Kathy]

Here's one - "that's a whole nother story" - for "another story".

[Aaron]

How about: I know, right?

This isn't Legally Blonde or Clueless!

[CC conklin]

When I hear the words "trust me" i stop trusting

[CharlieB]

"I know." No, you obviously don't know, or I wouldn't be telling you. If I'm trying to explain myself to someone, hearing "I know" over and over again is only going to irritate me more and make me feel like you're not actually listening to what I'm saying.

And my favorite, which I hear from my assistant all the time: "Oh! I completely forgot!" or "Wait...what did you want me to do again?"

Ugh. And these are professionals?

[billiesucher]

Sital ~ 44. I am not at all familiar with this....I am going to Google it!:)

Kathy -- nice one! I do hear that quite a bit, too.

Aaron ~ how true!

CC Conklin ~ hadn't heard this one in a while....I seriously pause, though, when it's said.

CharlieB ~ your "I know" example made me chuckle, as did your others!:)

Thanks everyone!
- Billie Sucher

[Steve C]

How about "Aks a question" instead of "Ask a question"

[Yancey Thomas]

Please don't forget what I believe has become the most overworked and annoying word in the present English language....
"guy","guys". At every Bistro or restaurant regardless of gender,race,age,culture,etc. everyone is greeted by a hostess or wait person as "a guy". How are you "guys" Back to you, "guys". Every "guy" on our team.

[MR]

Align

Circle back

Touch base

Strategize

Flesh out

[billiesucher]

Steve -- that "aks" -- just heard that last week.

Yancey -- I am guilty of saying "guys" -- I will pay more attention.

MR -- excellent contributions...the circle back one especially.

Your additions are appreciated!Thank you!
- Billie Sucher

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=788988509]

Thank you in advance

[john larson]

my all time favorite: these ones. as in, I like these ones. it's these! as in, i like these.

[Loren]

.."I was just discussing this earlier"... who cares? saying this is a waste of time. Yet I have caught myself saying this - I think wandering thoughts in the back of your head accidently slip down to the tongue

[Suresh]

How about "revert back" when actually they mean "get back"?