After reading Lake Superior State University’s annual, tongue-in-cheek wish-list of words (“problematic,” “stakeholder,” “vape”) that should be jettisoned from the Queen’s English, I’m tempted to add on. In fact, I yield to temptation. To wit:
* “Like.” Not the verb, but the preposition that should introduce a functional simile. For example: “The overuse of ‘like’: It, like, drives me crazy.”
* “No problem.” Still not the politely correct response to “thank you.” It’s actually “you’re welcome.” Thank you.
* “Notoriety” is not the same as fame. Any more than notorious means famous.
* Unless a reference to awe-inspiring is intended (think: sunsets and full moons) pass on the empty hyperbole that is “awesome” for the most mundane of contexts. “Those (boxer shorts, Seth Rogen movies, American Idol contestants) are awesome.”
* “Swagger”: Walking around with an air of conceit and insolence used to be rather ill thought of. Now–at least in the athletic arena–it’s a quality seemingly worth courting. As in: “We need our guys to play with more ‘swagger.'” Do we really need to up the ante further on boorish, braggadocious behavior?
* “With all due respect.” When’s the last time this phrase ever preceded anything remotely respectful?
* “All things being equal… .” But they never are.