Oxford compiles list of top ten irritating phrases

telegraph UK ^ | 10/7/2008 | Charlotte Bailey

[redrunner]

Heading the list was the expression 'at the end of the day', which was followed in second place by the phrase 'fairly unique'.

The tautological statement "I personally" made third place – an expression that BBC Radio 4 presenter John Humphreys has described as "the linguistic equivalent of having chips with rice."

Also making the top 10 is the grammatically incorrect "shouldn't of", instead of "shouldn't have".

The phrases appear in a book called Damp Squid, named after the mistake of confusing a squid with a squib, a type of firework.

The researchers who compiled the list monitor the use of phrases in a database called the Oxford University Corpus, which comprises books, papers, magazines, broadcast, the internet and other sources.

The database alerts them to new words and phrases and can tell them which expressions are disappearing. It also shows how words are being misused.

....

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

[arbee4bush]

Well, to me the most irritating way to start all sentences is the use of the word WELL.

[redrunner]

and you said you hated duplicate threads... too funny...

[mancini]

Shouldn’t of? Shouldn’t HAVE.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

Sweet

[InterceptPoint]

You know, how could “you know” not make anyone’s top 10 list?

[chs68]

Well, I hear what the people at Oxford at saying, and I'm like, "I guess I just want to level the playing field", and they're like, "Dude".

You know what I'm saying?

[Revolting cat!]

On the other hand (another loved phrase), I love it because I can now steal other posters’ entries from the first thread!

[freedomlover]

Whatever.

[Dysart]

A separate page in a series stating, "this page intentionally left blank."

This is off topic, but it's Friday after all: Maroons who are confounded, apparently, by the appropriate use of then vs than. It's not that hard.

[Hegemony Cricket]

I hate “ideal” used in place of “idea”.

[redrunner]

Lauren Caitlin Upton: "I personally believe... that U.S. Americans are unable to do so... because... "Uh... some people out there in our nation don't have maps... "And... uh... I believe that our education, like such as in South Africa and... uh... the Iraq, everywhere, like, such as... "And I believe that they should... "Our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S... uh... "Or, should help South Africa and should help the Iraq and the Asian countries... "So we will be able to build up our future... for our [children]."

[Forgiven_Sinner]

I nominate, “paying for tax cuts”.

A tax cut is not a cost—it’s a benefit for tax payers.

[stevio]

Put me down for that one too.

[CodeToad]

“Change”, “Hope”.

[Sword_of_Gideon]

But where is the single most annoying.... potentially retarded phrase of all...... “My bad”. Seriously, what the heck does that even mean? Of course it goes quite well along side McD’s “I’m lovin it”.

[eleni121]

HOW about “investing in our cities”...now that’s a trick.

[21twelve]

“I’d hit it.”

I mean - that is a phrase I hate.

Others:

Speaking truth to power.

Not guilty.

Words have meaning.

(sorry freepers)

[eleni121]

I despise “work to rule” as much as the commie unionists who say it.

[buridan]

“Try and” instead of “try to” do something. Attempting an act is what is meant, not attempting and then doing it.

[21twelve]

Okay - that’s a new one to me. What does “work to rule” mean?