_ Prof. Jonez _
2008-11-12 03:51:57 UTC
Oxford compiles list of top ten irritating phrases
A top 10 of irritating expressions has been compiled by researchers at
Oxford University.
By Charlotte Bailey
Last Updated: 3:18PM GMT 08 Nov 2008
http://tinyurl.com/6jsf6p
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.
As well as the above expressions, the book's author Jeremy Butterfield
says that many annoyingly over-used expressions actually began as
office lingo, such as 24/7 and "synergy".
Other phrases to irritate people are "literally" and "ironically",
when they are used out of context.
Mr Butterfield said: "We grow tired of anything that is repeated too
often - an anecdote, a joke, a mannerism - and the same seems to
happen with some language."
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
A top 10 of irritating expressions has been compiled by researchers at
Oxford University.
By Charlotte Bailey
Last Updated: 3:18PM GMT 08 Nov 2008
http://tinyurl.com/6jsf6p
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.
As well as the above expressions, the book's author Jeremy Butterfield
says that many annoyingly over-used expressions actually began as
office lingo, such as 24/7 and "synergy".
Other phrases to irritate people are "literally" and "ironically",
when they are used out of context.
Mr Butterfield said: "We grow tired of anything that is repeated too
often - an anecdote, a joke, a mannerism - and the same seems to
happen with some language."
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