Comments for Banned for Life

Comment on Wretched turn of phrase by Nancy Painter

Nancy Painter — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 05:23:45 +0000

This falls into the same category as “was found missing.” How do you find someone or something if they’re missing? This is a sloppy shortening of “was found to be missing” and it sounds silly.

Comment on Back story on Banned for Life by Nancy Painter

Nancy Painter — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 05:19:10 +0000

I hear one of our local traffic newscasters saying almost daily, “That accident at (location) is still going on, and traffic is backed up to …”

The accident is still going on? The vehicles are still moving and crashing? The resulting traffic jams are probably still in existence, but I doubt the accident is still happening.

Comment on Post your ‘Banned’ nominations here by Davidka

Davidka — Sat, 26 May 2012 21:58:58 +0000

“End result!” Can’t anyone refer to a result rather than an end result anymore? Doesn’t the grating term mean the same as result unless one is trying to distinguish between interim results and final results?

“Appalled!” Really? Does seeing something you dislike or disagree with really make you turn pale?

“Literally” when you don’t really mean literally. E.g., I was literally appalled at the end result. Grounds for capital punishment.

“Apposite.” The problem is that this word, meaning the same, is the opposite of an antonym: “opposite.” Especially misused by lawyers. Even worse when used with negatives and double negatives, e.g. (and I have seen this repeatedly): “Case A is not inapposite to Case B.” You have to count the negatives to figure out what is being said. Why not just say, “Case A is the same as Case B?”

Comment on Post your ‘Banned’ nominations here by Val

Val — Sat, 26 May 2012 09:50:53 +0000

In reply to Frank Moorman. I'm also miffed about the weather prediction of "old-fashioned rain" as used to indicate precipitation without severe thunderstorm properties such as hail or tornados. I live in a drought-stricken area, so any rain is welcome, but it need not be old-fashioned.

Comment on Post your ‘Banned’ nominations here by Sandra

Sandra — Fri, 25 May 2012 21:25:55 +0000

Skill set. Enough! It sounds like swingset, or tool set, or mindset, or skill saw. Employees used to have skills, or abilities, or experience, or potential, or the ability to adapt quickly, or use keen reasoning. They needed to be able to use “x” software and perform “y” tasks, or even to be a fast learner. Apparently, all one needs these days is the right “skill set.” Right. Is there a compendium somewhere listing what those “sets” are called, and which skills they include? If you can’t desribe what you want, perhaps you need a …..pill set. Argh.

Comment on Post your ‘Banned’ nominations here by Michael

Michael — Fri, 25 May 2012 16:00:43 +0000

“Texted.”

I don’t think I have to explain.

Michael

Comment on Post your ‘Banned’ nominations here by Mary

Mary — Fri, 25 May 2012 15:35:39 +0000

“Staycation.” I loathe this term…it embodies everything I despise about the ratings-grubbing media (and I don’t hate them overall, just useless crap like this). It’s time off from work when you stay at home, people!

Comment on Post your ‘Banned’ nominations here by Dawn

Dawn — Fri, 25 May 2012 15:09:09 +0000

BRING!!!!! Has everyone forgotten the word “take”? It’s really not that hard. Very much like “come” and “go” or “to” and “from” You “bring” something in; you “take” something out. I’ve been waiting YEARS to say that. whew

Comment on Post your ‘Banned’ nominations here by Grant

Grant — Fri, 25 May 2012 14:23:22 +0000

Awesome. Like that is the, like, worst word ever. Like, I like, know everbody like, uses it to death. Like, stop it, like, already.

Comment on Post your ‘Banned’ nominations here by Beth Corcora

Beth Corcora — Fri, 25 May 2012 13:17:15 +0000

At the end of the day should only be used to describe sunsets. It’s annoying when people throw it in randomly instead of just stating their point, such as: “At the end of the day, I think you’ll find that I’m just a self-centered blowhard who likes to talk, just to hear the sound of my own voice.”