PEEVES in LANGUAGE ››
Describing yourself as 'OCD' just because you like something a certain way.
Har har! The way I feel about loading the dishwasher is totally analogous to the experiences of someone with a serious and widely misunderstood mental disorder!
— T. from USA | Language | 3.11.2010 | Comments (0)
When people use the words "feminine" or "girly" to describe something that is weak or wimpy.
— shaygo from Providence, RI | Language | 1.13.2010 | Comments (0)
When people say "American" when they mean "White" or "Caucasian."
People do this all the time. A friend of mine had to step out of the room while we were watching a show on TV. She came back and asked what she missed. Her way of asking for clarification was, "Was that the American guy or the Asian?" Both characters were American, most everyone in the show is American. He just happened to be an Asian-American, which threw her off I guess.
Once a teacher asked me what ethnicity I was. I proceeded to tell her that my mother is Mexican and my father is a Pacific Islander. She said, "That's very interesting, because your features are so American." Huh?
— whothegoods from California | Language | 3.3.2010 | Comments (5)
The suffix "-ista"
Oh, GOD, enough already. Fashionista, or worse: recessionista. And then on a commercial I just heard "frugalista."
— jmc from long island city | Language | 1.14.2010 | Comments (1)
People using the word "Bromance"
Me playing video games with my buddies is not "bromance", it is dudes hanging around playing video games. Stop trying to make it more than it is.
— Not a Bro from Texas | Language | 10.3.2009 | Comments (3)
"Whilst"
It means exactly the same thing as "while" but some think it's clever. If what you're saying is so boring that you need to spice it up with "whilst," then just don't say it.
— Karolena from Brooklyn | Language | 12.9.2009 | Comments (1)
People who say "film" instead of "movie" - quit being so damn pretentious!
"Would you like to go see a film? I saw the film The Hangover the other day and it was the best film I've seen all year."
— A Nonnie Mouse from Canada | Language | 8.3.2009 | Comments (3)
Microsoft Word thinking it's smarter than me.
Yes, that IS how you spell "fivefold," no matter what Bill Gates told you. And I don't need your judgmental little squiggly red line making me doubt myself! I'm a professional dammit!
— califia from NYC | Language | 8.28.2009 | Comments (1)
Newcomers or visitors talking about loving "the energy" of New York
— jmc from long island city | Language | 11.2.2009 | Comments (8)
The phrase "mental hygiene".
I hate that this has become an accepted public health term. It always makes me think of this one graphic I saw in a teen health publication of someone flossing himself through the ears. The idea to be marketed here is practices that enforce being not-crazy, not mental images of cleaning the armpits of the mind. Please spare us.
— Diana from Brooklyn, NY | Language | 5.19.2009 | Comments (4)
The word 'hubby' in place of 'husband'
We get it, you're married, middleaged, and don't possess a sense of embarrassment. I hate you. And so does your hubby!
— Bryony from London, England | Language | 5.18.2009 | Comments (4)
"Now more than ever..."
What the hell does that mean anyway?! The phrase pops up in advertisements from everything from cars to juice. We know the economy sucks, but it doesn't make your product any more important or necessary than it was before.
— Acacia from Peoria, IL | Language | 3.14.2009 | Comments (1)
Saying "Gracias" instead of "Thanks"
I understand that "Gracias" is probably the one Spanish word everyone knows and understands without explanation, but seriously, when you use it as the only way to ever express thanks, it's annoying. If it's your native language, that's a different story. Otherwise, say "thanks," or "thank you," or something in English. This peeves me off like nothing else.
— Michelle from Little Rock, Arkansas | Language | 12.27.2008 | Comments (1)
Telling someone you will "see them next year!" right before New Years.
This is especially annoying when you are going to see the person in a day or two.
— Charlene from L.A. | Language | 12.31.2008 | Comments (2)
That popular rhetorical device wherein people ask and answer their own questions.
Hairnette: Do I hate when people answer their own questions?
Hairnette: Yes.
Hairnette: Have I done it myself?
Hairnette: Yes.
— Vagina Jones from Aberdeen, WA | Language | 2.11.2009 | Comments (0)
People using the expressions, "On a scale of 1 to 10, it's [some number higher than 10].", and, "We gotta give 110% out there."
Aside from these things being tired, tired cliches, 10 is as HIGH AS YOU CAN GO. There is no 11, or 15, or 22. 10 is nirvana, 10 is infinity. And if you find you're 'out there' and you can still give 10% more, then you were only giving 90% to begin with.
— Liz from Edinburgh, UK | Language | 10.31.2008 | Comments (1)
The phrase: "24/7/365."
Listen. If you are available 24 hours a day, that's fine. And if you are furthermore available 7 days a week, that's fine, too. I have no problem with the phrase "24/7."
But if you want to emphasize that your 24/7 availability is not contingent on the time of year, then the logic of this particular piece of rhetoric demands that you say you are available "24/7/52". Because, dammit, there are 52 weeks in a year. The only reason you are saying "365" is because it is a more bad-ass way to send this particular piece of rhetoric. "365" sounds better than "52" at the end of "24/7."
But, motherfucker, if you are available 24 hours a day, and if you are available 365 days a year, then I already know how many days a week you are available! You don't need to tell me it's 7! I know it's 7! Just say "24/365." When you include that "7," that redundant 7, motherfucker, you are wasting my exquisitely valuable time.
— Rudolph from Brooklyn | Language | 11.11.2008 | Comments (3)
Newswriting bad habit #1: The phrase "At a time when..."
found in a significant percentage of New York Times articles.
— JJ from SF, CA | Language | 8.19.2009 | Comments (0)
The term "dropping the F-bomb".
— monicaharmonica from Chicago,IL | Language | 3.30.2009 | Comments (0)
"a shock of hair"
Shock of white hair. Shock of curly black hair. I've only come across this phrase in written form, usually in a certain kind of fiction, and always as a rather cheap way to describe a character that's supposed to be interesting. It always interrupts the narrative flow by making me think of someone who's been struck by lightning. I hate it.
— carmen from | Language | 10.7.2008 | Comments (1)
— rebecca from woodbury | Language | 1.5.2009 | Comments (0)
The addition of "2.0" to the end of something to indicate its newness, or as a joke.
That's spoken "two point ohh." It's not new, and it's not funny. "3.7" is original and hilarious, though.
— Biffy from Brooklyn, NY | Language | 9.20.2009 | Comments (0)
Thought that occurs outside the box.
What are the dimensions of this box? How do you know my box is not bigger than yours? I kinda think that so many people are thinking outside the box these days, that the more original thoughts might be occurring inside of it. Like fashion, it might be so out that it's back in again. Whatever the case, I am damn tempted to bomb this box so that never again will I have to hear somebody being praised for thinking outside of it.
— Vagina Jones from aberdeen, washington | Language | 1.12.2009 | Comments (1)
Acronyms that when said orally, contain more syllables than the words they substitute.
WWJD
GW
WWW
— vagina jones from brooklyn, NY | Language | 4.1.2009 | Comments (5)
When you ask how to spell a word and people say "look it up."
— Lauren from NY | Language | 4.7.2009 | Comments (4)
When people say "GAR-bahj" instead of "garbage."
I dislike that.
— Michael from Brooklyn, NY | Language | 12.23.2008 | Comments (3)
"-blank- is the new -blank-"
It continues to astound me how often people use this formula.
— Biffy from Brooklyn, NY | Language | 10.29.2008 | Comments (7)
People asking me to say things in Japanese.
I can speak Japanese and I HATE it when people say, "Oh wow, you can speak Japanese? Say something!!!"
— axbesm_starr from Virginia | Language | 5.31.2009 | Comments (10)
Acres
"Since 1970, almost 50 million acres..."
"Surrounded by 4 acres of..."
What the fuck is an acre?? what am I, a farmer? is it bigger than a football field? deeper than a fathom? how many cubits is that?
— Stuart from | Language | 1.22.2009 | Comments (13)
"(-)s, (-)s, and (-)s, oh my!"
— carmen from | Language | 5.20.2009 | Comments (3)
"Conversate."
Converse, not CONVERSATE
— Debbie from Washington, DC | Language | 6.2.2009 | Comments (1)
— vagina jones from Aberdeen, Washington | Language | 6.14.2009 | Comments (1)
— carrie g from | Language | 10.18.2008 | Comments (4)
The use of the word addicting. It's not a word! You mean "addictive"!
— Wendy from Oakland | Language | 8.22.2009 | Comments (6)
When people say "ignorant" when they mean "rude."
— Erin from New Jersey | Language | 6.5.2009 | Comments (0)
— Tina from San Francisco | Language | 3.8.2009 | Comments (5)
Corporate Words II: Using "solve" as a noun.
Did you know some people use "solve" as a noun? Like, "There are no easy solves on this one." Does this happen in Calgary?
— Stuart from | Language | 3.13.2010 | Comments (0)
"Irregardless."
Despite that 'irregardless' is now listed in the dictionary (because so many idiots insist on using it), IT'S STILL NOT A WORD. UGH!!
— Peeve Me Baby, One More Time from san francisco | Language | 5.9.2009 | Comments (6)
Fear of gender assignment: using a plural general pronoun to refer to a singular specific person.
"I don't like that person because they always leave the toilet seat up." Dude. "They" is a "he"!
— Jill from QuakerBubble, PA | Language | 7.26.2009 | Comments (6)
Corporate Words
"Grow" is not a transitive verb, unless it's referring to horticulture. For some reason, in my office you don't call someone, you "reach out" to them. "Stuart, could you reach out to Glen about this?" Why? Did we have a fight? Did his dad just die? Does Glen have a drinking problem and need an intervention??
— Stuart from Boston | Language | 5.3.2009 | Comments (3)
Using the word "prego" or "preggers" instead of pregnant.
— Jrapmb from | Language | 3.29.2009 | Comments (7)
