If you can actually remember, say, Watergate, you’re old enough to have witnessed a lot more than the debut of digital journalism. You’ve also seen your share of linguistic mutation. It happens with all spoken languages–and it happens with all societal change. And it happens to be annoying sometime. Here’s one pundit’s Top 10:
* “Like.” Not the verb–we still like that usage–but the preposition that should introduce a functional simile. For example: “The overuse of ‘like’: It, like, drives me, like, crazy.”
* “No problem.” Still not the politely correct response to “thank you” unless something truly problematic is going on. The correct response is: “You’re welcome.” Thank you.
* “You guys.” No longer gender specific, which is fine–except for that traditional romantic, fine-dining date. “So, how you guys doin’ tonight?”
* “Notoriety.” It’s not the same as fame. Any more than notorious means famous.
* “Awesome.” 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, veggie burgers, Seth Rogan movies) 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 and political arenas–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.” Really, when’s the last time this phrase has ever preceded anything remotely respectful?
* “All things being equal, … .” But they never are.
* “If I were a rich man, … .” If it’s good enough for “Fiddler on the Roof”, then the subjunctive should be mood-inducing for the rest of us.
* “Infer.” Not a synonym for imply. Don’t infer otherwise.
* Bonus: “Cancelled.” As in airline flights. Actually, this common misspelling should be, well, canceled