Oxford compiles list of top ten irritating phrases
A top 10 of irritating expressions has been compiled by researchers at Oxford University. 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." 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 http://tinyurl.com/6jsf6p BAY-SICK-LEE - that's the one that gets to me. One day you may read in the newspapers about me strangling someone who uses the word "basically" multiple times in the same sentence.

At the end of the day, isn't this study fairly unique? I personally, at this moment in time, and with all due respect, absolutely agree. Some might say that it's a nightmare, but they shouldn't of. After all it has not been trust on them 24/7 and it's not rocket science! How dare they put a damp squid on this!!

:lol:

Yeah but .... Basically .... It's "we cannot comment on individual cases" that gets up my nose most. Know wha' I meeeeen?

"Modernisation" - when used in the sense of "change for which there is no real justification, but we want it anyway, so we'll pretend that it's modern", sorry fellows I'm totally post-modern so that doesn't count for much with me. "In this day and age" - generally used in a similar manner, to throw out the wisdom of the centuries because of the notion (demonstrably false) that history is progressive...well it used to be ok to teach children to read and write in disciplined environments, but in this day and age we can't cramp their creativity.

Surely incessant use of the term "random" has to top the list?

get irritated hearing aitch pronounced "haitch" throughout the day at work -seems that's what is taught in schools

Or....... often used.......... and almost always incorrectly.. 'incredible'. 'That was an incredible goal'. Should disallow it then. Quote....... The other day I heard a film reviewer praise a director because he created “incredible characters,” which would literally mean unbelievable characters. What the reviewer meant to say, of course, was precisely the opposite: characters so lifelike as to seem like real people. Intensifiers and superlatives tend to get worn down quickly through overuse and become almost meaningless, but it is wise to be aware of their root meanings so that you don’t unintentionally utter absurdities. “Fantastic” means “as in a fantasy” just as “fabulous” means “as in a fable.” A “wonderful” sight should make you pause in wonder (awe). Some of these words are worn down beyond redemption, however. For instance, who now expects a “terrific” sight to terrify? http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/incredible.html <---snip--->