Let's extinguish the word...

[RP]

Originally Posted by guitargabor

"Honestly"

Or alternately, "If I'm being honest."

[Jim Owen]

Sadly, I have graded thousands of freshman themes in my career. I’m so tired of “in my personal opinion” that I scream each time I read it. How can your opinion not be yours? How can it not be personal? And if it’s your paper, isn’t it your opinion? Why tell me that it is?

I’m also tired of the adverb “hopefully” being misused. And most things described as “unbelievable” aren’t.

[RP]

Originally Posted by Jim Owen

Sadly, I have graded thousands of freshman themes in my career. I’m so tired of “in my personal opinion” that I scream each time I read it. How can your opinion not be yours? How can it not be personal? And if it’s your paper, isn’t it your opinion? Why tell me that it is?

I’m also tired of the adverb “hopefully” being misused. And most things described as “unbelievable” aren’t.

Just curious if you see "like" being used as much in students' writing as you probably hear "like" from students when they speak??? Specifically, I'm talking about the use of the word "like" as a conversation filler and not one of the word's appropriate uses...

[J Patrick]

...limiting ones vocabulary is....illogical..

[FingahPickah]

What bothers me more:
I can think of a few words that have become common-place and "acceptable" that were absolutely unacceptable to most audiences years ago.

I still cringe when I hear how often (phonetic spelling s-u-x) is used by kids and adults alike. Not a new word... but was once (in my life-time) considered as profane as the word it rhymes with...

And... what does the annoying exclamation "Shut the front door" conjure?

I'm no Puritan but ... I'd rather hear "awesome", "totally"... etc.

[gibpicker]

"You've got this" is fingernails on a chalkboard.

[Jim Owen]

Originally Posted by RP

Just curious if you see "like" being used as much in students' writing as you probably hear "like" from students when they speak??? Specifically, I'm talking about the use of the word "like" as a conversation filler and not one of the word's appropriate uses...

Hi Randy,
Fortunately, no. But I do see “like” being used as an adverb all the time. And when I tell students that “like” is an adjective, they look as if I were speaking a foreign language.

[AmericanEagle]

I find that most people who reply “it’s all good” don’t really mean it.

[ChrisE]

One word I hate is “ubiquitous.”

It’s everywhere.

[hairpuller]

Originally Posted by Jim Owen

Sadly, I have graded thousands of freshman themes in my career. I’m so tired of “in my personal opinion” that I scream each time I read it. How can your opinion not be yours? How can it not be personal? And if it’s your paper, isn’t it your opinion? Why tell me that it is?

I’m also tired of the adverb “hopefully” being misused. And most things described as “unbelievable” aren’t.

Try correcting fifth grade essays that end with....wait for it....The End.

I always thank them for letting me know their paper has ended.

scott

[frankmcr]

Originally Posted by hairpuller

Try correcting fifth grade essays that end with....wait for it....The End.

I always thank them for letting me know their paper has ended.

scott

Do they begin with "An Essay By _______"?

[hairpuller]

Originally Posted by frankmcr

Do they begin with "An Essay By _______"?

Thankfully they’ve yet to learn that one. A bit highbrow for 11-year-olds!

Scott

[Jim Owen]

Originally Posted by hairpuller

Try correcting fifth grade essays that end with....wait for it....The End.

I always thank them for letting me know their paper has ended.

scott

I’d pull my hair, too.

[PHJim]

One of my mother's pet peeves was folks who use "less" and "fewer" interchangeably.

I've noticed that, "Come with John and I," is quite common.

[Cabarone]

Originally Posted by Haasome

inflammable

"Flammable...inflammable...noninflammable. Why are there three? Either it flams or it doesn't flam."-George Carlin