# English Words that Nobody Should Use **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 9, 2005, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-that-nobody-should-use/293606 "2005-03-09T01:23:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-that-nobody-should-use/293606/41 "2005-03-09T18:39:12Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#): > > Comptroller- if you intend to say controller, say it. Comptroller is a ridiculous word. Look dude… I realize that [William Donald Schaefer](http://www.comp.state.md.us/) is a bit irritating, but he _is_ legally elected… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-that-nobody-should-use/293606/42 "2005-03-09T18:49:47Z")
No one uses the word “rollicking” outside of advertising. That and “hilarious.” ---
**Author:** ![Cranky\_Hermit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Cranky\_Hermit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cranky_Hermit)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-that-nobody-should-use/293606/43 "2005-03-09T18:59:30Z")
Another vote for orientate. ---
**Author:** ![Millit\_the\_Frail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@Millit\_the\_Frail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Millit_the_Frail)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-that-nobody-should-use/293606/44 "2005-03-09T19:28:38Z")
“Decimate.” Nobody uses it correctly, and everyone defends its use as a substitution for “annihilate.” Unless you are talking about something that can be quantified (in this case, 10 percent of this thing _can be_ eliminated) and you really mean the “deci-” part, let’s just put the word to rest. ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-that-nobody-should-use/293606/45 "2005-03-09T20:27:32Z")
Anyone else bugged by ‘grow’ used transitively, eg ‘to grow a business’? ‘Reify’ is a word that foreign language social “scientists” love to chuck in all over their outpourings. ---
**Author:** ![the\_Lady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bb73d2/32.png) [@the\_Lady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_Lady)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-that-nobody-should-use/293606/46 "2005-03-09T20:32:56Z")
Empowered. Empowering. Empowers. and any other possible ending involving the word “empower” ---
**Author:** ![moonstarssun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@moonstarssun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moonstarssun)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-that-nobody-should-use/293606/47 "2005-03-09T22:49:48Z")
Unique, especially when it’s modified to “very unique,” “the most unique,” “kind of unique,” etc. ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-that-nobody-should-use/293606/48 "2005-03-09T23:10:41Z")
> [@moonstarssun](#): > > Unique, especially when it’s modified to “very unique,” “the most unique,” “kind of unique,” etc. Now might be an apt time to bring up **TellMeI’mNotCrazy** ’s “completely superfluous”! ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-that-nobody-should-use/293606/49 "2005-03-10T00:26:33Z")
> [@Kythereia](#): > > “like” > > I have no problem when it’s used correctly in a sentence. Fine by me, everything’s hunkydorky and peachy-keen. > > When people use it, like, all the time, like: “Like, then I was going to the store, like, for some cigarettes, like, yeah…” > > Arrrrrrrgh! :smack: And its corollary, “all”. "So I’m all…and then he’s all… ---
**Author:** ![LindyHopper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@LindyHopper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LindyHopper)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-that-nobody-should-use/293606/50 "2005-03-10T00:29:39Z")
> [@Merhouse](#): > > I can be quiet no longer. I have to say it. > > SURREAL > > I don’t have a clue what my problem with the word is, but, uhm, YUK. Well, I know what _my_ problem with it is. It’s that it’s almost always misused. Hint to dipsticks: it’s not just a synonym for “weird”. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-that-nobody-should-use/293606/51 "2005-03-10T00:46:51Z")
I’ve been trying (in most cases , unsuccessfully) to bring back disused words that I like. Most of them are from the 19th century, and I am cheered when an old word makes a comeback…so here…please try to use these words…maybe they will become part of modern American English: -blatherskite -plug-ugly -whilst -smite -forsooth -dandy -lachrymose -indubitable There, give em’ a try, you will like them! ---
**Author:** ![Flamsterette\_X](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/41988e/32.png) [@Flamsterette\_X](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flamsterette_X)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-that-nobody-should-use/293606/52 "2005-03-10T00:51:05Z")
> [@yBeayf](#): > > Heh. Try reading some of the Greek Church Fathers – it’s a well-defined concept in Eastern Christian thought. It also reminds me of my now ex-boyfriend… not to mention a school survey that my parents and I had to fill out when I was in Grade 9. The word should be shot. ---
**Author:** ![Merhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Merhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merhouse)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-that-nobody-should-use/293606/53 "2005-03-10T03:30:08Z")
> [@LindyHopper](#): > > Well, I know what _my_ problem with it is. It’s that it’s almost always misused. Hint to dipsticks: it’s not just a synonym for “weird”. Come to think of it, maybe that **is** my problem with it. Thanks 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Large\_Marge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/50afbb/32.png) [@Large\_Marge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Large_Marge)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-that-nobody-should-use/293606/54 "2005-03-10T06:22:16Z")
**supposably** (it’s not a word!) **Some 1,500 people** (what’s wrong with “about”?) **utilitze** (why not “use”?) and … When people say “anxious” when they mean “eager.” That makes me insane. ---
**Author:** ![j\_sum1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8baadc/32.png) [@j\_sum1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j_sum1)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-that-nobody-should-use/293606/55 "2005-03-10T07:33:36Z")
**crispy**! The word is “crisp”. Take note advertisers, it only takes one syllable to describe biting celery. ---
**Author:** ![Dancer\_Flight](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dancer_flight/32/7601_2.png) [@Dancer\_Flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dancer_Flight)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-that-nobody-should-use/293606/56 "2005-03-10T07:40:19Z")
Located should be defenestrated, especially when used in the following abominable construction: “The vending machines are located in the next room.” WTF is wrong with: “The vending machines are in the next room?” For that matter, even in its proper use, found often works better: “The lost children were located.” vs. “The lost children were found.” “We found the mittens.” vs. “We located the mittens.”… -DF ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-that-nobody-should-use/293606/57 "2005-03-10T07:45:57Z")
> [@Dancer\_Flight](#): > > For that matter, even in its proper use, found often works better Hong Kong people have an obsession with ‘found’ - in the passive of course (another obsession). A typical memo might begin: “It was _found_ that three sets of televisions had been _lost_ from the warrehouse.” Keeps me in work, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Dragoness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c0e974/32.png) [@Dragoness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragoness)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-that-nobody-should-use/293606/58 "2005-03-10T07:53:43Z")
> [@j\_sum1](#): > > **crispy**! > The word is “crisp”. Take note advertisers, it only takes one syllable to describe biting celery. You see, I have always felt that “crisp” and “crispy” were semantically distinct. For me, cold, refreshing, natural things are crisp. Celery is crisp. Winter mornings are crisp. Crispy things, on the other hand, are usually processed and fake and far less pleasant. Potato chips and deep-fried things and food that comes in bags marked “low-carb!” are crispy. I find the distinction useful. Diachronic, conflate, and discourse are words that have very little excuse for being. Clarity is the first victim of academic writing, and it pains me. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-that-nobody-should-use/293606/59 "2005-03-10T08:25:39Z")
“Executive produced” by so-and-so drives me around the frickin’ bend! You may be the executive producer, but you don’t “executive produce” anything! Sheesh! Next we’ll be hearing about what kind of job Dick Cheney is doing “Vice-Presidenting” the country! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-that-nobody-should-use/293606/60 "2005-03-10T08:38:45Z")
> [@Starving Artist](#): > > Sheesh! Next we’ll be hearing about what kind of job Dick Cheney is doing “Vice-Presidenting” the country! Oi! **Starvers**. No winding-up of liberals on MY thread! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-that-nobody-should-use/293606.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-that-nobody-should-use/293606.md?page=4)