# NO!  NO, YOU STUPID TIT!  Where did you get that word?!  STOP USING IT!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-no-you-stupid-tit-where-did-you-get-that-word-stop-using-it/215238>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [November 25, 2003, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-no-you-stupid-tit-where-did-you-get-that-word-stop-using-it/215238 "2003-11-25T19:32:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 5

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [November 26, 2003, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-no-you-stupid-tit-where-did-you-get-that-word-stop-using-it/215238/81 "2003-11-26T22:45:55Z")

</div>

Matchka-YES! YES! YES! I feel so much better now…

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [November 26, 2003, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-no-you-stupid-tit-where-did-you-get-that-word-stop-using-it/215238/82 "2003-11-26T22:49:47Z")

</div>

Matchka-

Irregardless bugs me.  
Nucular makes me want to kill.

YES! YES! YES! I feel so much better now…

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [November 26, 2003, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-no-you-stupid-tit-where-did-you-get-that-word-stop-using-it/215238/83 "2003-11-26T22:55:54Z")

</div>

How about “I couldn’t phantom what he meant”?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-no-you-stupid-tit-where-did-you-get-that-word-stop-using-it/215238/84 "2003-11-26T23:24:42Z")

</div>

Here’s a list of my peeviest peeves:  
[ul][li]“Epitome” means representation, not peak. [/li][li]The whole comprises the parts; the parts compose the whole. Therefore, the whole is NEVER comprised of the parts. [/li][li]The only way one can feel badly is if, say, your fingertips are numb; otherwise one feels bad. [/li][li]“Myriad” is an adjective, not a noun. [/li][li]Red is a different color FROM, not THAN, blue. [/li][li]“Penultimate” means the second to last, not the last. [/li][li]If you ever say “nucular” or “orientate” around me, I’m likely to end up jailed on assault charges.[/ul]Less peevy, but still sometimes cringeworthy, especially if my blood sugar is low:[ul][_]Whence “obligated”? Whatever happened to “obliged”?[/li][li]See above, re: “utilize” instead of “use.”[/li][li]“Begs the question” does not mean what you think it means.[/li][li]Please don’t say “heighth,” or rhyme “length” or “strength” with “Nth.”[/li][li]It’s not “jive,” it’s “jibe.” Look it up if you need to.[/li][_]And don’t get me STARTED on “imply” and “infer.”[/ul]

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Archergal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Archergal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archergal)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-no-you-stupid-tit-where-did-you-get-that-word-stop-using-it/215238/85 "2003-11-27T00:41:00Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by lissener \*  
> Here’s a list of my peeviest peeves:  
> “Epitome” means representation, not peak.

People who use it to mean “peak” are probably thinking of the Merriam Webster second definition: _a typical or **ideal** example_ (emphasis mine.)

> [@](#):
>
> The whole comprises the parts; the parts compose the whole. Therefore, the whole is NEVER comprised of the parts.

Merriam-Webster again: “to be made up of \<a vast installation, comprising fifty buildings.\>” Interestingly, M-W goes on to say:

> [@](#):
>
> [synonyms]COMPOSE, CONSTITUTE \<a misconception as to what comprises a literary generation – William Styron\> \<about 8 percent of our military forces are comprised of women – Jimmy Carter\>  
> usage **Although it has been in use since the late 18th century** , sense 3 is still attacked as wrong. Why it has been singled out is not clear, but until comparatively recent times it was found chiefly in scientific or technical writing rather than belles lettres. Our current evidence shows a slight shift in usage: sense 3 is somewhat more frequent in recent literary use than the earlier senses. You should be aware, however, that if you use sense 3 you may be subject to criticism for doing so, and you may want to choose a safer synonym such as compose or make up. (emphasis mine)

> [@](#):
>
> “Myriad” is an adjective, not a noun.

Actually, it’s both a noun and an adjective.

No arguments with the rest of the list though.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-no-you-stupid-tit-where-did-you-get-that-word-stop-using-it/215238/86 "2003-11-27T01:14:59Z")

</div>

The thing that gets me about mis-chee-vee-us and eck-set-uh-ruh is that so many people use these pronunciations, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them show up in Webster’s.  
I might just explode!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-no-you-stupid-tit-where-did-you-get-that-word-stop-using-it/215238/87 "2003-11-27T01:15:02Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> “Begs the question” does not mean what you think it means.

Nitpick: Well, I think it does mean what _I_ think it means, but I know what you mean. Sorry, I couldn’t resist.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-no-you-stupid-tit-where-did-you-get-that-word-stop-using-it/215238/88 "2003-11-27T01:21:12Z")

</div>

I once took some technical training where the instructor pronounced “delimited” as “deliminated”.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Aholibah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Aholibah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aholibah)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-no-you-stupid-tit-where-did-you-get-that-word-stop-using-it/215238/89 "2003-11-27T01:33:03Z")

</div>

It’s been around a good, long time, and is apparently pretty darn acceptable, just not so much on this side of the pond. Personally, it makes me cringe, but it doesn’t make me suspect imbecility on the part of its user since I know (and am willing to assume that its user knows, although that’s probably wildly optimistic of me) that it’s not a wretched ignorant back-formation like ‘conversate.’

> **[World Wide Words: Orientated versus oriented](http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-ori1.htm)**
>
> Is 'orientated' correct, or should it be 'oriented'?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![urban1a](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e47c2d/32.png) [@urban1a](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/urban1a)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-no-you-stupid-tit-where-did-you-get-that-word-stop-using-it/215238/90 "2003-11-27T04:11:57Z")

</div>

‘on line’, as in ‘I was standing on line …’.  
This has always bugged me. You are NOT standing on line (unless there is a line painted on the ground), you are standing IN LINE.

I think this started in the east, but it’s getting more commonplace.

Bob

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![AmbushBug](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ambushbug/32/4600_2.png) [@AmbushBug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AmbushBug)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-no-you-stupid-tit-where-did-you-get-that-word-stop-using-it/215238/91 "2003-11-27T06:41:00Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by lissener \*  
> **One of my pet peeves is when someone uses “utilize” when “use” is a perfectly good (if more and more underutilized) word.**

Something wrong with **underused**? :dubious:

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-no-you-stupid-tit-where-did-you-get-that-word-stop-using-it/215238/92 "2003-11-27T09:20:12Z")

</div>

use -\> utilize -\> I’m thinking the next one will be “utilizate.” You know, to go with “utilization.”

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Dinaroozie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Dinaroozie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinaroozie)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-no-you-stupid-tit-where-did-you-get-that-word-stop-using-it/215238/93 "2003-11-27T14:21:14Z")

</div>

A guy I know, in an attempt to chat up a girl at a high school dance, told her that she was **ravishable**. I thought that was a fairly good effort.

Also, I intend to use the word ‘utilizate’ as often as possible from now on.

Finally (penultimately, one might say), I should acknowledge that this is fantastic:

> [@](#):
>
> Courtesy of lightingtool:  
> **A young man from out in the country earned a full ride to Harvard. Upon reaching the campus, he became disorientated by the tall buildings and confusing grounds, so he asked a passing senior, “Can you tell me where the library’s at?” The senior responded, in a very haughty tone, “Here at Harvard, we don’t end sentences with prepositions.” The young man responded, "Oh, right, sorry. Can you tell me where the library’s at, asshole?"**

~ Isaac

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-no-you-stupid-tit-where-did-you-get-that-word-stop-using-it/215238/94 "2003-11-27T15:08:44Z")

</div>

I can’t believe no one’s mentioned (either a real Bushism or a SNL-Bushism)…  
Strategery.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![percypercy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8baadc/32.png) [@percypercy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/percypercy)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-no-you-stupid-tit-where-did-you-get-that-word-stop-using-it/215238/95 "2003-11-27T16:08:07Z")

</div>

So you’re going to have a problem with my mother and her lovely arraignments of flowers, right?  
-Lil

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Hosayf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/2acd7d/32.png) [@Hosayf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hosayf)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-no-you-stupid-tit-where-did-you-get-that-word-stop-using-it/215238/96 "2003-11-27T16:45:32Z")

</div>

My US History teacher last year used to always talk about calvary in the Civil War. He was one of the best teachers I’ve ever had, but that really bugged me for some reason.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Matchka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Matchka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Matchka)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-no-you-stupid-tit-where-did-you-get-that-word-stop-using-it/215238/97 "2003-11-27T17:20:19Z")

</div>

Heh…I alwas get this image of a band of horse-mounted soldiers crucifying the wild Indians.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-no-you-stupid-tit-where-did-you-get-that-word-stop-using-it/215238/98 "2003-11-28T01:02:16Z")

</div>

“Its going to be great!”  
“It’s floor is dirty…”  
“Your very rude, you know?”  
“You’re sister is on the phone.”

GAAAHH! “Its” is _genitive_, as in showing possession! “It’s” means “it is”! “Your” means “of you” or “belonging to you”! “You’re” means “you are”!

This has been **dwalin** ’s grammar rant for the day™.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Matchka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Matchka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Matchka)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-no-you-stupid-tit-where-did-you-get-that-word-stop-using-it/215238/99 "2003-11-28T14:51:59Z")

</div>

C’mon, **dwalin** ,

Have a go a: their, they’re & there!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-no-you-stupid-tit-where-did-you-get-that-word-stop-using-it/215238/100 "2003-11-28T15:32:59Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by amarinth \*  
> \*\*Chances are, if there is a need to choose between “me” and “myself” the correct choice word is “me.” Even “I” would be a better stab in the dark than:
> 
> \<snip\>John and myself will take charge.\*\*

In this case, “myself” would not have to be replaced by “me”, but by “I”, right? It’s “_I will take charge_”, so it’s also “_John and I will take charge_”.

Carry on. Don’t mind myself. 🙂

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-no-you-stupid-tit-where-did-you-get-that-word-stop-using-it/215238.md?page=4)

[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-no-you-stupid-tit-where-did-you-get-that-word-stop-using-it/215238.md?page=6)
