# Verbal crutches I hate **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 25, 2003, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-crutches-i-hate/171151 "2003-04-25T17:26:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![mrsface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a9adbd/32.png) [@mrsface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrsface)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-crutches-i-hate/171151/41 "2003-04-26T03:21:01Z")
Here’s an old fashioned one that’s still crops up in Britain among people trying to sound superior: “as it were” It’s used to modify statements that don’t need modifying - eg “I opened the window to let in some fresh air, as it were.” Bloody silly ---
**Author:** ![brianmelendez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/65b543/32.png) [@brianmelendez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianmelendez)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-crutches-i-hate/171151/42 "2003-04-26T04:08:22Z")
**in the process of** : A consistently worthless phrase, which almost always adds four words without adding any substance, and whose omssion will almost always improve the sentence without sacrificing any meaning. I hear it most often in oral reports from committees that have accomplished very little but want to convey the illusion of action: “We are in the process of getting the project going . . . ,” “We are in the process of revising the bylaws . . . .” I seldom see it in print, but there are examples: “A legal source told CNN that Rodham had been paid $400,000 for his work in both cases and that most of it had been returned. Some of the money was in the process of being returned, the source said.” CNN, [“New Controversy Emerges in Clinton Pardons,”](http://www.cnn.com/2001/ALLPOLITICS/02/21/clinton.pardon.03/index.html) 22 Feb. 2001. Either the money is being returned, or it isn’t, but if it isn’t then saying that “the money was in the process of being returned” obscures the evasion. **at all** : Service-industry employees have in recent years been tacking this expression onto almost any question addressed to the customer: “Do you want fries with that?” has become, “Do you want fries with that at all?” I suppose that the unmitigated question seems somehow impolite by being so direct, so the server softens the question’s impact by padding its backside with this surplusage. The same phenomenon occurs with the word _today_, even when the inquiry cannot reasonably be referencing any other day: “How does your food taste?” becomes, “How is your food tasting today?” **unclear** : My latest pet peeve is the common journalistic misuse of _unclear_ when the writer really means _unknown_. For example: [ul][li]“It wasn’t immediately clear whether the couple had attorneys in Utah.” Associated Press, [“Police: Sitter Killed Toddler Because He Soiled Pants,”](http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/07/12/toddler.death.ap/index.html) [CNN.com](http://CNN.com), 12 July 2002.[/li] [li]“It was not immediately clear how many passengers were aboard the cruise, which departed Miami on Friday afternoon.” Associated Press, [“Another Sick Ship Returns to Port,”](http://www.cnn.com/2002/TRAVEL/12/02/sick.cruise.carnival.ap/index.html) [CNN.com](http://CNN.com), 2 Dec. 2002. (But later in the same article: “It could not be immediately determined if the illness is the same Norwalk-type virus that has plagued other cruise ships in recent weeks . . . .”).[/li] “It was unclear how House officials will keep track of everyone who grabbed a slice of pizza from a table full of food.” Associated Press, [“House Weakens Ethics Rules,”](http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/01/07/weakened.ethics.ap/index.html) [CNN.com](http://CNN.com), 7 Jan. 2003.[/ul]The facts are _unclear_ only if the journalist is getting conflicting or ambiguous information, in which case the story ought to spell out the conflict or ambiguity and identify its source or sources, so that the reader can weigh the evidence. The facts are _unknown_ or _undetermined_—not _unclear_—if the journalist has asked the question and hasn’t gotten an answer, or simply hasn’t bothered asking the right question. Like _in the process of_, _unclear_ is a sloppy way of conveying the illusion of action when very little has really been accomplished. ---
**Author:** ![CousinMikesWheelbarrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@CousinMikesWheelbarrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CousinMikesWheelbarrow)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-crutches-i-hate/171151/43 "2003-04-26T05:17:59Z")
“It’s been real.” ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-crutches-i-hate/171151/44 "2003-04-26T05:30:17Z")
“To tell you the truth” and “to be totally honest with you” and “to be frank”-- why, were you lying to me before? Well, were you? As a teacher, I hate hate hate **WHATEVER.** When a kid says that to me as a blow-off, it’s like red to a bull. Also, the sarcastic “WOW” that they say when they are getting called on the carpet for something and want to make it seem like I (or whomever is talking to them) is overreacting. ---
**Author:** ![green\_bladder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@green\_bladder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/green_bladder)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-crutches-i-hate/171151/45 "2003-04-26T05:59:29Z")
If I like hear the word like like one more time, like I’m totally like gonna beat you into like a pulp. Hmm, and I’d also pick \*\* my bad \*\* as one those phrases that totally piss the insane crap outta me. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-crutches-i-hate/171151/46 "2003-04-26T06:00:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dissonance \* > \*\*“Not un-{fill in the blank}.” \*\* Amen to that. Some grammar book I had for English Comp (Strunk and White, maybe? It’s been too long.) had the perfect antidote for that little affectation: “The not un-black dog chased the not un-white rabbit under a not un-clear sky.” Any time I’m tempted to obfuscate something with that technique, that sentence pops into my head and dissuades me. DD ---
**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:** [April 26, 2003, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-crutches-i-hate/171151/47 "2003-04-26T07:49:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rubystreak \* > \*\*As a teacher, I hate hate hate > > **WHATEVER.** > > When a kid says that to me as a blow-off, it’s like red to a bull. > \*\* Wow 😛 ---
**Author:** ![ageless6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@ageless6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ageless6)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-crutches-i-hate/171151/48 "2003-04-26T09:31:59Z")
Tippecanoe and Tyler too–it seems everyone is using that phrase at least 10 times a day. I’m telling you, the next person I hear say it, I’m going to challenge to a duel. If I mention it to anyone they tell me it’s all in my head. Well, DUH! (That’s a word I just made up-it means,“Of course it’s all in my head, that’s where my ears are, dolt”)! I think I’ll just say “DUH” to everything anyone says to me from now on. Then we’ll see who sounds stupid! ---
**Author:** ![ski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@ski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ski)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-crutches-i-hate/171151/49 "2003-04-26T13:41:18Z")
Around my office the latest thing the bosses seem to like to say in a staff meeting is some variation of “We can’t get there from here.” Or “Can we get there from here?” Or “How do we get there from here?” Oh this seems inane to me. It’s only been the last couple of months, I have no idea what started it. How about “How do we do it?” ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-crutches-i-hate/171151/50 "2003-04-26T13:50:13Z")
_No question about it_. I hate it. And I watch baseball, and **every time** they interview anyone connected with baseball, they’ll say _no question about it_. Every stinkin’ time! Often, they’ll say it 4 or 5 times. ---
**Author:** ![Arcana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aca169/32.png) [@Arcana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arcana)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-crutches-i-hate/171151/51 "2003-04-26T16:10:55Z")
“Yo” “Like” “Y’know?” all sound, to my ear, like the speaker is saying “duh,” and I know immediately that I’m dealing with a mental midget. “Don’t hate da player, hate da game.” Repulsive \ ---
**Author:** ![DougAB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@DougAB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougAB)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-crutches-i-hate/171151/52 "2003-04-26T19:20:59Z")
Tippecanoe and Tyler too? Is that a joke? I’ve never even heard of it before. ---
**Author:** ![mrsface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a9adbd/32.png) [@mrsface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrsface)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-crutches-i-hate/171151/53 "2003-04-26T22:15:40Z")
er, “My Bad” ??? Mentioned by several people but I’ve never heard it. Perhaps I’m too old or English. How is it used? ---
**Author:** ![brianmelendez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/65b543/32.png) [@brianmelendez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianmelendez)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-crutches-i-hate/171151/54 "2003-04-26T22:24:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DougAB \* > \*\*Tippecanoe and Tyler too? Is that a joke? I’ve never even heard of it before. \*\* It was the successful Whig campaign slogan in the [1840 Presidential election](http://www.presidentsusa.net/1840slogan.html). “Tippecanoe” or “Old Tip” was the Presidential candidate, William Henry Harrison, who had won a significant military victory in the Battle of Tippecanoe. “Tyler” was the Vice Presidential candidate, John Tyler. Sorry if you already knew that part, **DougAB**. I have never actually heard anyone use the expression either, and have no idea what it would mean in a modern context. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-crutches-i-hate/171151/55 "2003-04-26T22:46:33Z")
Almost anything George Carlin mentions in his standup routines makes my list - ‘process,’ like Brian Melendez says above, is a big one. When did irregardless become a word? If it’s in my dictionary, I’ll throw the sucker out. People say “irregardless” (which is a double-negative) of something when they mean the opposite - they mean that they are disregarding it. The word people want is “irrespective” or plain old “regardless.” The word makes me mad. Gah. [Dictionary.com](http://Dictionary.com) gives a definition, but notes it’s a non-standard word - close as they’ll probably come to saying 'it’s bad English, dummy - and says: Probably blend of irrespective, and regardless. Usage Note: Irregardless is a word that many mistakenly believe to be correct usage in formal style, when in fact it is used chiefly in nonstandard speech or casual writing. Coined in the United States in the early 20th century, it has met with a blizzard of condemnation for being an improper yoking of irrespective and regardless and for the logical absurdity of combining the negative ir- prefix and -less suffix in a single term. Although one might reasonably argue that it is no different from words with redundant affixes like debone and unravel, it has been considered a blunder for decades and will probably continue to be so. ---
**Author:** ![Mdm.President](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@Mdm.President](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdm.President)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-crutches-i-hate/171151/56 "2003-04-26T23:36:53Z")
my bad = I’m sorry. That was my falt. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![ageless6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@ageless6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ageless6)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2003, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-crutches-i-hate/171151/57 "2003-04-27T01:06:11Z")
brianmelendez and DougAB: The Tippecanoe thing was, of course, a joke. I confuse people IRL who can’t always tell if I’m being sarcastic or not. I enjoy it,but I sometimes forget here to add my sig. So I will. But hey, maybe it would be a good rejoinder to someone who infuriates you with a hated word or phrase. I apologize for the confusion.(Unless I secretely enjoyed it). ---
**Author:** ![brianmelendez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/65b543/32.png) [@brianmelendez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianmelendez)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2003, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-crutches-i-hate/171151/58 "2003-04-27T01:11:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ageless6 \* > \*\*The Tippecanoe thing was, of course, a joke. I confuse people IRL who can’t always tell if I’m being sarcastic or not. I enjoy it,but I sometimes forget here to add my sig. So I will. But hey, maybe it would be a good rejoinder to someone who infuriates you with a hated word or phrase. > I apologize for the confusion.(Unless I secretely enjoyed it). \*\* Well, all I’ve got to say to that is: T&TT! ---
**Author:** ![DougAB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@DougAB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougAB)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2003, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-crutches-i-hate/171151/59 "2003-04-27T02:08:04Z")
Oh, okay, my bad guys. I just was literally confused out of my mind, so I had to go ahead and try to clear that up. Basically, that was my fault. Irregardless, that was a real good one. ---
**Author:** ![funions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/34f0e0/32.png) [@funions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/funions)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2003, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-crutches-i-hate/171151/60 "2003-04-27T02:51:25Z")
“To be completely honest with you.” Especially when used by salespeople. Gives me the impression that everything else they say is less than completely honest. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-crutches-i-hate/171151.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-crutches-i-hate/171151.md?page=4)