Words I Would Rather Not Have in the Lexicon

[Thomas.Dennehy]

Some days I shouldn't read the newspaper. In the last 15 minutes I've learned two new terms from the New York Times that I would like to unlearn:

• Wardriving. The practice of driving streets and using equipment to locate wireless local-area networks using Wi-Fi, such as wireless hot spots at coffee shops and home wireless networks. An expert in wardriving technology is Marius Milner, the Google employee formerly identified only as Engineer Doe. Mr. Milner wrote the software Google ("Don't be evil.") deliberately and systematically used to snarf unecrypted data sent from homes as a little perk while mapping neighborhoods for StreetView.
• Mark-to-mystery. Assigning an arbitrary market value to a start-up that has no revenue so that backing venture firms can make a quick exit through an acquisition at an "eye popping" premium. Actual revenue undermines the fantasy; best not to have any.

Any others?

 

[vinylphilemag]

One of mine:

* Utilise. What's wrong with plain old "use"?

 

[amirm]

"Product" and "Protein" as used by chefs. What's wrong with saying meat or fish instead of protein? Ditto for product for all ingredients. Why put down the ingredients they use in their profession? We never do that in computer science. Who has heard of calling a software application, an "app?" Oops.

 

[Thomas.Dennehy]

And I would like to go back in time to protest at the moment the plural of "email" became "emails."

 

[Peter Breuninger]

How about every word spoken at the Wharton Entrepreneur Club annual dinner... blab, blab, data point, blab, blab, exit strategy, blab blab yawn.. zzzzzzzzz. Wake up Peter, huh? Are the speeches over? Data point...life style, scale out...blab blab... zzzzzzzzz. And the winner is SERIAL ENTREPRENEUR, yikes! Don't say it again.

 

[DonH50]

"paradigm shift"
"right-sizing"
"resource review for company optimization of shareholder return"
"government support"
IRS -- coming from a farm background, Internal Revenue and "Service" seem to fit well together...
"repurpose"

And don't get started on "audiophile" terms many reviewers use...

 

[Thomas.Dennehy]

How about words that have been coined to describe objects, processes, or concepts that we'd rather not have (to) exist?

 

[mep]

How about words used to mask or sugarcoat reality? How about when innocent civilians get killed during a bomb attack and it’s referred to as “collateral damage” instead of what really happened? If people are killed, they weren’t “damaged.” You can recover from damage; you can’t recover from being blown apart.

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

How about words used to mask or sugarcoat reality? How about when innocent civilians get killed during a bomb attack and it’s referred to as “collateral damage” instead of what really happened? If people are killed, they weren’t “damaged.” You can recover from damage; you can’t recover from being blown apart.

Nice! I like that observation and so true!

 

[amirm]

Talk about politicians and their vocabulary, I wish the word "challenge" did not exist. "The economy remains a challenge."

 

[vinylphilemag]

"Product" and "Protein" as used by chefs. What's wrong with saying meat or fish instead of protein? Ditto for product for all ingredients. Why put down the ingredients they use in their profession? We never do that in computer science. Who has heard of calling a software application, an "app?" Oops.

I agree with the sentiment, but I guess "protein" also covers vegetarian options. (Some of our friends are veggies, so I've started being more veggie-aware!)

 

[vinylphilemag]

And I would like to go back in time to protest at the moment the plural of "email" became "emails."

Somewhat related: since when was the plural of vinyl vinyls?

 

[NorthStar]

They took out the word "Mademoiselle" from the French dictionary! ...Just recently.

I feel real sad because it is a very beautiful word,
and I use it extensively with my new female French encounters.
- Just google it for the exact meaning; you'll see what I mean.

 

[amirm]

They took out the word 'mademoiselle' from the French dictionary! ...Just recently.

I feel real sad because it is a very beautiful word,
and I use it extensively with my new female French encounters.
- Just google it for the exact meaning; you'll see what I mean.

Amazing. Just googled it. Remarkable what this world has come to: http://www.2oceansvibe.com/2012/01/...s-the-word-mademoiselle-due-to-sexism-claims/

In English, that is a chic term, not a put down.

 

[NorthStar]

In Quebecois (French Canadian), it is also a nice 'chic' term; very very polite and classy.

* I don't care because I will still use it till death takes it out of my own mouth. :b
I certainly don't have to abide by the French rules of absurdity.

 

[Whatmore]

I think Mr Franti had a few:

Where oxymoronic language like
'virtually spotless', 'fresh frozen'
'light yet filling' and 'military intelligence'
have become standard
T.V. is the place where phrases are redefined
like 'recession' to 'necessary downturn'
'Crude oil' on a beach to 'mousse'
'Civilian death' to 'collateral damages'
and being killed by your own Army
is now called 'friendly fire'
.
.
.
Television, the drug of the Nation
Breeding ignorance and feeding radiation

 

[jkeny]

How about "going forward" rather than the future
I actually like "plausible deniability" as it says a lot about the intent & motives of the sleezebag who use it

 

[NorthStar]

Here's a couple more. ...Good or questionable?

1. "Game changer".
2. "Man cave".

...And from another genre:

* "Bromance".
* "Viral".

 

[amirm]

I don't know why but I don't like "viral." Having a lot of publicity means a good thing and shouldn't be associated with a disease. Man cave on the other hand, is not such a bad phrase.

 

[Peter Breuninger]

I like the phrase "man cave" too, but not the man cave thing.