Words that irritate

Earlier this year, Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper published a list of the Top 10 most irritating phrases. Some reflect British culture, but I suspect you’ve heard (and horrors, maybe used) a few of these yourselves:

1. At the end of the day

2. Fairly unique

3. I personally

4. At this moment in time

5. With all due respect

6. Absolutely

7. It's a nightmare

8. Shouldn't of (instead of "shouldn't have")

9. 24/7

10. It's not rocket science

Some of the phrases are considered irritating because they’re overused and others really bug grammar nuts like me. “Fairly unique” fits into the latter category. How can there be degrees of unique? It is or it isn’t. And where did “I personally” come from? There’s never been an “IMpersonally.”

Anyway, the list prompted some of my American writer friends to compile these Top 10 irritating expressions:

1. No way.

2. You think?

3. It's a slam dunk

4. Irregardless

5. Humongous

6. It's all good

7. For me, personally

8. The consensus of opinion

9. It's all copasetic

10. If you must know...

Then there's the Michigan college that's issued its 34th annual “List of Words to Be Banished from the Queen's English for Mis-use, Over-use and General Uselessness.” The 2009 version includes such expressions as “green,” from "Wall Street to Main Street" and “carbon footprint.”

Well, if you must know, I’ve used a few of the words and phrases from these lists when I probably shouldn't of. Haven't you? But now that we know that they're officially considered “irritating,” are we less likely to use them? Next time you’re in a social situation, or hear people talk on the radio or television, have some fun and listen for the words and phrases on these lists. Do they truly irritate you at this moment in time? Or will you simply smile and think it’s all good?

At the end of the day, are there words and/or phrases missing from these lists that you find irritating enough to share?