Sport some originality, OK?

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David Tom’s wish:

I guess sports broadcasters have a tough time being original from game to game, and have simply given up! I do wish, however, that they would have “the presence of mind“– like the athletes they are attempting to describe — to think of something else to say whenever some ball-bouncer or puck-slapper acts calmly in a “pressure situation.” “Pressure” is not an adjective!

And no more headlines from the sports section of the local newspaper (or any other), like “San Jose Sharks Take Bite Out of Avalanche, 5-1″ or conversely, “Avalanche Bury Sharks, 5-1.” While not exactly clichÈs, these cute plays-on-words are scowl-inducing, and are of course to be found in all sections of all papers (e.g. “Violinist Plays Second Fiddle to Gifted Son”…get it, get it? I don’t).

Be it resolved that…

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Hi Tom,

The number one overused word today (at least in terms of politics) is “resolve.” I’d appreciate a mention of this nauseating term at your earliest convenience. Thanks.

T.E.

Opinion rage

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Tom:

I cannot tolerate the use of the word “opined.” This generally appears in the news, E.G: “I imagine I’m stupid,” he opined.

Larry

Naming names

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From Robin D. Best, news editor of the Henderson Daily News in Henderson, Texas:

There has been a recent evolution in sports news coverage and sports talk
show hosts.

In the last year, I have heard sports anchors begin giving commentary and
using single player’s names as if it represented an entire group or
characteristic.

Example:
“What the Dallas Cowboys are hoping to pick up is another Troy Aikman and maybe an Emmit Smith or at least a Barry Sanders…”

Yuck!

Thanks for letting me air this out…

Somebody call the orderly

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Chris Pat suggests:

A very over-used and misused phrase is “in order to.”

“In order to” really did have a meaning — to perform tasks in the order they were given, because to perform them out of order would not allow the operation to be a success.

Example:

  1. Open box.
  2. Remove radio.
  3. Insert batteries.
  4. Turn radio on.
  5. Tune to your favorite station.

These tasks must be performed “in order” or you cannot listen to your
favorite station. Technical manuals have many tasks that must have each
step performed in the correct order or the process cannot succeed.

However, it is used far too often now, and usually without any tasks that
must be performed in any particular order. Quite often, it is with one
task, and how can a single task be performed in order or out of order?

Also, it is redundant when used in a lead-in sentence to a numbered task.
The fact that the list is numbered rather than bulleted implies a numeric
order is required. Almost all can be written without the “in order” and the
meaning is still clear such as:

Go to the store in order to get milk.

Go to the store to get milk.

Perform the tasks in this list in order to configure the router.

Perform the tasks in this list to configure the router.

Not wholesome

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Bruce Ussery offers:

For months now I’ve been noticing the phrase “whole new way” used numerous times daily in TV commercials, news stories, and print ads. I guess a “whole new way” is much more exciting and newsworthy than a mere “new way”. It’s a miracle we survived so long without all these whole new ways. I just did a search for the phrase using Google – 10,600,000 hits.

(Counting Google hits also should be banned … since nobody knows what the counts mean and nobody’s gonna make sure each of those 10.6 million hits is relevant. — tm)

Incorrect

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Barry (sorry, no last name) avers:

I nominate the term “political correctness” – this phrase has lost all meaning and it’s tedious that the media express this term without any real thought.

You don’t say

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From Diana Salles:

Whenever I hear “Having said that,” I replace it with “On the other hand”. I wish people could be more honest when they disagree with an assertion. Instead, they say, “Yes there are too many policemen in this neighborhood. Having said that, there aren’t enough policemen in this neighborhood.”

It’s smarmy, too diplomatic.

It ranks with “I hear where you’re coming from” and “More power to you” for misplaced politeness.

Fresh peeves

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From Deborah Williams:

I just found your site and would like to add “my two cents worth.” Several words and phrases that I hear daily annoy me, but these are my latest “pet peeves.”

  1. I have recently begun hearing newscasters state something like this, “The fire occurred at 3 a.m. in the morning.” I suppose “in the morning” is added so as not to be confused with 3 a.m. in the afternoon!
  2. Perhaps this has been included, but I was unable to find it. I often see the word “partnered” being used regularly. For example, I received a campaign brochure today from two local candidates for the school board (Lord, help us!) who claim, “Dan has partnered with Gary…” I never knew the noun partner was also a verb.
    3. sick and tired.” Let’s revive the word “weary” instead.
  3. Another redundant phrase often used by the current administration is “friends and allies.” Aren’t our allies by definition also our friends? Why must both words be used?

These are but a few of my current language annoyances. Love your site!