What words really honk you off? Words that are used out-of-context that make you want to scream. Or words for their very own weird, unknown reason, get under your skin? Or maybe, they’re made up words adored by the masses that just steam your buns…
Following are a few of my least favourite miscreant words:
BESPOKE
Oh boy. Isn’t everything these days a bespoke masterpiece? When I first heard this one being bandied about (and I’m wondering if it was Dragon’s Den or Grand Designs that started this in popular vernacular), I wondered, what the hell is bespoke?
On looking it up, I found out it’s a fancy-ass way of saying ‘built just for you’. This bespoke chandelier has been custom designed and built, just for your house. Those bespoke spectacles are molded for your face alone. That bespoke online doll company makes dolls according to dimensions and graphics you send to them. Get it?
So why the hate for bespoke. Well, largely because it’s become so overused. Every Goddamn thing is bespoke these days! I have literally seen an advertisement for bespoke cereal. Bespoke cereal?!
Seriously, turn on any DIY show and I guarantee you in five minutes you’ll hear bespoke… and shiplap.
ADDICTING
“This product is so addicting!”
“I love chocolate, it’s addicting.”
Uh, do you mean it’s addictive? Damn this one frustrates me.
Okay, so addicting is technically allowed in those examples above, but boy it sounds wrong! Here’s why, courtesy of Grammarist:
Addictive means causing or tending to cause addiction. The present-participle adjective addicting is technically synonymous with addictive, but there’s no reason to use addicting when addictive is a perfectly functional and even versatile word. The trend is to use addicting in reference to nonaddictive things that engender repeated indulgence (e.g., a great television show or a video game), but there’s no reason addictive can’t fill this role.
The use of addicting in place of addictive is a common peeve among people who care about these things, but it isn’t an error, and no doubt there are many readers who have no problem with it.
- Grammarist.com
Yeah, well I do have a problem with it. It just sounds wrong to my poor ears and makes my brain bleed. Please, don’t do it.
GLAMPING
Now, I’m not sure if this is just an Australian thing, so stay with me if you’ve never heard the term ‘glamping’ before. Apparently, it’s a delightful cross-breed of ‘glamour’ and ‘camping’.
Delightful my eye.
First, there’s the meaning behind the word; glamourous camping. Ugh, my skin crawls. Take the worst thing imaginable – camping – then add some schmaltz and glitter and you’ve got the worst thing imaginable wrapped up in a satin bow.
Then there’s the word itself. Glamping. It feels like it crawled down into my glottal stop and got lodged there. Just, nope.
GUESSTIMATE
Ah, guesstimate. The triple threat. Not only is this word irritating as hell, and a bastard cross-breed… it’s not even a real word! Yet this abomination has become so commonplace, it’s now spoken (and written) everywhere.
Guesstimate, the unnecessary crossover of ‘guess’ and ‘estimate’, which means to guess… or to estimate… well, to have a pretty good stab at something. Which is what I want to do when I hear people using guesstimate.
This is not only not a good word, it’s not a word. Stop using it. Please.
Got any particular words or phrases that really annoy you? Share in the comments!
Jessica Bakkers 
Good ones. A word that makes me shake my head is “orientating. ” I never did get that word when “orienting” is sufficient.
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Hahaha, that’s terrible! I haven’t had the misfortune to come across that one. Yet…
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😀 You might someday.
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I hate a lot of business words that are shoveled into resumes. Onboarded is a particular peeve. My phone doesn’t even believe it’s a word, hah!
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Ooo that’s a shocker! I can see it padding out a resume though – so sickeningly corporate 😫
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I totally get your feelings on guesstimate, it’s two words meaning the same thing. I never use it. As one who until recently went to festivals, glamping is used for those who go to festivals in a huge caravan with all the mod cons. Not really roughing it, is it? Great post and now I’m going to have to go think about words that grind my gears.
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Oh I’m sure you’ll find plenty! I thought of about another ten after I hit publish 😁
Or maybe I’m just picky 🤔
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Lol, Bakkers. Have to agree with you here.
I’m annoyed by “a whole Nother level.” Do I even have to explain????
And misuse of the verbs bring and take bugs me. So, for example, “I’m going glamping (lol) and I’m going to BRING a sleeping bag. ” No you’re going to TAKE A sleeping bag! You’re not there yet! You can’t bring something to a place where you’re not even present yet!!!! No? Just me then lol.
And of course. Ugh. “Musings”. So pretentious. Are you musing? Really? No you’re just thinking about stuff. And don’t even try and call your blog The Musings of a …..whatever. I don’t care. Stop it!!
Oh I could go on.
I may come back to this post and add more. Think I’m triggered, yo.
Laughing and smiling, Bakkers, you cheered me up!!!!!
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Hahahaha! Ah, I’m laughing so much! On the “bring” front, another pet peeve of mine is the mistaking of brought and bought… *shudder*…
But there’s SO many out there, and us grammar nerds just flip our shit over them.
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Ha! Yes! God…we are so petty lol
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Haha, you made me laugh. I like your take on words. But eh, I’m kinda chill with current word usage. I figure they’re a product of the times. People will tire of “musing,” and “guesstimate” and “bespoke” will fade from usage. Some other weird words will take their place.
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I like your optimism 🙂
Here’s hoping…
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Wow, I have never heard “bespoke” used that way. I always think of it as an old-centuries term relating to speaking. As for guesstimate–ugh!–I detest that word. It’s so unnecessary when “guess” and “estimate serve the same purpose.
This was an entertaining post, Jess. Thanks for the laughs!
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Hehe, glad to give you some irritation and chuckles at the same time 🙂
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Synergy, hands down. Hate it, and delete emails and twitter people who have it in their introduction.
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Synergy hey? Don’t come across that one often… I’m going to look for it now 🙂
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Lol. I always imagine people saying “synergy” with that pretentious hand gesture of interlocking fingers in a pyramid shape… you know??? Like David Brent from “The Office” (UK version).
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Hahaha, yes, I totally see it 🤗
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Yes I do.
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I’ve with you, Jess. I’ve had to bite my tongue in the past. I’ve become a grammar snob! I guess it’s one of the hazards of loving to read! I flinch or cringe when I hear words used improperly but have discovered that most adults do NOT like to be corrected. lol! 🙂
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Haha, no they don’t!
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