My list of words/phrases that, when said, indicate the author is being

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
Any time a sentence has the word "emblematic"; e.g. "[such and such] is emblematic of". The author clearly loves to hear themselves talk.

Next up, "Let's not lose sight of [blah blah]". This is the tone somebody takes when they see those they're addressing as slightly uncontrolled children who need to be corralled back to the topic at hand.

Feel free to add others :)
 

clamum

Lifer
Feb 13, 2003
26,256
406
126
Not really pretentious much, but I fucking hate "whilst". Use "while" you fucker.
 

James Bond

Diamond Member
Jan 21, 2005
6,023
0
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In general, I hate it when people say, "like I said", or, "again".

That bugs me more in real life or over the phone than in print, though.
 

breakit23

Golden Member
Oct 9, 1999
1,741
0
0
Yea yea and when they say because instead of jus cus' !!! Whats the deal, using words I don't like and shit! tryinng to put down the workin' man.
 

Locut0s

Lifer
Nov 28, 2001
22,205
43
91
Meh a great author can use any word or phrase in a sentence and raise goose bumps. A bad author can turn the word "the" into purple passages and so much dribble. If you think it's about the individual words and phrases then maybe you are not seeing the forest for the trees.
 

SonnyDaze

Diamond Member
Jul 31, 2004
6,867
3
76
"unbeknownst to me" *shudders*

Just admit you were clueless and had no idea what the hell happened.


 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
_______ speaks to _________ (where neither _______ is a person)
Used in place of "speaks about," as in "this article speaks to the problems with the economy"
 

Crono

Lifer
Aug 8, 2001
23,720
1,502
136
Originally posted by: mugs
_______ speaks to _________ (where neither _______ is a person)
Used in place of "speaks about," as in "this article speaks to the problems with the economy"

This thread speaks to the bowels
 

swbsam

Platinum Member
Dec 29, 2007
2,122
0
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What's so wrong with being pretentious? Most people are total idiots who just add "fuck" to every sentence... If someone aspires to be something better, even if it's so obvious that you're trying so hard, why judge them for it? Like me in high school - being a minority, my white friends would joke about me "at least you're co opting the culture of upper-crust, white america, instead of wearing baggy pants and calling everyone your 'awesome dude'"

 

Crono

Lifer
Aug 8, 2001
23,720
1,502
136
Originally posted by: swbsam
What's so wrong with being pretentious? Most people are total idiots who just add "fuck" to every sentence... If someone aspires to be something better, even if it's so obvious that you're trying so hard, why judge them for it? Like me in high school - being a minority, my white friends would joke about me "at least co opting the culture of upper-crust, white america, instead of wearing baggy pants and calling everyone your 'awesome dude'"

Both are annoying. Nothing wrong with using big words, so long as you know what they mean and use them correctly. A lot of times people throw around words just to sound sophisticated. When you do that, you make yourself look like an idiot. People who use improper English and foul language on purpose frequently also make themselves look like idiots. Just use whatever vocabulary that you are familiar with and try to be courteous and respectful to other people.
 

HannibalX

Diamond Member
May 12, 2000
9,359
2
0
Originally posted by: James Bond
In general, I hate it when people say, "like I said", or, "again".

That bugs me more in real life or over the phone than in print, though.

If you would have been listening the first time I wouldn't have to repeat myself. :)
 

acheron

Diamond Member
May 27, 2008
3,171
2
81
Originally posted by: clamum
Not really pretentious much, but I fucking hate "whilst". Use "while" you fucker.

yeah, those god-damn British people. what's next, referring to trucks as "lorries"? speak American!
 

So

Lifer
Jul 2, 2001
25,923
17
81
Originally posted by: Skoorb
Any time a sentence has the word "emblematic"; e.g. "[such and such] is emblematic of". The author clearly loves to hear themselves talk.

Next up, "Let's not lose sight of [blah blah]". This is the tone somebody takes when they see those they're addressing as slightly uncontrolled children who need to be corralled back to the topic at hand.

Feel free to add others :)

"Emblematic" sounds like the name of a gee-whiz feature of a 1950s automobile or refridgerator.

I imagine a black and white commercial something like this:
[man in pinstripe suit and fedora]
The new Emblematic electric icebox will keep your foods fresh all day long, and now, it comes with a built in deep freezer!
[/man in pinstripe suit and fedora]
 

swbsam

Platinum Member
Dec 29, 2007
2,122
0
0
Originally posted by: Crono
Originally posted by: swbsam
What's so wrong with being pretentious? Most people are total idiots who just add "fuck" to every sentence... If someone aspires to be something better, even if it's so obvious that you're trying so hard, why judge them for it? Like me in high school - being a minority, my white friends would joke about me "at least you're co opting the culture of upper-crust, white america, instead of wearing baggy pants and calling everyone your 'awesome dude'"

Both are annoying. Nothing wrong with using big words, so long as you know what they mean and use them correctly. A lot of times people throw around words just to sound sophisticated. When you do that, you make yourself look like an idiot. People who use improper English and foul language on purpose frequently also make themselves look like idiots. Just use whatever vocabulary that you are familiar with and try to be courteous and respectful to other people.

I'd rather people fail at being sophisticated then succeed at being a commoner... Aspirational vocabularies show ambition to me, succumbing to your local dialect seems easier and kinda pathetic.. Nothing ticks me off more than a 45 year old dressing and speaking like a 14 year old, and it happens all the time... Or, for the matter, hispanics who are 2nd generation Americans that still speak with an accent.

A person born into poverty who tries to use big words often triggers giggles from me, but I have to give them credit for at least trying..
 

CoinOperatedBoy

Golden Member
Dec 11, 2008
1,809
0
76
Maybe you just don't like that pang of social responsibility when poor people and foreigners make you realize they aren't as well off as you are. If only they would dress, speak, and act like you, we could just pretend they're one of us.
 

swbsam

Platinum Member
Dec 29, 2007
2,122
0
0
Originally posted by: CoinOperatedBoy
Maybe you just don't like that pang of social responsibility when poor people and foreigners make you realize they aren't as well off as you are. If only they would dress, speak, and act like you, we could just pretend they're one of us.

Honestly, I'm as liberal as they come. I don't feel that anyone has a responsibility to speak a certain way BUT, if they want to earn my respect, they should at least attempt to learn the language. My parents are immigrants and my dad still has a very strong accent - I could never, ever call him lazy. But I see the children of immigrants still speak with an accent, and it makes me sad.
 

DingDingDao

Diamond Member
Jun 9, 2004
3,044
0
71
Originally posted by: Crono
Originally posted by: mugs
_______ speaks to _________ (where neither _______ is a person)
Used in place of "speaks about," as in "this article speaks to the problems with the economy"

This thread speaks to the bowels

LOL
 

breakit23

Golden Member
Oct 9, 1999
1,741
0
0
Originally posted by: swbsam
Originally posted by: CoinOperatedBoy
Maybe you just don't like that pang of social responsibility when poor people and foreigners make you realize they aren't as well off as you are. If only they would dress, speak, and act like you, we could just pretend they're one of us.

Honestly, I'm as liberal as they come. I don't feel that anyone has a responsibility to speak a certain way BUT, if they want to earn my respect, they should at least attempt to learn the language. My parents are immigrants and my dad still has a very strong accent - I could never, ever call him lazy. But I see the children of immigrants still speak with an accent, and it makes me sad.


That is possibly one of the most ignorant things I've ever heard. It makes you sad because people speak with an accent? Besides accents from non-US countries, America itself has an absurb amount of accents by region. Immigrant parents will speak to their kids in accents and they just pick it up especially if they learned another language at a young age. What do you want? Everyone to sound just like you. I hope one day you will learn accceptance. I find it deeply embarrasing that you need to nitpick at accents when you're actually the problem with humanity.
 

artikk

Diamond Member
Dec 24, 2004
4,172
1
71
Originally posted by: breakit23
Originally posted by: swbsam
Originally posted by: CoinOperatedBoy
Maybe you just don't like that pang of social responsibility when poor people and foreigners make you realize they aren't as well off as you are. If only they would dress, speak, and act like you, we could just pretend they're one of us.

Honestly, I'm as liberal as they come. I don't feel that anyone has a responsibility to speak a certain way BUT, if they want to earn my respect, they should at least attempt to learn the language. My parents are immigrants and my dad still has a very strong accent - I could never, ever call him lazy. But I see the children of immigrants still speak with an accent, and it makes me sad.


That is possibly one of the most ignorant things I've ever heard. It makes you sad because people speak with an accent? Besides accents from non-US countries, America itself has an absurb amount of accents by region. Immigrant parents will speak to their kids in accents and they just pick it up especially if they learned another language at a young age. What do you want? Everyone to sound just like you. I hope one day you will learn accceptance. I find it deeply embarrasing that you need to nitpick at accents when you're actually the problem with humanity.

I'm from an immigrant family. Anytime English is not your NATIVE language,(age matters in this of course but not as much as you think) one will always have an accent- at least that's what I've seen in my immigrant community.