What phrases or things are like nails on a blackboard to you?

“I hate when married couples refer to or address the other one as Mother/Dad, etc.”

Or one I don’t hear as often “Old Lady or Old Man”.

Stay in your lane- (I liked it for awhile, but it got old)

Do you ever wonder exactly why humans get so bothered about other folks’ choices?

Typos and incorrect grammar are one thing, esp if something is sent out to the public via writing or public speaking, but just pure word choices within their family/friends seem to be another.

Several colleagues at work, whom I really admire, end emails with “Thanks much”. I cringe every time.

I loathe when people say, “I, for one”. Could you possibly be any more pretentious?

libary Instead of library was a thing in my town as a teen.

My wife laughs when she hears it today when we visit. Is it staffed by a libarian?

By far and away.

Pick one – it’s either “by far” or “far and away”. Not both.

More common Appalachian ones - “borry” for “borrow” and “kindly” for “kind of.”

It is not “are” house

It is “our” house

Drives me nuts?

Are house was a very very awesome house.

Actually, Our house was a very, very, very fine house
with two cats in the yard?

Yes, I was making a joke in line with the submissions in this thread. Or, duh.

Are house. In the middle of the street.

College flashback. Wow.

Actually. Mr. said it was like uhhmm sort of like every tenth word in the presetation he had to listen to today. :wink:

I don’t like when people say “sorry for your loss” when someone dies. Just seems so impersonal

The “closing” on an email just before the sender’s name that is just “Best.” Everybody seems to be using it.

@moooop I love “best” – what do you use and why don’t you like it? I like “best” as a friendly closer, if I don’t want friendly, I just use and em or en dash.

I mean, there are limited options – Cheers (too Australian, I always hear “mate” after it), Kind regards (too formal trying to be casual), Sincerely (good for passive aggressive notes), Kindly (really?), and Warmly (um, like cookies, no thanks).

It seems excessively brief & trendy,…sort of like “lol.” I also think it must be confusing to people who are still learning English…“Best” is a adjective, so Best WHAT? Maybe they would think I’m saying that I am the Best?

I tend to like traditional things, but even I would feel odd using “Your humble servant” (lol). I use “Sincerely” or “Good luck” (even though I am neither extremely sincere nor Irish). I notice that I am about the only person on earth to still do so. I could no more use “Best” than I could walk around a mall wearing headphones.

“Good luck” seems wrong to me for many contexts.

@moooop I may adopt “Your humble servant” – it’s underused. Sincerely, okay. But “Good Luck??” If I received this send off, I might think there was some impending doom lurking about in my comings and goings that day. Perhaps if I were…a leprechaun. Top o’ the mornin’ to ya, and good luck there!

I now like “Best” even more – it’s open to translation. Maybe I am The Best, and I’m trying to subliminally, or overtly, communicate that.

Respectfully,
Fencingmother