The Times TV critic Neil Genzlinger is disgusted that a snarky use of the one-word response “Really?” is popping up everywhere on television these days. Because TV influences how we speak, he notes that that same use of “Really?” is spreading to everyday life. Have you noticed this?
What word or phrase do
you overuse when you speak? What words or phrases do you think are overused in
general?
Civilization crumbles a
little bit almost every time I turn on the television, and a single
word-and-punctuation-mark combination is inflicting the damage.
You’ve heard it too, no
doubt, and if you’re a person who values grace and urbanity and eating with
utensils rather than burying your face in the plate, you’ve winced whenever
some TV character has spewed it. It’s the snarky “Really?,” and it’s undoing
2,000 years’ worth of human progress.
I’m not talking about
“Really?” as a request for more information or an expression of surprise. I’m
referring to the more recent, faddish use of it: delivered with a high-pitched
sneer to indicate a contempt so complete that it requires no clarification.
Say a co-worker shows up
for a pivotal meeting wearing a plaid blouse and a polka-dot skirt. In the old
days you might have said: “Well, that is certainly an interesting fashion
choice. Myself, I prefer something more subdued when sitting down with a
client.” Now, though, if you’ve succumbed to the loathsome trend, you will
simply aim as withering a look as you can at your colleague, say “Really?” and
walk away.
Students: Tell us how you
feel about this. Do you think civilization is threatened by this particular use
of this word?
·
What words or phrases do you overuse when you speak?
·
What words or phrases do you hear others use that you wish would
just go away?
·
Why do you think these words are overused, unnecessary or just
plain annoying?
·
What’s your opinion about the overuse of the word “Really?” The
comedian Jerry Seinfeld strongly disagrees with Mr. Genzlinger, for instance.
In a letter to the editor, he argues that “Really?”
is a fine word to use In conversation. He thinks it’s funny. What do you think?
Really.
Below are some of the
comments the readers made on the topic discussed in the article
For this discussion, add
“seriously” to really.
What makes me cringe
even more though is how “all of a sudden” has morphed into “all the sudden” for
most folks.
I think some words and
phrases are overused, like YOLO. It is okay to hear it a couple times, but
people use it too many times. It end up becoming really annoying after a while
because people say it couple times a day and they end up killing the phrase.
I think that
civilization is threatened by this particular use of this word. I also think
that other words will bring us down like “YOLO” and IDK.
Yes “really” is overused
so much. Also, “huh” this ‘word’ erks me so much. Now the word ‘huh’ comes so
naturally when someone is talking to you. That just all of a suddon people say
‘huh’ even when they have heard what the person has said.
I think that the phrase
YOLO and LOL are used way too much i terms of text and word. When someone says
YOLO, I get really angry. The reason that I get angry is because i hear it at
least 10 times in a day.
I think that the most
used words are curse or swear words. It happens with everybody, there only a
few people that do not swear because they think it is not good. Also, in most
entertainment uses swears, so then people follow after the things that they watch.
I have seen it mostly in Comedies and action films or movies.
I do not think that
civilization is threatened by this particular use of this word. But I do think
YOLO and swag are overused way too much. Though I don’t wish them to go away,
people over use the word to the point at which it is not fun to say anymore. The
overuse of them makes them annoying, the word or phrase isn’t it’s just how
much people use them that is annoying. I think really is a perfectly fine word
to say in a conversation. I do not find really to be annoying but I can see how
it could be annoying to some people.
The phrase “Lol,” is
used very much by almost everyone. I think the need for a new word is strongly
wished upon. It feels like every other text to a friend has the phrase “Lol.” I
think this phrase is just overused and it is time for a new one. I never knew
the word “Really” was even used a lot so I have no problem with it; I have a
feeling just older people use that trying to be younger.
I think the most over used word is “like”. I swear, people say
“like” multiple times in one sentence. It’s ridiculous. It’s annoying and
unnecessary. The word “really?’ is used too much too. Once in a while it is
okay, but when it is over used it becomes rude. I admit that I use my fair
share of “like”s and “really?”s but it is about time they stopped being used
