Every time I see writing redundancies my teeth grit, my hair stands on end, and I want to run around my neighborhood screaming.
That would probably be very entertaining for anyone who saw me, but not very useful. Blogging about them, on the other hand, is super useful, because if anyone is in the habit of using any of these, and stumbles across this post, maybe they’ll stop!
And all the smart people who responded to my question on Facebook about the writing redundancies that are their pet peeves, making this post what it is? Thank you to them. And you; you should get to know them.
Image: Memphis CVB on Flickr via Flickr, CC 2.0
1. “It’s sustainable and it’s also profitable.”
” ‘Sustainability’ means meeting the needs of people, planet and profit.” ~ John Friedman
2. “When airline gate agents announce ‘the last and final boarding call.’
“Umm, there’s a difference?” ~ Jim Parsons
3. “Long story short…” ~ Scott Kaminski
4. “My biggest pet peeve is we use the word ‘use’ incorrectly. Use and utilize do not have the same meaning. They are not synonyms. Google it.
“To utilize something is to give it a use it may not have originally had. That’s very different from the word ‘use.’ And so many people use it wrong!” ~ Michelle Hinson
5. “Don’t get me started on literally. I mean literally, do not get me started.” ~ Michelle Hinson, Michele Seigerman Bennett and Jonny Goldstone
6. “Very unique.” Diane Feaster Rose. Also Michael Smart
7. “Needless to say.” Jonny Goldstone
8. “Personally, I…” Jonny Goldstone
9. “At the end of the day… (it’s night!).” Daisy Chain
10. ” ‘Enjoy’ really gets my back up. It feels like it’s an order, or I needed their permission or blessing to enjoy whatever it is! ~ Daisy Chain
11. “I hate when people say ‘I could care less’ when they mean they couldn’t care less.” ~ Stephen Cerone
12. “The absolute truth.” Fay Shapiro
13. “Irregardless. {nails on chalkboard}” ~ Michele Seigerman Bennett
14. “I want to tell you my pet peeve. I’d also like to tell you.
“If you want to tell me something, just do it. I don’t need to know you want to do so. Everyone starts an introduction by saying… ‘I’d like to introduce you to…’
“Just do it! Cut out the excess and just tell me.” ~ Mary Deming Barber. (Rob Biesenbach felt the same way. As did Jodi Echakowitz.)
15. “Top priority.” ~ Michael Smart
16. “Lobby area.” ~ Michael Smart
17. “8 students and 4 instructors for a total of 12 people.” ~ Michael Smart
18. “In a presentation, ‘This is a quote …,’ ‘Here is a chart …,’ ” Rob Biesenbach
19. “It goes without saying…” Then why say it? ~ me
20. “It is no secret…” Then I probably already know it, don’t I? ~ me
21. “The sky’s the limit! Bet that one pisses space off.” Michelle Hinson
What would you add to this list? I literally would love to know.
Happy Friday!
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It’s 2am in the morning.
Oh god, don’ make me explain!!?
Vidya Sury I know! It really takes me aback when people do that… how presumptuous! I do use those phrases but ONLY if I feel I really know the person well.
So… the sales pages. I agree with you, but I believe they have been shown to work. I’m soon be setting that stuff up for something new I’m working on (I will tell you soon!), so I have to learn all about it… and I suspect it will drive me a bit crazy for a while. Kinda like unlearning everything I’ve learned so far, and think about sales pages in a totally different way.
The sales pages that I’ve continued to scroll do have one thing in common – the copy is really well-written. So even though I know there’s a “sell” coming, I don’t mind scrolling because it’s so well-written. And in a few rare cases, it even makes me laugh!
Thanks so much for stopping by, Vidya, I really appreciate it. Hey! Aren’t you in Bangalore? I’m heading your way in a few months – we need to meet up!
mikestrattonNET bowden2bowden TYVM for sharing!
danielnewmanUV I hope you enjoyed that headline… *and* the post too, of course!
traceynews That was a resounding YES!!! ;))
shonali Sure Shonali!
ronsela thank you for sharing!
MalkaAujla ha!
shonali Definitely – amen!
MalkaAujla do I hear an “Amen”?!
jfouts mmangen TheJackB TYVM for sharing and dianekrose mdbarber FayScommPRO for being a part of the post!
Love this! ♥
I enjoyed seeing many of my own pet peeves!
How about : “You’re going to love/hate this!” – why think on someone’s behalf?
“It is just your type” – eh?
Worst thing is sales letters that are ambiguous for the best part of their infinite scrolling pager – without ever getting to the point. I mean, what’s the point if they make you close the page in disgust.