Libertine

Lake Superior State University has released its annual list of “banished words”; words they consider trite, overused, annoying, or a combination of all three. Following below is the list, with my comments in italics: SHOVEL-READY “Apparently, the generally accepted definition of this phrase is to imply that a project has been completely designed and all [...]

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I haven’t done a language rant in awhile, so here goes. The offense of the day is: “Alot” This spelling abomination is used by people to mean “a lot”. It’s a mistake I didn’t see years ago, even by people with generally atrocious spelling and grammar. It apparently is a fairly “new” mistake, that I’m [...]

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I’ve not picked on the advertising industry in awhile, so here goes. I’ve been hearing different ads lately that talk about “that guy”.   “That guy” is usually a bumbling, figure of universal scorn; someone who isn’t quite all man, somehow.  Naturally, use of the product being advertised will save the men from the shame of [...]

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I’ve recently come up on an expression that instantly earned its way into my list of language peeves: Re-home This expression, used most often in reference to pets, means to find it a new home when its current owners can or will no longer care for it. Though not yet listed as a bona-fide word [...]

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