"Like" is officially my new trigger word

[WrenchNHammer]

Umm, your example is exactly what I'm referring to...

Grammatically speaking, there are two different contemporary uses of the word "like".

One is where it is used mostly as if it was punctuation. Example: "He's like so boring and like always asking for stuff and like who knows what he's thinking?..."

The other usage is what I pointed out above where it is being used to indicate what a person said. In the past we would say: "...he got back and he said 'Where were you?'..." - but now they say: "...he got back and he was like 'Where were you?'...".

Both are incorrect and annoying but are distinctly different usages of the word.

I heard the other day that there are over 130 million Americans who are functionally illiterate. They cannot comprehend written English well enough to understand the instructions on a prescription bottle. That level of illiteracy. I'm pretty sure this is partly because they use SMS/twitter gibberish and only watch videos when they do get news or other information.

I feel like our downward spiral blew right past Idiocracy as if it was little more than an arrow pointing to where our future lies.

 

[hkshooter]

I feel like our downward spiral blew right past Idiocracy as if it was little more than an arrow pointing to where our future lies.

Sign? What sign? I didn't see no sign.

 

[ftierson]

Sign? What sign? I didn't see no sign.

Like, you know, I didn't either...

Forrest

 

[Wildcat]

Grammatically speaking, there are two different contemporary uses of the word "like".

One is where it is used mostly as if it was punctuation. Example: "He's like so boring and like always asking for stuff and like who knows what he's thinking?..."

The other usage is what I pointed out above where it is being used to indicate what a person said. In the past we would say: "...he got back and he said 'Where were you?'..." - but now they say: "...he got back and he was like 'Where were you?'...".

Both are incorrect and annoying but are distinctly different usages of the word.

That much is true, however; it seems that "like" has additionally become a mindless, space-filling interjection that does nothing to further the conversation.

 

[jdowney]

Funny, I remember this being a complaint in the 1980's too....

I guess I'm used to it, along with all the other ways in which we all seem to screw up spoken English. The one that currently still bothers me a little is people starting to use texted English in speech, eg "My truck needs fixed" rather than "My truck needs to be fixed".

But it only bothers me a little, and it's a helpful indicator for me in setting expectations from that person. Obviously, I don't care a bit when people use such short cuts here or on other internet based informal settings - it doesn't matter here. When someone does this at work, I lower my expectations of their performance

 

[hardass]

uh.. uh..uh.. every other word..uh .. coming from TV reporters ..uh..or just about everyone trying to give a speech ..uh..off the top of their head .
We had a safety manager in our weekly safety meeting that just about everyone in attendance would repeat and mock openly and he had no clue

 

[4x401]

We had a safety manager in our weekly safety meeting that just about everyone in attendance would repeat and mock openly and he had no clue

Ohh man can I relate to that!
Our company just hired a new on-site safety guy. It's obvious his previous employment Did not include officiating weekly safety meetings...the guy is no public speaker for sure. The word umm comes out at Least twice in each sentence.

I just try to ignore it, but it drives alot of guys nuts.

 

[meltblown]

Another one these days is ending a sentence with "right". I have sit in meetings and start doing a tally by some of the most ardent users. Probably had at least 30 in 30 minutes. Pisses me off because it is someone asking for validation. Told a guy I reported to would use it. I'd come back and say wrong.

 

[SpringerXD]

Here's another annoying one:

 

[SWOHFAL]

Another one these days is ending a sentence with "right". I have sit in meetings and start doing a tally by some of the most ardent users. Probably had at least 30 in 30 minutes. Pisses me off because it is someone asking for validation. Told a guy I reported to would use it. I'd come back and say wrong.

My mother once interviewed a girl who told her "Like I'm a cheerleader, right?" She wasn't hired.

 

[Mebsuta]

I don't care. It's not like people come up to me and start talking and stuff.

 

[gunshooter]

UUMM, so like sup... (spoken in vocal fry)... dog?

 

[21HK]

Here’s a quote from an article on the Wal Mart shooting.
If I was listening to this on the news or a video it would be tolerable but would still have me rolling my eyes and shaking my head.
Having to read this on the other hand, then having to comprehend/translate it in my mind while doing so; it’s just brutally painful.

 

[jugrunner]

I didn't read thru the whole thread so someone has already said it .. But I hate when people end their statement with "Right" .. Like I'm supposed to agree and say "Right"

ETA: Well .. I scrolled up 3 posts and there it was .. SWOHFAL you da man .. !! .. Don't you hate that .. You da man chit .. ?? ..

Well hell .. Went up another couple posts and Meltblown had already said it .. Chit .. !! .. Not going any further back ..

 

[medicmike]

I didn't read thru the whole thread so someone has already said it .. But I hate when people end their statement with "Right" .. Like I'm supposed to agree and say "Right"

ETA: Well .. I scrolled up 3 posts and there it was .. SWOHFAL you da man .. !! .. Don't you hate that .. You da man chit .. ?? ..

Well hell .. Went up another couple posts and Meltblown had already said it .. Chit .. !! .. Not going any further back ..

I know, right?

 

[juanni]

That's it, I'm phuking done.

I'm fed up with the multiple use of "like" in the sentences of the idiots that use it.
I see it as "Caucasian Eubonics" and it drives me nuts.

Follow up by putting 'dude' on the list.



..............juanni

 

[4x401]

Follow up by putting 'dude' on the list.



..............juanni

Baby steps...

 

[easttex]

So, like I'm basically on board, but what about all the other misspellings and incorrect grammar used here ? Correct someone, and you're, like, you know, like a grammar Nazi ?

So, I'm like maybe going to, you know, go back and like, "like" all the replies

But seriously, I'm on board. Asshole it is !

Speaking of grammar nazis, I've had people stop me mid-sentence to very pretentiously correct something I said. They always take umbrage at my curt response and and act offended - even though it was they who interrupted me to correct my grammar as if they're an English teacher. Blatantly interrupting someone to correct them is considered rude in my circles and I tend to be overwhelmingly negative in response.

It is more polite to quietly say something afterwards.

 

[4x401]

Speaking of grammar nazis, I've had people stop me mid-sentence to very pretentiously correct something I said. They always get pretty red-assed at my shitty response and and act offended for interrupting me to correct my grammar - like they're an English teacher. Being shitty is my usual response to rude people; blatantly interrupting someone to correct them is considered rude in my circles.

It is more polite to quietly say something afterwards.

I knew a guy years ago that couldn't pronounce Aluminum...
He would say "Aaa-looo-ni-nun".
I corrected him 1 time he said, "shut the fuck up you know what I meant"....and that was that!

 

[ftierson]

Follow up by putting 'dude' on the list.



..............juanni

That's 'dood,' dood...

(You have to have seen The Island to get it, of course. Right?)

Forrest