Things that people say that make them sound too pretentious

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"the data say"

I'm probably just missing something, but what's wrong with this one? I thought it was the correct phrase.

If you use this, you either sound like a pretentious twat, or you sound functionally illiterate. I don't care that your overlords told you it is "correct".

Wow. I usually go with "the data would indicate" or the "data supports." You must hate me. I don't care.
-a scientist

Perhaps your data are of no interest to the scientific community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I remember being in college and going to an old lady, old money event. One woman said, "We found the best filipino au pair. She's teaching Zachary jai alai!"

I don't think that's a thing that 'people' say, but it just came off as one of the more odd things I had heard to that point. I knew no one who had an au pair.

sure she was rich? flips are pretty cheap help. a french girl would be pricey.

Au pairs are cheap....nannies are expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I remember being in college and going to an old lady, old money event. One woman said, "We found the best filipino au pair. She's teaching Zachary jai alai!"

I don't think that's a thing that 'people' say, but it just came off as one of the more odd things I had heard to that point. I knew no one who had an au pair.

sure she was rich? flips are pretty cheap help. a french girl would be pricey.

Au pairs are cheap....nannies are expensive.

To someone who never knew anyone with an au pair or a nanny...either seems like a luxury.

[Anonymous]

"I spoke to Mother yesterday" -- said to someone who is not your sibling.

"I went to school in Boston" -- hoping for the listener to ask. "Oh yeah, which one?"

"Cinema"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"the data say"

I'm probably just missing something, but what's wrong with this one? I thought it was the correct phrase.

If you use this, you either sound like a pretentious twat, or you sound functionally illiterate. I don't care that your overlords told you it is "correct".

Illiterate? Data is plural. Datum is singular. You don't need an overlord to know this; try a dictionary.

You know, I also say "the data are" -- I even "the media are" -- but I also recognize that correct usage changes. Unless you also say, "I need to put together an agendum for the meeting!"?

If there is only one item on the list.. then yes it's an agendum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"the data say"

I'm probably just missing something, but what's wrong with this one? I thought it was the correct phrase.

If you use this, you either sound like a pretentious twat, or you sound functionally illiterate. I don't care that your overlords told you it is "correct".

Wow. I usually go with "the data would indicate" or the "data supports." You must hate me. I don't care.
-a scientist

Perhaps your data are of no interest to the scientific community.

My point was that data doesn't "say" anything. It either supports or doesn't support a theory.

[Anonymous]

Someone on the decorating board recently used "bespoke," which is totally pretentious (and ridiculous, if applied to anything other than a Jermyn Street suit).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Name dropping Davos.

Ugh, AS IF anyone cares that you know the Onion Knight!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone on the decorating board recently used "bespoke," which is totally pretentious (and ridiculous, if applied to anything other than a Jermyn Street suit).

Yes! I caught that too! No, lady, your custom ordered curtains are nice, but made-to-measure draperies are not bespoke unless you commissioned a fabric artist to weave you unique flaxen cloth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I remember being in college and going to an old lady, old money event. One woman said, "We found the best filipino au pair. She's teaching Zachary jai alai!"

I don't think that's a thing that 'people' say, but it just came off as one of the more odd things I had heard to that point. I knew no one who had an au pair.

sure she was rich? flips are pretty cheap help. a french girl would be pricey.

Au pairs are cheap....nannies are expensive.

Correct. All au pairs are relatively cheap and the prices are fairly similar if you use one of the big programs, regardless of which country the au pair is from.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I remember being in college and going to an old lady, old money event. One woman said, "We found the best filipino au pair. She's teaching Zachary jai alai!"

I don't think that's a thing that 'people' say, but it just came off as one of the more odd things I had heard to that point. I knew no one who had an au pair.

sure she was rich? flips are pretty cheap help. a french girl would be pricey.

Au pairs are cheap....nannies are expensive.

To someone who never knew anyone with an au pair or a nanny...either seems like a luxury.

If you have two plus kids, assuming you have the extra room in your house, the au pair works out to be cheaper than daycare in the DC area.

[Anonymous]

We have these metal file cabinet/shelf things in our office and some guy insists on calling them "credenzas."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Where do you summer?" Or "we summer ...."

"Where did you prep?" is worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"I spoke to Mother yesterday" -- said to someone who is not your sibling.

"I went to school in Boston" -- hoping for the listener to ask. "Oh yeah, which one?"

"Cinema"

This may be the most correct answer in the thread.

Cheer camp is straight up trashy. Did Larla also place in the beauty pageant??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"the data say"

I'm probably just missing something, but what's wrong with this one? I thought it was the correct phrase.

If you use this, you either sound like a pretentious twat, or you sound functionally illiterate. I don't care that your overlords told you it is "correct".

Wow. I usually go with "the data would indicate" or the "data supports." You must hate me. I don't care.
-a scientist

Perhaps your data are of no interest to the scientific community.

My point was that data doesn't "say" anything. It either supports or doesn't support a theory.