Anonymous wrote:
Gender in lieu of sex. I don't have a gender, I am of the female sex. I identify as a female, but that's because I have matching parts. I detest the implication that gender is the softer way to not intimidate, insult or otherwise marginalize those who struggle with being born of one sex and not the other.
Anonymous wrote:We're pregnant. (usually said by a husband)
Unless two pregnant women are standing together and talking about expecting their babies, then no.
Gender in lieu of sex. I don't have a gender, I am of the female sex. I identify as a female, but that's because I have matching parts. I detest the implication that gender is the softer way to not intimidate, insult or otherwise marginalize those who struggle with being born of one sex and not the other.
Anonymous wrote:We seem to use these words to fill pauses in our conversations. My recommendation is to actually pause, instead of bombarding people with meaningless words that simply make it more difficult (and exhausting) to understand what someone is saying. Pauses are fine! Pauses are natural.
Just read this on an article and completely agree with the author. What are your other words/expressions pet-peeves?
Here are my top ten most irritating filler phrases:
1. “At the end of the day” – What does that even mean? Does it mean later? Just leave it out!
2. “To be honest” – Why, are you normally not honest with me? What a crazy thing to say!
3. “If you know what I mean” – If I don’t know what you mean I would probably tell you. I don’t need a prompt.
4. “You know” – Is this a question or a statement?
5. “Having said that” – Yes, you have just said that. I was here, you have been speaking to me and I don’t need you to tell me that you have just said something to me!
6. “Like” – This is especially annoying if it is inserted a number of times into every single sentence. Why, oh, why?
7. “Literally” – Should mean ‘figuratively’ or exactly as you say. It makes so sense to ‘literally explode’ or to ‘literally die’.
8. “I am just saying’” – Yes, I have heard it. Should this make me feel better about the fact that you have just offended me or said something that didn’t make sense?
9. “Seriously” – Are you saying that you are telling me the truth or are you using it as a replacement for ‘yeah’ – I am, like, seriously confused!
10. "I mean" – Some people litter this phrase into every single sentence they say. It must be one of the most meaningless phrases of all.
So, is it just me? Or do these words drive you nuts too?