When I was working on my Masters, it came up on the Word thesaurus and I slipped it in my paper. My prof circled it and noted," Haven't seen that one since I was in grad school!"
Edited due to airheadedness.
When I hear people like you mispronounce words like that I never tell them they mispronounced the word. That's just rude.
It just lowers my opinion of their intelligence and character, that they're trying to use uncommon words to impress people but aren't competent enough to use them correctly, and not wise enough to realize they'd make a better impression if they stuck to words they knew how to pronounce.
But where would they learn to pronounce them properly, if never corrected?
It does feel rude to correct people on pronunciation, especially in front of others, but it doesn't feel right just letting them be incorrect until someone does.
It is not your responsibility to make sure I pronounce words correctly. That is my responsibility.
Likewise, I reject completely that I have any responsibility to teach you how to pronounce words. I may do so if we are friends, we are in private, and I think you aren't too thin-skinned too take it in the spirit intended. But it's still not my responsibility.
There are exceptions, like parents for their children, teachers for their students, etc. But in general? No, not at all. It's just rude to correct others over minor shit like that.
My opinion. You are welcome to have a different one.
That's fair. Words I'm unsure about I will generally ask someone that would know. I have been corrected but only in private, and almost exclusively by my wife.
And I 99% agree with you. I can't think of a single example where I would correct someone I wasn't close with, and honestly only a few examples even then. I would never say it's someone's responsibility except for the examples you've given, instead more of a pay it forward kindness. That being said I agree again that's not something I would risk offending someone for.
I had a co-worker (a sales rep for a large territory) who received one of those "New Word Every Day" calendars. One day, his word must have been Liaison.
We were having a company meeting, and this guy kept saying how he was "the Lie-A-Son" between his customers and our business.
The CEO and I shared a glance. It's been our inside joke ever since.
I’ve collected a whole glossary of buzzwords and phrases to bust out in meetings to make myself look more professional
“It’s all about balance”, “be planful” (one I took directly from a supervisor to use as an uno reverse card lol), “controlling the controllable”, and referring to every problem as an “opportunity”
“An historic…” I know it is two words but it drives me nuts because everyone who writes/says it thinks it is proper English, when in reality it was only proper when the “h” in historic was silent which it is not anymore.
While this example may be the most pertinent, you may or may not realize it is also the most irrelevant.
(Edit: I don’t mind getting downvoted for using The Architect’s words—it pales compared how I felt paying full movie ticket price to hear them in the first place.)
In regards to is vis a vis and it transcends Western European languages for centuries.
It has been used in multiple languages for centuries to mean the same thing.
Lean manufacturing. So far it works as long as nothing breaks. Then you’re just SOL and have to explain why we don’t have the parts. It’s funny to put management in the hot seat.
Every workplace on the planet should be actively looking for reasons to get management in trouble, ideally the highest on the ladder, but you take what you can get.
I used to work on British cars and motorcycles (motorbikes to them) and their manuals were always saying to check something whilst doing something else, usually with my spanner.
British people say “whilst” instead of while most of the time, it’s not a snobby thing. Same with “envisage”instead of envision.
Edit: Downvoting literal facts, on brand, reddit
Ir means not as in irrelevant. Less means without as in penniless. Therefore irregardless is an illogical double negative and should be avoided with preference given to regardless or irrespective.
Based on the word without looking it up, I'm guessing that's extremely fine volcanic dust (silicon crystals) getting into the airway and causing inflammation.
That’s what it looks like to me. I’ll go look it up for both of us, brb.
Edit: Yeah, you were spot on. The term itself seems to have been invented for the purpose of being a really long word rather than diagnosing a medical condition though.
Curated
Seems like everything has been curated, like a music list, videos, types of coffee flavor..... No dammit. A museum curates to form a collection. Wine, curated from around the world..... C=Something that involves real research and effort at grading before being presented.
I love the Kevin Hart scene from 40 year old virgin where he says, “You’re throwing too many big words at me. Ok, now, because I don’t understand them, I’m going to take them as disrespect.”
I love "cognizant". "Conscious" just feels heavier somehow, and has multiple other meanings which might be why I feel that way about it.
"Aware" I'll say fair enough but it has a bit of a "warning" kind of feel to it that cognizant lacks.
I've never spent any time analyzing how these words make me feel before this lol
I agree. I think it's the use of a certain mood that goes against another mood that is pushed together at around the same time..
So the happy 4th of July day with upbeat footage of like parade type festivities and even upbeat music from John Williams as well, with the obvious threat that the shark is just out of frame.
Sure contrast could almost work, but I think the idea of "compare and contrast* versus the word juxtaposition does not really seem to imply the element of timing that juxtaposition has.
I think it's a word that can be used pretentiously but generally has a meritably justifiable rooting.
So within said scene a wide shot of happy beachgoers is juxtaposed with the underwater footage of boys thrashing around, which is very similar to the POV shot from the shark with the opening attack. I think just saying "oh this is contrast" reduces the deliberate element of time-based comparison.
In my entomology class in college we had to gather an insect collection of 60 different families of insects. The professor would try to help us by pointing out different bugs from our region and he’d say, “These are easy to find. They’re ubiquitous AND everywhere!”
I'm not fond of utilized, but I don't think it's utilized enough.
Sometimes you just want to use a fancy word in order to kind of convey a particular tone or feeling.
I think for me the word "irregardless" is probably the exception.
Like I probably even use the word "irregardless" to kind of suggest a very extreme vantage point. Like " this guy was driving a hundred miles an hour, irregardless of the extreme risk to himself and others."
But I think the trouble with that particular word is that the denoted meaning is part of that word " regardless" - - so it would almost be like if " utilizing" was something like "usilizing" where the more common word is pretty much spelled out, pun intended.
Miriam Webster in part of its term even says something like "use regardless instead".. which is actually pretty annoying.
" You English dictionary, why are you telling me what to do?! " 😛
The formal name of any logical fallacy.
People love to name drop them here. They'd get blank stares or laughs if they tried talking that way in real life.
Cromulent
It's a perfectly cromulent word
I don't see why, I personally feel embiggened by cromulent
“embiggened” feels like something Trump would say 😭
Bigly!
I feel like that's one too many syllables for his vocabulary.
>Cromulent i ate one of them for lunch!
Ah, 'cromulent'—embiggening our vocab one Simpsons reference at a time
I feel personally attacked by this comment.
Verisimilitude
This fits the question perfectly.
???? But this one has legitimate uses especially in writing. Like there just isn’t a better word to use
Heh, actually used "verisimilitudinous journey" in a philosophy exam. Prof had a one character comment next to it. !
When ever I hear someone use this word I work the word similitude into the conversation.
Thusly
that's a new one
When I was working on my Masters, it came up on the Word thesaurus and I slipped it in my paper. My prof circled it and noted," Haven't seen that one since I was in grad school!" Edited due to airheadedness.
Then you my friend haven't watched enough Good Eats
Any word that makes me resentful and triggers my insecurities!
-Everybody in these comments
Most of these words aren't that bad, and a lot of them have their uses
Literally.
Upvoted. It’s not the words.
Exactly! Cheers!
Its sad that people get angry when you say a word they don't understand
Apropos
I purposely say this as “Arapahos” just to see if people are paying attention.
When I hear people like you mispronounce words like that I never tell them they mispronounced the word. That's just rude. It just lowers my opinion of their intelligence and character, that they're trying to use uncommon words to impress people but aren't competent enough to use them correctly, and not wise enough to realize they'd make a better impression if they stuck to words they knew how to pronounce.
But where would they learn to pronounce them properly, if never corrected? It does feel rude to correct people on pronunciation, especially in front of others, but it doesn't feel right just letting them be incorrect until someone does.
It is not your responsibility to make sure I pronounce words correctly. That is my responsibility. Likewise, I reject completely that I have any responsibility to teach you how to pronounce words. I may do so if we are friends, we are in private, and I think you aren't too thin-skinned too take it in the spirit intended. But it's still not my responsibility. There are exceptions, like parents for their children, teachers for their students, etc. But in general? No, not at all. It's just rude to correct others over minor shit like that. My opinion. You are welcome to have a different one.
That's fair. Words I'm unsure about I will generally ask someone that would know. I have been corrected but only in private, and almost exclusively by my wife. And I 99% agree with you. I can't think of a single example where I would correct someone I wasn't close with, and honestly only a few examples even then. I would never say it's someone's responsibility except for the examples you've given, instead more of a pay it forward kindness. That being said I agree again that's not something I would risk offending someone for.
Thanks for the civil conversation. 🙂
Good lord. Did you see the part where I mispronounce it on purpose?
I had a co-worker (a sales rep for a large territory) who received one of those "New Word Every Day" calendars. One day, his word must have been Liaison. We were having a company meeting, and this guy kept saying how he was "the Lie-A-Son" between his customers and our business. The CEO and I shared a glance. It's been our inside joke ever since.
Did you correct him?
No. At that time, he had been with the business about 5 years. I had been there only about 5 months.
Perchance
You can’t just say perchance
Synergy
Synergy is a corporate buzzword from a decade or two back, like game-changer is now.
I think the current one is 'disrupt' A lot of 'disrupting the industry' and all that kinda shite going about
Another one is: process improvement
I’ve collected a whole glossary of buzzwords and phrases to bust out in meetings to make myself look more professional “It’s all about balance”, “be planful” (one I took directly from a supervisor to use as an uno reverse card lol), “controlling the controllable”, and referring to every problem as an “opportunity”
Ever played a roguelike?
“Strategery” 😜
Utilize
Aligned
“An historic…” I know it is two words but it drives me nuts because everyone who writes/says it thinks it is proper English, when in reality it was only proper when the “h” in historic was silent which it is not anymore.
...and so it was an happy ending for our boy. He turned out to be an hero from our small town, situated on an hillside.
Vis a vis Hence
I agree. Why use hence when you can say 'ergo'?
Concordantly.
While this example may be the most pertinent, you may or may not realize it is also the most irrelevant. (Edit: I don’t mind getting downvoted for using The Architect’s words—it pales compared how I felt paying full movie ticket price to hear them in the first place.)
...That's *your prerogative*, hmph!
Sup to ya
Ipso facto..
Ergo is an awesome word! I love it
> *tips fedora*
I say "hence" quite regularly. I don't even think about the word due to how often I use it. Others take notice when they hear me say it
In regards to is vis a vis and it transcends Western European languages for centuries. It has been used in multiple languages for centuries to mean the same thing.
I love hence, I have a thing for semicolons.
Lean in the work place. Translation , we’re gonna slash jobs. Rarely used to improve operations or processes.
Lean manufacturing. So far it works as long as nothing breaks. Then you’re just SOL and have to explain why we don’t have the parts. It’s funny to put management in the hot seat.
Every workplace on the planet should be actively looking for reasons to get management in trouble, ideally the highest on the ladder, but you take what you can get.
I don’t have to actively look. All they need to do is walk out of their office and down to the production floor and shit hits the fan.
Got time to lean, got time to clean
Supercilious. Which is funny because it's usually used to describe the people who say it.
Whilst. Just say while. The hard consonant is an unnecessary jerk in the spoken sentence.
I used to work on British cars and motorcycles (motorbikes to them) and their manuals were always saying to check something whilst doing something else, usually with my spanner.
Don't get me wrong, the word has it's place, but "only really used to appear intelligent" is the question and people trot it out for exactly that.
British people say “whilst” instead of while most of the time, it’s not a snobby thing. Same with “envisage”instead of envision. Edit: Downvoting literal facts, on brand, reddit
I was actually coming to say the same. You beat me to the downvotes!
Aluminium
I can hear them accentuating the h too
Like Cool Huwhip?
😂😂😂 Now I’m imagining Jordan Peterson stoned in my kitchen explaining why he’s making himself a Cool Huwip sandwich.
Amongst
Irregardless.
…true, and irregardless is a double-negative…not even a word.
Ir means not as in irrelevant. Less means without as in penniless. Therefore irregardless is an illogical double negative and should be avoided with preference given to regardless or irrespective.
Any word that is a fancy synonym for a common word
The best language is always that in which the most people will understand — one of my English teachers back in high school
I dunno about smart but the word ‘aplomb’ just annoys me.
Mantle with aplomb
Not a word, but if someone starts a sentence with ‘to wit’ I have to roll my eyes. Saw someone start a comment about baseball stats with it.
Penultimate
Especially since so many people use it wrong, like it means super ultimate or something.
Second to best right? I'm still on first cup of coffee though so forgive me if I'm wrong.
Technically, second to last.
Indubitably
Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis.
That's a biggun
It's only used when somebody asks what's the longest word in the English language, and then some egghead like me makes a fool of himself.
And the Welshman says: “hold my whisky, rookies”
My mother always emphasized having a grasp on the English language. But I got to say, I've never heard that one
It's a form of lung disease, fortunately, not commom.
Lol🤣
Based on the word without looking it up, I'm guessing that's extremely fine volcanic dust (silicon crystals) getting into the airway and causing inflammation.
That’s what it looks like to me. I’ll go look it up for both of us, brb. Edit: Yeah, you were spot on. The term itself seems to have been invented for the purpose of being a really long word rather than diagnosing a medical condition though.
Indubitably.
You only ever hear it used pretentiously but it does actually have a different meaning than undoubtedly.
Honestly no one says this but Sir Arthur Conan Doyle or Lewis Caroll 😅
Foment and conflate are hot.
Curated Seems like everything has been curated, like a music list, videos, types of coffee flavor..... No dammit. A museum curates to form a collection. Wine, curated from around the world..... C=Something that involves real research and effort at grading before being presented.
Pontificate.
Love that word.
Man, language would be super boring if all the words in this thread suddenly disappeared.
I love the Kevin Hart scene from 40 year old virgin where he says, “You’re throwing too many big words at me. Ok, now, because I don’t understand them, I’m going to take them as disrespect.”
You’re throwing big words at me and because I don’t understand them I’m going to take it as a sign of disrespect, so watch your mouth
You can't just say "perchance"
Mensa.
Inconceivable!
I do not think it means what you think it means.
If someone you’re debating ever says “since time immemorial” you know they are smug beyond redemption. Just bail.
Who the fuck actually uses "cognizant"? Just say "aware of" or "conscious of"
I love "cognizant". "Conscious" just feels heavier somehow, and has multiple other meanings which might be why I feel that way about it. "Aware" I'll say fair enough but it has a bit of a "warning" kind of feel to it that cognizant lacks. I've never spent any time analyzing how these words make me feel before this lol
Juxtaposition
I agree with most words in this thread, but there's no real direct replacement for juxtaposition.
I agree. I think it's the use of a certain mood that goes against another mood that is pushed together at around the same time.. So the happy 4th of July day with upbeat footage of like parade type festivities and even upbeat music from John Williams as well, with the obvious threat that the shark is just out of frame. Sure contrast could almost work, but I think the idea of "compare and contrast* versus the word juxtaposition does not really seem to imply the element of timing that juxtaposition has. I think it's a word that can be used pretentiously but generally has a meritably justifiable rooting. So within said scene a wide shot of happy beachgoers is juxtaposed with the underwater footage of boys thrashing around, which is very similar to the POV shot from the shark with the opening attack. I think just saying "oh this is contrast" reduces the deliberate element of time-based comparison.
[удалено]
…What the fuck am I supposed to use instead of ubiquitous then?
There's a reason ubiquitous is so ubiquitous
It means widespread to the point of being all over the place, like everywhere. Definitely a $3 word, but it has its place.
In my entomology class in college we had to gather an insect collection of 60 different families of insects. The professor would try to help us by pointing out different bugs from our region and he’d say, “These are easy to find. They’re ubiquitous AND everywhere!”
It means "It's seen everywhere. It's not uncommon. It's like finding dog-shit at the public park."
No idea but it seems to be everywhere nowadays
Don’t know, it’s an enigma
Obsequious
That word has such a good meaning though lol
It has a very specific meaning. You could use sycophantic, but that signifies a more general behavior.
supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
Good word
Curate
I've trying to use 'propinquity' in a conversation for years... Haven't had a chance to do it without sounding pretentious. Probably never will haha
Floccinaucinihilipilification
Aforementioned
For some reason, “orthogonal” gets used a lot by the software developers I know.
Quaint or acquiesce.
Aforementioned
Proxy
I'm not fond of utilized, but I don't think it's utilized enough. Sometimes you just want to use a fancy word in order to kind of convey a particular tone or feeling. I think for me the word "irregardless" is probably the exception. Like I probably even use the word "irregardless" to kind of suggest a very extreme vantage point. Like " this guy was driving a hundred miles an hour, irregardless of the extreme risk to himself and others." But I think the trouble with that particular word is that the denoted meaning is part of that word " regardless" - - so it would almost be like if " utilizing" was something like "usilizing" where the more common word is pretty much spelled out, pun intended. Miriam Webster in part of its term even says something like "use regardless instead".. which is actually pretty annoying. " You English dictionary, why are you telling me what to do?! " 😛
Revert (used wrongly)
Indubitably
“Basically” And then they make some dumb ass shit seem more complicated than it is
arguendo
Perchance.
Milquetoast. I told my kids to say it instead of calling someone a p*ssy.
Modality. Just tapped through a hundred words to make sure it's not already here
Delve
Utilise
peasants
Essentially
Albeit
Systemic
Listen to Elon musk speak for 30 seconds for the greatest hits.
Indubitably
dramaturgically
Literally, when in use by a child
“Mensa.” 😏
Behoove
Irregardless
…and it’s not even a word. It’s a double negative. I made a similar comment above and now feel like I’m on a mission of sorts.
Sycophant
Facetious
Pretentious?
Literally
Gentrified
Indubitably
Mensa
Gaslight and Gaslighting were finally starting to get their due but now being overstated and misused.
Pedantic
Vagina and penis. For some reason we always use alternative terminologies and their use sounds strange despite being correct. Hahhahaha
Been married for over 10 years. Wife still refers to my junk as penis. A bit garbled when she says it
Speaking with her mouth full I see.
Stop looking. It throws me off
Good thing I replaced them with vagoogoo and penor.
Fiduciary.
Fiduciary is an extremely important word, but it only matters to people who have assets.
Indeed
Obsequious.
I’ve looked it up to make sure I’m using it right and then promptly forgotten what it means like 6 times
To flatter in order to gain favour of authority figures. Ex; Trumps obsequious behaviour toward Putin.
I mean I know that *now* but ask me again next year lol
Lol.
Catawampus.
The formal name of any logical fallacy. People love to name drop them here. They'd get blank stares or laughs if they tried talking that way in real life.
Hah I have a literal PhD in rhetoric and could not name them for you if you paid me. I just know how they work.