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August 3, 2012
in actually worst word language the atlantic
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theatlantic: Actually, the Worst Word on the Planet Is ‘Actually’ There is a very important question being tackled again by certain smart people of the Internet, and that question is this: What, exactly, is the worst word on the entire planet? Any time this question or one like it is broached, an opened floodgate of response is ensured, likely to include words like moist, fecund, phlegm, artisanal, or if you work at TheNew Yorker, slacks. We continue to believe that coöperationis öffensive, as is the corresponding word, diaeresis, which remains ever so hard to spell no matter how many times we type it. On Thursday Sarah Miller made a strong argument on The Awl for literally as our English-speaking community’s worst word. This is not a bad word to choose as the very worst. Flagrant misuses abound, and it’s ever so annoying when people say literally when they actually mean not literally. Literally, in fact, is rarely used when it should be used, which is almost never, and almost always when it shouldn’t. […] Literally is a word that we should be very, very careful around. But actually I think there’s a word that’s worse.Actually, did you see what I did there? While literally and actually can be used interchangeably, actually has a bad attitude. Literallycan be mocked and laughed at, because literally almost no one uses it correctly. Actually is more sneaky, a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Actually is the word that you use when you’re actually saying, “You are wrong, and I am right, and you are at least a little bit of an idiot.” Read more. [Image: Flickr/sAeroZar] Actually, this is true. Word. (hah. puns.)

theatlantic:

Actually, the Worst Word on the Planet Is ‘Actually’

There is a very important question being tackled again by certain smart people of the Internet, and that question is this: What, exactly, is the worst word on the entire planet? Any time this question or one like it is broached, an opened floodgate of response is ensured, likely to include words like moist, fecund, phlegm, artisanal, or if you work at TheNew Yorker, slacks. We continue to believe that coöperationis öffensive, as is the corresponding word, diaeresis, which remains ever so hard to spell no matter how many times we type it.

On Thursday Sarah Miller made a strong argument on The Awl for literally as our English-speaking community’s worst word. This is not a bad word to choose as the very worst. Flagrant misuses abound, and it’s ever so annoying when people say literally when they actually mean not literally. Literally, in fact, is rarely used when it should be used, which is almost never, and almost always when it shouldn’t. […]

Literally is a word that we should be very, very careful around. But actually I think there’s a word that’s worse.Actually, did you see what I did there? While literally and actually can be used interchangeably, actually has a bad attitude. Literallycan be mocked and laughed at, because literally almost no one uses it correctly. Actually is more sneaky, a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Actually is the word that you use when you’re actually saying, “You are wrong, and I am right, and you are at least a little bit of an idiot.”

Read more. [Image: Flickr/sAeroZar]

Actually, this is true.

Word. (hah. puns.)


(via theatlantic)

Notes:

  1. wtulsthevox reblogged this from theatlantic
  2. kellymce reblogged this from theatlantic
  3. kowareta reblogged this from psshaw and added:
    the Worst Word on the Planet Is ‘Actually’
  4. melody-nelson reblogged this from theatlantic
  5. psshaw reblogged this from lazysmirk
  6. carissahalston reblogged this from thelalatheory and added:
    Katie, have you seen this video? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7E-aoXLZGY It sums things up quite nicely. My least...
  7. goldenyellow reblogged this from ohdelay
  8. ohdelay reblogged this from ninaperlman
  9. thelalatheory reblogged this from theatlantic and added:
    I’ve been thinking about this a lot because I’ve realized that, since I care about words and language and writing an...
  10. pantsareforassholes reblogged this from cnet and added:
    My least favorite word...“Hallelujah.” It’s grotesque.
  11. wittynonsense reblogged this from theatlantic
  12. bellalison reblogged this from myownbeatnow
  13. charming-strawberry reblogged this from theatlantic
  14. myownbeatnow reblogged this from infatuationtouchesme and added:
    Actually, the wrong use of literally is literally almost always more annoying than actually.
  15. soulofayoungman reblogged this from theatlantic
  16. jahnnasbrain reblogged this from theatlantic
  17. archbernard reblogged this from theatlantic and added:
    The “talk to the hand” of the adverb community. Also, forsooth!
  18. meeplesforthewin reblogged this from theatlantic
  19. night-into-butterflies reblogged this from theatlantic
  20. roofasa reblogged this from theatlantic
  21. radicalpostbacc reblogged this from theatlantic and added:
    I think I need to start a list of “Words to Watch Out for, Especially in Activist Communities.”
  22. facetiousy reblogged this from theatlantic and added:
    This article adds zest to my insipid day while stoking the pretentious, flickering flames of my soul. Additionally, now...
  23. misanthropic-bunny reblogged this from cnet and added:
    Actually, I actually rather enjoy the word “actually.” It’s the bitch face of the English language.
  24. datshortnaijaboi reblogged this from cnet
  25. sdrake reblogged this from theatlantic and added:
    Forsooth, I’d rather have pizza.
  26. gidgetry reblogged this from theatlantic
  27. simplyscott reblogged this from theatlantic
  28. polymathlete reblogged this from theatlantic
  29. cradleandtrap reblogged this from yahighway
  30. theslattern reblogged this from theatlantic
  31. disconnected-child reblogged this from kametard