It’s not rocket science — the Top 10 Most Annoying Phrases

Some University of Oxford researchers have compiled a list of the Top 10 Most Irritating Expressions in the English language. You know you want to read it:

1. At the end of the day
2. Fairly unique
3. I personally
4. At this moment in time
5. With all due respect
6. Absolutely
7. It’s a nightmare
8. Shouldn’t of
9. 24/7
10. It’s not rocket science

The list appears in a new book, Damp Squid: The English Language Laid Bare, by Jeremy Butterfield.

At the end of the day I personally think this is a fairly unique list.

Oxford Researchers List Top 10 Most Annoying Phrases | The Underwire from Wired.com

3 Responses to “It’s not rocket science — the Top 10 Most Annoying Phrases”

1. It’s rocket science…not | American Madness says:

   September 8, 2009 at 8:51 am

   [...] blog “Bodhi Tree Swaying” notes that Jeremy Butterfield in his book Damp Squid: The English Language Laid Bare “it’s not [...]
2. Katy Yelland says:

   October 9, 2009 at 1:14 pm

   damp squid? haha

   I agree that “with all due respect” is pissing annoying!!!
3. bodhipaksa says:

   October 10, 2009 at 9:36 am

   It’s hard to use “with all due respect” these days because usually it prefaces a comment showing a complete lack of respect. I quite like the phrase as it was (or at least as I assume it was) originally intended.