‘It Is What It Is’: More Annoying Phrases to Avoid

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A few weeks ago PR News' SVP and group publisher Diane Schwartz listed some of the most annoying sayings and phrases that are over-employed by many communicators. This "epic list" was itself a follow-up to an earlier blog post that asked readers to offer their own suggestions.

And the suggestions just keep coming from PR News readers. Here's the latest batch:

  • "Looping in"

  • "Let's agree to disagree"

  • "A place at the table"

  • "Bang for the buck"

  • "Fast-forward to..."

  • "Reach out to"

  • "We'll address it later"

  • "Double-down”

  • "I know, right?"

  • "You know what I mean?"

  • "We're killing it"

  • "I’m going to bat for you"

  • Anything with “literally” or "virtually" in it

  • "Without further ado"

  • "Epic fail"

  • "Because of uncertain conditions"

  • "Out of pocket"

  • "Quite frankly"

  • "I couldn't care less"
     

  • "Untimely death"      

Keep ’em coming.

Follow Jamar Hudson: @jamarhudson 

123 responses to “‘It Is What It Is’: More Annoying Phrases to Avoid”

  4. “Socialize” used to mean give exposure to and gain consensus around ideas or work product

  6. Any written phrase that tries too create a dramatic effect with a period After. Every. Word.

  10. At least “I couldn’t care less” is the correct phrase. What is even more annoying is hearing “I could care less.” Do those people that means they do care, at least a little?

  11. I’d like to comment but I have a hard stop at 4:54 so I can jump onto another call; let’s circle back

  15. I love “untimely death.” When is death ever timely? Add “past history.” Is that different from “future history?”

  16. THANK YOU. I have been trying to abolish “it is what it is” from everyone’s vocabulary around me. I cringe every time I hear it.
    I’d also like to include “Amazeballs” and “Irregardless”

  26. CEO-speak and jargon learned in business school: “Hmmm, I don’t like the optics on this…”

  27. “There ya go.” – As in, you’re in a group and just said something very funny and that one dolt says “there ya go”, which is of course code for “You just said something very funny and, while I have nothing clever to say in return, I do want to say SOMETHING.”

  28. “That’s in my/his/her wheelhouse” – please make this stop. You are either qualified or not.

  31. Wow. You’ve managed to encompass 80% a typical business conversation.

  33. basically, actually…get to the point. filler words are as bad as mayo!

  35. “We’re excited about our product launch.” That sounds like you’re going to Disneyland. Quote the CEO about the product, not about his stupid feelings.

  38. “Let’s unpack this.” Also, “with all that being said”

  39. If people at my company didn’t use these phrases, I’m not sure there would be any verbal or written communication at all.

  44. Wow… Or how about instead of making a completely repetitive and irrelevant list like this, we all just collectively remove the stick from our asses and get back to work.

  47. “At that (or this) particular point in time…” How about: “then” or “now”

  48. My boss actually says “redonkulous” — instead of ridiculous. Drives me insane, not to mention it is horribly unprofessional.

  49. “At the end of the day”, “The bottom line”, “Tipping point”, “Getting granular”, “(So and so is) Running point (on something)”, “Content is king”

  50. Pivot…everything these days is a pivot. And and let’s use “fulsome” correctly. Fulsome is not praise; it means “excessive.”

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