Expressions You Hate!

[serious crayons]

"Left Coast" always makes me smile. 

It's sure better than "flyoverland."

[Jeff Wrangler]

Here's one that makes me cringe: "Persons" this and "Persons" that! 

I know it's done to avoid using "man," but it still drives me crazy because with a little thought I'm sure there is a better way to get around using "man" than substituting "person."

The worst cringe-inducer is the term for an afternoon professional baseball game played on a weekday. These games used to be called "Businessman's Specials," for the "businessmen" who would sneak away from the office to attend them, but that term can't be used anymore, so now they are "Businessperson's Specials."    Since these games are played on a business day, why not "Business Day Special"?

Here's another that relates to local politics.

The members of Philadelphia City Council are elected by district. The members of Council, male and female, are still called "councilmen," and their districts are called "councilmanic districts." 

"Councilmanic" makes me think of a member of the Council jumping around, waving his or her arms in the air, and shrieking hysterically. ...

Would it be so difficult to call the members of Council "representatives," and their districts simply "Council districts"?

[Jeff Wrangler]

It's sure better than "flyoverland."

Eeew. ... 

[Clyde-B]

Here's one that makes me cringe: "Persons" this and "Persons" that! 

I know it's done to avoid using "man," but it still drives me crazy because with a little thought I'm sure there is a better way to get around using "man" that substituting "person."

The worst cringe-inducer is the term for an afternoon professional baseball game played on a weekday. These games used to be called "Businessman's Specials," for the "businessmen" who would sneak away from the office to attend them, but that term can't be used anymore, so now they are "Businessperson's Specials."    Since these games are played on a business day, why not "Business Day Special"?

Here's another that relates to local politics.

The members of Philadelphia City Council are elected by district. The members of Council, male and female, are still called "councilmen," and their districts are called "councilmanic districts." 

"Councilmanic" makes me think of a member of the Council jumping around, waving his or her arms in the air, and shrieking hysterically. ...

Would it be so difficult to call the members of Council "representatives," and their districts simply "Council districts"?

You could always call them councilpersons.     *ducks shoe*

Do they also have "councildepressive districts?"

[Jeff Wrangler]

Do they also have "councildepressive districts?"

Friend, they are ALL depressive districts!

[Jeff Wrangler]

OK, here's one I ran across in this morning's newspaper: "tasked" 

It was in a review of Doubt:

"No, the problem isn't the players. It's with what they're tasked to do."

 

A number of appropriate verbs are available to be used in this sentence. It isn't necessary to make a new one out of a noun.

[delalluvia]

Here's one that makes me cringe: "Persons" this and "Persons" that! 

I know it's done to avoid using "man," but it still drives me crazy because with a little thought I'm sure there is a better way to get around using "man" that substituting "person."

The worst cringe-inducer is the term for an afternoon professional baseball game played on a weekday. These games used to be called "Businessman's Specials," for the "businessmen" who would sneak away from the office to attend them, but that term can't be used anymore, so now they are "Businessperson's Specials."    Since these games are played on a business day, why not "Business Day Special"?

Here's another that relates to local politics.

The members of Philadelphia City Council are elected by district. The members of Council, male and female, are still called "councilmen," and their districts are called "councilmanic districts." 

"Councilmanic" makes me think of a member of the Council jumping around, waving his or her arms in the air, and shrieking hysterically. ...

Would it be so difficult to call the members of Council "representatives," and their districts simply "Council districts"?

Heh.  Because to call them "Councilors" is too close in pronunciation to "counselors".

My issue is with title Catholic 'priests' and the desire of women to be - 'female priests'.

Can't they just call them priestesses?  Or is that too old fashion?  Like actors and actresses?  Hero and heroine?

Or is it too pagan?  Too many Steve Reeves biblical epics having influenced an entire world too much to imagine priestesses as anything other than women dancing wildly before pagan idols?

[serious crayons]

Like actors and actresses? 

But as it is, I've noticed they're moving toward calling actresses actors. Once or twice, someone has mentioned an actress with an ambiguous name, like maybe Sigourney though not the actual Sigourney, and said "so and so is a really good actor," and I've started to say "wait, isn't so and so a woman?" but then remembered and stopped myself.

[Jeff Wrangler]

But as it is, I've noticed they're moving toward calling actresses actors. Once or twice, someone has mentioned an actress with an ambiguous name, like maybe Sigourney though not the actual Sigourney, and said "so and so is a really good actor," and I've started to say "wait, isn't so and so a woman?" but then remembered and stopped myself.

I've noticed that, too, and also comedian being used for both men and women.

[Jeff Wrangler]

Heh.  Because to call them "Councilors" is too close in pronunciation to "counselors".

   Nobody suggested councilors. They're all called councilmen now. I suggested representative.

My issue is with title Catholic 'priests' and the desire of women to be - 'female priests'.

Lutherans--and I think Methodists, too--refer to all clergy as pastors, rather than as priests. I've never looked into the derivation of the word, but today anyway it seems to work equally well for both genders.