To really, really hate it when people use words like 'practicable'?

[Grumpasaurus]

That's just it, really! When did these misused and annoying developments in email business speak become so common? If you mean it's practical, say it's practical! If you mean it is something that is possible to try and put into practice, say 'it's possible'. What the eff is practicable? I get a bit stabby every time i hear it...

"Timeous" is also perfectly fine in legal documents, but not anywhere else.

It really drives me up the wall reading stuff written by non-lawyers in a legal (or what they think is a legal) style.

It's usually cringe-makingly pompous and stuffed with incorrect terms. English terms used in a Scots context are bad enough but American terms in a Scots or English context take the biscuit.

Tips- if for any reason have to write about a legal issue just use plain English. We'll know what you mean. Don't use 4 words if 1 will do e.g -"in the event of" can be replaced with "if"

"Timeous" or "timeously" do not mean timely or promptly. They mean something has to be done by a certain date or within a specific time period. The date might be distant or the period might be lengthy. They don't necessarily involve a sense of urgency.

"Practicable" does not mean practical nor possible. A party in a contract might be obliged to do something "as soon as reasonably practicable" As "soon as possible" would oblige the person to do it as soon as it was possible but that might be before it is "practicable". The difference is as soon "as possible " might still be at a time when it's difficult/inconvenient/overly expensive to do it.

Ha! This has reminded me of when I did my A level in Law and heard the word practicable for the first time, for ages I thought my lecturer meant practical and was just mispronouncing it!!

My biggest pet peeve is people using 'I' or 'myself' when they mean 'me'.

It's Robert and I's anniversary today!'

Argh!!!!!!

Confronting, when used as an adjective: I found that really, like, so confronting.

Relatable: his lovely accent makes him sound so relatable. Not a fucking word.

In regards to: that would be regarding, as regards, with regard to or about.

I can't stand 'myself' being used in place of Me or I.

And I HATE HATE HATE 'stabby' (sorry OP! :))

At Christmas there were a lot of presents; Princess Charlesetta received a plethora (sumptuous amount) of beautifully wrapped gifts.

At Christmas there were a lot of presents; spoilt soccer-brat Charlie could barely move in the morning for his plethora of gifts (excessive amount).

That's how I take plethora to be different from just "a lot".

One that gets on my pip is "myriad of". Nooooo it's just myriad. No "of" required. Grrrrrr!

"Fulsome" when used to describe a colleague's leaving speech, or a funeral eulogy.

They have no idea of its connotations of excess and cloying quality.

Functionality is my pet hate. Surely it is just a function??

One of those awful cloying posts popped up on FB recently (the sort of thing that typically has an "inspirational" quote and a picture of dolphins).

It said: "Compassion is a verb".

No, it isn't.

I use functionality all the time in my (quite techy) writing. It is the noun from functional isn't it?

"The new product has improved functionality". Fuction wouldn't work there

My pet hate is "cleanse", especially when used in that particularly unctuous tone in adverts. What's wrong with "clean"?

My biggest pet peeve is people using 'I' or 'myself' when they mean 'me'.
^

This! When someone uses it in AIBU I have to take a strong grip on myself just to resist the temptation to tell them that their choice of words is VVVU.

What's wrong with practicable? It's a perfectly good word and it's in proper dictionaries and everything ...

I think we've established that used!

Sorry! Stupid site locked me out for some reason and I had to re-register with a new name and it all zoomed on without me ( hangs head in shame ... )

Outwith, ffs. Only ever see it on here. Only ever used to mean exactly the same as outside. So a tip for those who use it: the readers reaction is far more likely to be 'how pretentious can you fucking get', than 'oh, what a wide and sophisticated vocabulary this poster has'.

Sorry, bit of a bugbear of mine.

That doesn't sound like a very practiacl process used. Perhaps the site needs improved functionality

This thread makes me think of Dorothy L Sayers Gaudy Night

“Do you find it easy to get drunk on words?"

"So easy that, to tell you the truth, I am seldom perfectly sober.”

Love word related threads , sadly I have to go to work.

Jammy outwith is used a lot in Aberdeenshire - I assumed it was a dialect thing.

Seven years down the line and I find myself using it.

Oh dear. That's allowed then.

Yep outwith is almost universally used instead of outside of in Scotland. Well in the central belt it is anyway. It has no pretentious connotations whatsoever.

That does explain it. Thanks, always glad to be educated. In future I'll save my ire for the myselfs.

The rule for "I" and "Me" is so straightforward, I lose all my carefully-cultivated tolerance for language abuse. 'Geoff and I at the BAFTAs.' No, no, no! Would you say "I at the BAFTAs"? Or do you have a brain??!

"If you would call myself at the earliest opportunity ..." You only said 'myself' because you're using flowery language, you JERK! When you leave a friend in the pub, do you say "Call myself"? You don't, do you? You say "Call me".

Do people think that "Me" is a swear word or something?

Practicable and timeous are good words, I like them... if they are used correctly.
A lot of people don't know when to say me or I but if in doubt always say ME it may not be correct but you won't sound like a twat like if you get it wrong with I.