Basically....

[Fatmanbuttsam]

That's it really.....I hate, with a passion, this word being added in to sentences. It means nothing and adds nothing to a conversation. It is the equivalent of fingernails being dragged down a chalkboard to me.
Today my boss was using it continually (I usually try to ignore it) and after some time I asked her if she could try using it just every other sentence ......by the time she left my head felt like it was going to explode....not only with her plethora of 'basicallys' but also trying t fathom out what she meant by "and you-know-whats-his name, well can you chase up when he's going to get the thingy to us"....sadly it is far to early for so i guess it will have to be chocolate

YABU basically because it's never too early for on Fridays.

save for when one must drive oneself home.....perhaps I should engage a driver for Fridays

YANBU - my DS starts virtually every sentence with 'Basically....' at the moment. It's driving me up the wall. I'll join you in the

... run

Find a word equally irritating and start using it CONSTANTLY with them.

'Actually' with a really pronounced 'A' is a good one.

Or 'Literally' .....

*'Actually' with a really pronounced 'A' is a good one.

Or 'Literally' .....*
These too made a frequent appearance. I could understand if she was in her teens but really, the woman could get a bus ride for free these days

I disagree that it always adds nothing. It's a useful and valid word, just like any other, when used correctly and in context.

But I wholeheartedly agree that it's one of those words that is over-used and needlessly inserted into sentences at random, to the point that it becomes like a verbal tic.

I used to know someone who used to insert the word actual in front of nouns for absolutely no reason whatsoever.

She'd say slice the actual bread, butter it, put it on the actual plate.'

It puts my teeth on edge too, as does "At the end of the day"

The one that drives ne nuts is 'to be honest with you' , often pronounced tubbyonisswivya. I want to scream ''No, don't be honest, just lie through your teeth, I'd much prefer that".

'Literally' is the one that drives me bonkers. Literally, bonkers.

I don't hate "basically" when used properly. Like today, for instance, I picked up my new glasses and when my boss noticed them she said, "are those new? Hmm, I liked the ones you had on this morning better". So if I was recounting this story to someone else, I'd say "my boss basically told me that my new glasses are horrible today"

I do hate people who use "literally" when it's really unnecessary. "That spider was huge, I literally nearly died when I saw it!". Literally?

Also, people who apparently "turn around" before they say anything. "She said this, so I turned around and told her..." arghhh

YANBU
Do what FrootLoopy says, start saying things like "I literally died", when quite clearly this is a lie....
I've got someone that says, 'I'm sorry but" then says the most daily mail thing you can imagine after it!

Oops cross post Cherry!

Great minds. Shizlack! The "sorry but" thing makes me think of my granny, with her "I'm not prejudiced, but..." comments. Those are always guaranteed to be GOLD and leave a room of people looking like

Me too!

I also hate the use of the word 'obviously' when it's not obvious at all!

You would have loved my dad op. He had a basically box at work instead of a swear box. He could not stand the word.

One thing I do that drives my DP up the wall is give really crap, roundabout apologies. He says that I refuse to accept any blame or responsibility during fights (obviously true, because I'm LITERALLY perfect ) and my pseudo-apologies are always along the lines of, "well, I'm sorry that you've taken what I said that way but..."

I keep doing it rather than just admit that I've been a dick! Poor DP, he puts up with some amount of shit

I irritate myself with my use of 'basically', it really is dreadful. And starting sentences with 'Well...'

I love to use literally back at those who use it incorrectly. I'll tell a story and finish with "and I literally shat myself............literally. People start looking very unsure of themselves...

Love actually

Fuck you actually

That is actually amazing

I have a colleague who uses effectively in every sentence which is an explanation. As we are web developers we have to explain things a lot. This effectively renders me stabby.

That is essentially the most annoying thing I've ever heard.

I have a colleague who constantly uses "I hate to tell you but.." it's usually followed by a simple comment or fact, not even something potentially offensive or controversial!

I remember in O-level English we had a piece of Bad Wrting to dissect which was entitled 'Well, basically'.