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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

About the overuse of the word "clearly"

30 replies

HateIsNotGood · 25/02/2019 21:08

Every few years I notice a word that creeps its way into, but not quite, common usage, and "clearly" is currently doing this.

I just hate it - it's really patronizing and because something is "clearly" apparent to you, doesn't mean I (or anyone) sees it the same way although "clearly" you think we should.

Am I the only one that has "clearly" noticed this?

I do have form for this though, so it might just be me - previously it was "good, good" when the speaker actually meant 'good' and before that "strategies" - i won't explain my annoyance at that tho.

OP posts:
MoistMolly · 25/02/2019 21:11

Clearly yabu.

HateIsNotGood · 25/02/2019 21:14

With one of the top annoying words of all time included in your username Molly, clearly I can not take you seriously.

OP posts:
bluddleuddleumdum · 25/02/2019 21:21

YANBU and I would like to couple this with the monstrous overuse in recent times of the word significantly

EnglishRose13 · 25/02/2019 21:23

Random was one. Not everything is random.

Cheeky, also.

MoistMolly · 25/02/2019 21:24
Biscuit
HateIsNotGood · 25/02/2019 21:31

I think once one's ears are 'attuned' to "significant" words, their overuse is clearly not "random".

Mollie's biscuits have a soggy bottom; because clealy I'm not going to use The M-word.

OP posts:
LunafortJest · 25/02/2019 21:45

No, not at all. The words 'proper' and 'grim' at least on here are way over-used and mostly used incorrectly. On this site, everything is 'grim'. Even in situations where the definition doesn't fit, someone or something or some situation is grim. Leading me to wonder if the person using it even knows what the word means. Same with 'proper'. E.g I 'proper laughed'. Wtf is that translated in English? What is the alternative? You improper laughed? Whatever happened to saying 'I really laughed' or 'I actually laughed' or even just.....I laughed? Why does every action have to have 'proper' in front of it?

CoffeeRunner · 25/02/2019 21:47

It’s the new “literally”.

Generally used when neither literally nor clearly is appropriate.

Basilneedswaterandsun · 25/02/2019 21:47

How about the word “super” all the fucking time!

Sandsnake · 25/02/2019 21:49

YANBU. DH has started saying ‘let me be clear’, like he’s Theresa bloody May. He says it’s rife at his work and hates it himself.

M0reGinPlease · 25/02/2019 22:04

Blatantly!

Which is also nearly always misused.

HateIsNotGood · 25/02/2019 22:06

snake - :) see!?. your DH illustrates my point exactly [clearly]. It's not just on MN, the radio, tv and general converstion.

It's cle...........

OP posts:
ThanosSavedMe · 25/02/2019 22:11

Can I add the word myself to the list.

I’m not sure why but people seem to be using myself instead of me. I don’t know if it’s to make them look for intelligent but it doesn’t bloody work.

ashtrayheart · 25/02/2019 22:13

With you on the use of super.
I think I overuse clearly myself Shock

ashtrayheart · 25/02/2019 22:13

Haha myself Grin

HolaLola · 25/02/2019 22:20

One I've noticed a LOT recently is "I feel like..." instead of "I think...". It's like we all have to be so in touch with ourselves that we have to feel every thought, not just think them Envy

Drogosnextwife · 25/02/2019 22:25

Literally ( learn the fucking meaning of the word if you are going to use it!)
Actually
So (at the beginning of every sentence just now, I find it a bit patronising, I don't know why)
Women calling other women Mrs, "how are you Mrs?"

BananasAreTheSourceOfEvil · 25/02/2019 22:25

‘Basically’.

Basically you clearly have no argument OP. Stop being such a wet (moist) blanket.

BananasAreTheSourceOfEvil · 25/02/2019 22:26

Oooh ‘and at the end of the day’.

SmarmyMrMime · 25/02/2019 22:40

I'm getting super sensitive to the over-use of super as an adverb.

EleanorAbernathy · 25/02/2019 22:44

"Obviously" seems to have replaced "basically" round here. When referring to something neither basic nor obvious.

Gth1234 · 25/02/2019 22:46

Clearly, the worst abuse of my language by far is definitely the use of defiantly, when the poster means definitely. Clearly. (and prolly instead of probably is a shocker also)

NicksWife08 · 25/02/2019 22:48

The sudden overuse of highly recommend is irking me at the moment. No one seems to be able to just recommend somewhere or someone, they have to highly recommend it.

notahiker · 25/02/2019 22:50

Absolutely! You are obviously clearly not BU Grin

sagradafamiliar · 25/02/2019 22:53

I'm aware of it. I personally use it for passive aggression.