“Global” pandemic is starting to grate on me.

[BritneyS]

A pandemic is defined as “an epidemic occurring worldwide, or over a very wide area, crossing international boundaries and usually affecting a large number of people”.

“Global” pandemic, “world” pandemic, “worldwide pandemic”, “international” pandemic are all coming across inflammatory and hyperbolic.

“Pandemic” on its own is fine, surely?

Of course it's inflammatory. How else would they sensationalise the news.

Most people don't know what pandemic means, hence the need to spell it out.

@ChaChaCha2012

Most people don't know what pandemic means, hence the need to spell it out.

Do you really think that after nearly 7 months of more or less restrictive lockdown there are people who don’t know it? 😳😳 I thought it was on par with epidemiologist, coronavirus, airborne virus, unprecedented...quarantine, self-isolation 🤔🤔🤔 No excuse for not knowing 😔

The definition has an ‘or’ in it, so it’s defining between the two options available within the definition of the word ‘pandemic’

You are a pedant OP but I am too. My teeth grate when people describe alopecia as causing hair loss!!

Yeah this has struck and annoyed me too.

Well, you could have a pandemic in one country or continent. Global kind of gets the message across that it is worldwide and needs to be taken even more seriously. There are numerous definitions of pandemic, that do not include 'worldwide'.

I don't view any of your examples as hyperbole - merely as statements of fact. But then for many people, the deaths and suffering of others who are not them or their immediate family are irrelevant.

I hate it too. Not because it’s incorrect, I don’t really care about that. I hate it because it’s only ever used by the flapping panickers who are enjoying the drama and the opportunity to boss everyone around.

“There’s a GLOBAL. PANDEMIC. ON.”

worldwide, or over a very wide area

So "global pandemic" clarifies the scale.

YABU
Pandemic can be over a continent or 2 continents, without being global

OP your own definition (the word “or”) shows that you are incorrect.

So it only annoys people who are looking for things to be annoyed by

I get annoyed if things like this are not true but it is a global pandemic

The hoi polloi need to be told.

*see what I did there? 😂

@seayork2020

I get annoyed if things like this are not true but it is a global pandemic

As the OP says, pandemic already means worldwide epidemic, there’s no need for the global (basically the whole point of this thread 😳)

It annoys me, too. Early on I quite forcefully told DD that I don't like tautology and she should just say pandemic. Wisely, she's never repeated the phrase to me. She's 17, and knows not to cross me in these matters.

Do you get as pissed off by:

Incredibly unique
OR
literally (followed by a figurative analogy) ?

If not, then YABU.

Its a tautology, I can only assume you don't say things like PIN Number or Chain Mail for example.

It is not a tautology.

It doesnt bother me because its unnecessary, it just bothers me because people use it to justify being an arsehole.

Why are you having fun, don't you know theres a global pandemic?

How can you even think about enjoying life in the middle of this global pandemic?

Never said it was incorrect, said it was coming across hyperbolic and inflammatory. Standing by that! And glad I’m not alone.

I hate it because it’s only ever used by the flapping panickers who are enjoying the drama and the opportunity to boss everyone around.

“There’s a GLOBAL. PANDEMIC. ON.”

Maybe this is why it’s pissing me off actually... the context. Always in this context.

“PIN number” doesn’t piss me off but it does make me chuckle. People don’t tend to use that to be dramatic. Another personal favourite is “AGM meeting”.

Couldn’t agree more with @RubyAberdeen

Alternatively:

‘We’re in the MIDDLE of a GLOBAL PANDEMIC’

^Well. We are.

@BritneyS

A pandemic is defined as “an epidemic occurring worldwide, or over a very wide area, crossing international boundaries and usually affecting a large number of people”.

“Global” pandemic, “world” pandemic, “worldwide pandemic”, “international” pandemic are all coming across inflammatory and hyperbolic.

“Pandemic” on its own is fine, surely?

Never said it was incorrect, said it was coming across hyperbolic and inflammatory.

Well, in fact you did.

Where did I say it was incorrect?