As communications pros, we work hard to engage the English language as we were taught for so many years - particularly when speaking to members of the media and to agency clients. Over the past few years, I’ve been particularly tough on colleagues that use the word “like,” which has become pervasive across society (and even within my own family.) For some time, when someone close to me used “like” in slang and colloquial speech, I called them out for it to correct behavior. My ex-wife was the worst offender, and yes, it may have cost me a marriage because I interrupted her every time she tried to tell me about her day!
I’ve heard “like” used as an adverb meaning "nearly" or to indicate that the phrase in which it appears is to be taken metaphorically or as a hyperbole. For example, “I, like, died!”, or “They, like, hate you!”
It’s also been used as a quotative to introduce a quotation or impersonation. In this usage, like functions in conjunction with a verb, generally be (but also say, think, etc.), as in the following examples: “She was like, Oh my gosh no way!" He was like, "I'll be there in five minutes." “He was like, you need to leave the room right now!"
Like has also been used to paraphrase an implicitly unspoken idea or sentiment: “I was like, Who do they think they are?"
Arghh! To me it’s like hearing fingernails on a blackboard!
And now to my new pet peeve: In all honesty…; To be honest…; Honestly…; I’m going to be perfectly honest with you… These are incredibly over-used phrases for the inarticulate to make a point of statement, and it implies that the speaker usually lies, but will be honest this one time.
Honestly!
Reader Comments
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betsy w glasure
I could not agree more. People seem umable to pause in a sentence without filling in the space with "like", "ah", or "you know." All are prevasive today and among my pet peeves. Even some news broadcasters seem to start each sentence with "ah." Let's do not forget "kinda", as in "I kinda think", or "I'm kinda positive." It's about time the sports shows stop interviewing sports stars that cannot put together a sentence without 5 "you knows." Certainly there are sports stars that would love the limelight and have a good command of the English language! Jack, I truly (substituted for honestly) enjoyed your article. BWG