Yesterday on Midday, we were again treated to a conversation with Paul Payack, president of Global Language Monitor and the man who counts the number of words in the English language. Paul predicts English will hit the million-word mark in April. His web site lists the Top Ten most common words of 2008 ("Change" was No. 1, and "Phelpsian" came in at No. 9); most common names of 2008 ("Obama" was No. 1, "Phelps" was No. 3) and most common phrases ("Financial tsunami" was the topper).
Paul adds words, he doesn't subtract them.  . .  . I asked Midday listeners what words or phrases they'd like to see subtracted from English -- those terms or phrases that are overused, misused and abused, or just generally annoying.
Here is a list of listener contributions, as compiled by WYPR intern Claire Caplan.
What can I tellya?
It is what it is.

One caller said she hates to hear "At the end of the day..." when someone tries to "bottom-line" a conversation that involved some disagreements that may not yet be resolved.

Laurie hates the term "greenwashing," a derivative of “whitewashing” that means making an essentially non-green product sound green even when it isn’t.

Karen hates overuse of the phrase "speaks to."  "Speaks to" in the context of "reflects" or "is an illustration of...". Says she: "This is just one of those cases of people speaking blindly. Makes more sense to say 'speaks of."

Adina thinks the most obnoxious new word is "meme."  She says, "What is it? Where did it come from? Why is it all the rage all of a sudden?"

Another listener who did not identify him/herself hates the use of "more importantly" in place of "what is more important."

Louise hates "long story short."

Mike in Monkton would like to see the use of the word "utilize" reduced and replaced by the word "use."

Kevin in Baltimore hates use of the slang word "'hood," for neighborhood, primarily because the slang use leaves out the most important part, neighbor.

A phrase Robert from Catonsville is tired of hearing is "going forward."  He says, "We hear this with great frequency from talking heads and pundits of all stripes. Every time I hear it, I think, 'as opposed to what?'"

Dan Fans: Please feel free to add to the list on Dan's new Facebook page