List of 25 Words and Phrases You Should Never Say
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Need some examples of words you should never say? Here's a helpful list of such terms. The words on this list should be avoided under absolutely all circumstances.
aforementioned | This word is rarely necessary even when written; spoken, it sounds long-winded and pompous. |
amazeballs | Just say "amazing." This word wasn't cool even at the height of its use. |
basic | This word manages to be condescending and snobbish while making the speaker sound classless. |
because those are the rules | Instead, explain the reason for the rules. |
Calm down! | It's important to validate people's feelings, not dismiss them. |
Come here! | This can be intimidating. Instead, ask if the person has a moment. |
epic | The everyday use of this term to describe mundane things devalues it. |
hashtag | Save hashtags for social media—saying the word out loud is excruciating. |
I can't even. | Speak in complete sentences. The phrase "I can't even" leaves out the most important word and can be irritating. |
I’m not going to say this again | This is very rarely true and does not add any weight to your argument. |
K | Just say "okay"—it's only one extra syllable. |
literally | One of the most overused and misused words ever—only use this if there is no possible substitute. |
LOL | This has become a cliché even in text chat. Certainly don't say it out loud. |
no offense | If you're aware that what you're about to say is potentially offensive and you don't want to cause offense, try saying nothing. |
precious | Calling a person "precious" infantilizes them. If you're sincere, use a different compliment. |
preggers | This sounds silly. Just say "pregnant." |
retarded | This word is profoundly offensive to people with intellectual disabilities. |
screwing | There are much more interesting words to describe sex than this. |
squee | There are many better—and less silly-sounding—interjections and verbs that you use to express excitement. |
sweet | This synonym for "cool" hasn't been cool since the 1990s. |
totes | The fashion for abbreviating words by placing an s at the end had always seemed vacuous and is now also outdated. |
very | Always think about whether you need to use this word—it is often redundant. |
What do you want me to do about it? | Saying this will often only make the problem worse. |
whatever | Saying this will make you sound obnoxious, insensitive, or immature. |
Why don’t you be reasonable? | If you're trying to persuade someone of something, calling them unreasonable is the last thing you should do. |