Shakespeare's Sister used to ask readers to produce a list of "words you will be happy to not have to hear ever again in the coming year", so in that spirit, consider this an open thread for words we've heard way to much of, frequently in contexts where there's a more appropriate synonym or near-synonym.
- Markedly. Consider substantially, significantly, or no adverb at all.
- Systemic. I'm convinced that systematic would be a better word 80% of the time.
- Surge. Stop. Just stop. Although it gives me an excuse to make a bad physics/politics joke: What's a change in position? Velocity. What's a change in velocity? Acceleration. What's a change in acceleration? Surge, or perhaps Jerk. What's a change in jerk? An election.
Add yours in the comments.
