Spring Break
Letter to the Editor
Everyday communication: Drop the "like"
Issue date: 4/8/09 Section: Forum
Who uses the word "like?" Everybody uses the word "like." When used correctly, it serves as a transitional word that aids in making relationships or references to a subject. It can also be used to show how strongly you prefer something.
Unfortunately, this word is not used correctly. More often than not you will hear it used incorrectly. Why do people do this? Whatever the reasons, people should not use it so much. Its misuse is an advertisement for criticism. Using the word "like" more than once in a sentence makes a person sound like he or she is stuttering or clucking like a chicken. Nobody likes stereotypes, but it's hard not to pass judgment on people's personalities, social prerogatives and/or educational backgrounds when they do this.
Greek row is without a doubt the epicenter in this college community. Imagine what foreigners think. No wonder the English language is so hard to learn. Do foreigners think it's slang? Or do they think Americans speak sloppy English? This is frustrating because now I fall under the stereotype of being a sloppy-speaking American even though I speak perfectly good English.
The word "like" appears to be the new "uhm" filler word. Professors in the Communications 111 class told us not to use filler words. How do folks pass speech 101 if they misuse their words so much?
This situation reminds me of the movie "Idiocracy." Instead of being an epicenter for vocabulary misuse, Oregon State should become the new epicenter for corrected use. If you hear people overusing the word "like," then correct them. It's not rude; you are just making an observation. Imagine a time when people will say the phrase "who uses the word like?" just like someone today would say "who does that?"
Brett Kennedy
junior in chemical engineering
Unfortunately, this word is not used correctly. More often than not you will hear it used incorrectly. Why do people do this? Whatever the reasons, people should not use it so much. Its misuse is an advertisement for criticism. Using the word "like" more than once in a sentence makes a person sound like he or she is stuttering or clucking like a chicken. Nobody likes stereotypes, but it's hard not to pass judgment on people's personalities, social prerogatives and/or educational backgrounds when they do this.
Greek row is without a doubt the epicenter in this college community. Imagine what foreigners think. No wonder the English language is so hard to learn. Do foreigners think it's slang? Or do they think Americans speak sloppy English? This is frustrating because now I fall under the stereotype of being a sloppy-speaking American even though I speak perfectly good English.
The word "like" appears to be the new "uhm" filler word. Professors in the Communications 111 class told us not to use filler words. How do folks pass speech 101 if they misuse their words so much?
This situation reminds me of the movie "Idiocracy." Instead of being an epicenter for vocabulary misuse, Oregon State should become the new epicenter for corrected use. If you hear people overusing the word "like," then correct them. It's not rude; you are just making an observation. Imagine a time when people will say the phrase "who uses the word like?" just like someone today would say "who does that?"
Brett Kennedy
junior in chemical engineering
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Emily
posted 4/08/09 @ 7:30 AM PST
'Using the word "like" more than once in a sentence makes a person sound like he or she is stuttering or clucking like a chicken. "
...I count three in this sentence of yours. (Continued…)
Cindi Knox
posted 8/11/09 @ 6:12 AM PST
Now if we could just overcome the misuse of the word "epicenter".
Charlie
posted 9/04/09 @ 10:31 AM PST
I'd like to liken your like of usage of epicentre to those that like to use like as often as they like or whenever they like, basically because they like to hear the sound of like, although when you read like a number of times, it doesn't look like like anymore. (Continued…)
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