Overused Phrases in Conversation

Of Course

When used in place of ‘yes’ this phrase can make someone sound superior. This is done by putting the other person down.

‘Do you have a 4WD vehicle?

‘Of course.’ (subtext reading: You should have known that!)

Yes, But

Try replacing ‘Yes but’ with ‘Yes and’. It’s just nicer that way, and the interlocutor sounds heard. Avoid using ‘but’ after a compliment. Everything before the ‘but’ is always disregarded.

Literally

Many people use ‘literally’ when they actually mean the OPPOSITE: ‘figuratively’. If your interlocutor doesn’t realise you’re speaking figuratively, they’re probably a robot. You don’t even need to use the word. It is incorrect to say ‘The ground literally opened up beneath me.’ (An earthquake?) ‘I was literally ablaze with embarrassment.’ (Ouch!)

How Ironic

Some things are not ironic, they are just plain coincidental. It’s not ‘ironic’ when you run into your friend two days in a row after a ten year hiatus in your relationship. That is a simple coincidence. Irony is the use of words to express something other than (and often the opposite of) the literal meaning. It can also point to some sort of incongruity. But irony is not a synonym for ‘coincidence’.

Sarcastic

Sometimes people are nasty. They’re not necessarily being sarcastic. Sarcasm is a special kind of nasty. Sarcasm is ‘nasty irony’. If someone says ‘Go away, you’re so annoying,’ they’re not being sarcastic. They’re just being plain nasty, or perhaps truthful, in equal measures.

Bad Karma

Karma is karma. There’s no such thing as good and bad karma.