/ 12 October 2001

Trask’s worst 20

Aforementioned: Should be banned outside legal use.

Albeit: Use “but” or “though”.

At this moment in time: Puffed-up “now”.

Communicate: Use “say”, “tell” or “talk”.

Empowerment: Could mean something in pretentiousese it never does.

Epicentre: Only seismologists need the “epi”.

Exponential: Maths term, not “fast” as the pretentious think.

Feedback: Usually used for no reason.

Fortuitous: Use “lucky”.

Hegemonic: Seldom correctly used as unjust domination by one group.

Input: Feedback’s best friend

Interface: Even the pretentious now shun this.

Ironically: Debased to cover even mildest quirks.

Linear: Should be confined to mathematicians.

Octopi: Bungled plural.

Paradigm: Most often used by people who don’t know what it means.

Peruse: Means to study, not glance through.

Privileged: Now slipping into use as an insult.

Synergy: Challenge user on its meaning.

Utilise: Use “use”.