Marist Poll, the polling organisation that works out of Marist College, has released details of its survey of the most irritating words in the English language. Obviously, this has a US slant, though it’s surprising how they actually tick a box on this side of the Atlantic, too (perhaps because some are clearly American):

1. Whatever
2. Like
3. You know
4. Just sayin’
5. Twitterverse
6. Gotcha
7. Unsure

I’d like to chuck in the following words/phrases:

1. Aks (the word is “ask” – and no, you don’t sound “street”)
2. Lulz (it’s not a word – it’s derived from the text speak acronym “lol” and you sound a prat)
3. Fleg (don’t even go there)
4. I personally (grrr)
5. Shouldn’t of (have!)
6. Absolutely (yes…)
7. Sick (it does NOT mean good – it is what happens after you’ve been a dick and drunk too much – or caught the norovirus)

Please feel free to add your own pet hates.