My last post was an ode (Shakespeare’s invention) to my discontent (that’s another) over some people’s addiction (another) to using certain phrases. Languages are constantly evolving, and we’d like to think that evolution means improvement, but I’m not so sure.So here’s another rant (Thanks again, Shakes!) about annoying phrases.I concluded my last post with a sentence that began, “I feel like there’s more to say on this topic,” and then challenged you to find the annoying phrase in that sentence. If you didn’t find it, then I feel like you need to look again.When did feeling replace thinking?“I feel like I’ve already tried that restaurant.”“I feel like you deserve better than that.”“I feel like he should have done something differently.”What? Don’t you mean “I think” instead of “I feel”? When did a rational act become an emotional one? I like to think of myself as a sensitive guy, but for the love of God, if I’m doing a math problem I want to think that I know how to do it, not feel like I know how to do it.I don’t usually voice my opinion of the think/feel divide to people who begin sentences with “I feel,” but wouldn’t it be fun to say, “That’s great, but I prefer thinking about this topic instead of feeling about it”?Maybe not, since most people probably aren’t even conscious of the difference between the two. I’d probably receive a fair number of quizzical looks in response.I mean even more than usual.Another thing that most people don't think about is when their first answer to a question is, “Honestly,” followed by whatever they want to say.“Do you think this wine goes well with the meal?”“Honestly, I would have chosen a red instead of a white.”What use is the honestly at the beginning of the sentence? Whenever I hear someone begin a sentence with the word honestly I wonder if I should question everything they say that isn’t preceded by honestly. If you have to tell me that you’re being honest, is it safe to assume that most of the time you’re not being honest?Liar.Some of the most annoying language is found in the business world. There are certain phrases that I hear so often and from so many different people that I wonder if there’s some large meeting where everyone agrees on the phrases to use this year.I wasn’t invited to that meeting apparently.A few months back I happened across a feature on the Forbes magazine website in which they set up a tournament to find the most annoying business jargon. “Drinking the Kool-Aid” won the tournament, but I was pleased to find the phrase that annoys the hell out of me did very well.If I have to hear someone say, “I’ll reach out to,” someone again, I might just do a little reaching out of my own and rip their lips off.When did contact, or get in touch with, become reach out?“We’re trying to find an answer to this problem, so I figured I’d reach out to you to see if you had any suggestions.”Uh, don’t you mean you figured you’d call me?“Hey Grace, can you reach out to our supplier in Fort Worth to see how long we’re going to have to wait?”Just once I’d like for Grace to say, “No, Steve, I can’t reach out to our supplier, but I’ll contact them.”Maybe the “reach out” folks didn’t receive enough attention as babies so they’re always looking for someone else to get close to.In Forbes’ tournament, “reach out” made it to the final eight, but ended up losing to “it is what it is.” That might be the worst phrase ever. It’s so meaningless.“I don’t know what you want me to do about it, it is what it is.”“Thanks, Keith, I was so confused. For a minute there I thought it is what it isn’t. Now that I know that it is what it is, and not what it isn’t, it’s all clear.”By the way, if you like what you're reading here, you should like my Facebook page, Brett Baker Writes.Type your email address in the box and click the "create subscription" button. My list is completely spam free, and you can opt out at any time.