There’s nothing pretentious people love more than using words and phrases that they really don’t understand or need in order to sound more intelligent and cultured than they really are. If you’ve ever had the displeasure of interacting with someone who had one too many tickets on themselves, so to speak, here are some phrases you’ve likely heard come out of their mouth.
1. “For all intensive purposes”
Let’s start with a classic! Ever heard someone say “for all intensive purposes” when they actually mean “for all intents and purposes”? It’s a mix-up that’s more common than you’d think. People use it to sound formal or knowledgeable, but it’s really just a slip of the tongue that’s turned into a bit of a pretentious go-to phrase.
2. “I could care less”
Here’s one that’s sure to raise some eyebrows. “I could care less” is often used to imply that someone couldn’t care any less about something. But think about it – if you could care less, doesn’t that mean you do care, at least a little? The correct phrase is “I couldn’t care less,” but hey, the pretentious version does have a certain ring to it!
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4. “Irregardless”
Ah, the infamous “irregardless.” This one’s a bit of a double negative, with people using it to mean “regardless.” It sounds more complex and, well, fancier, but it’s not really a word. Next time you hear “irregardless,” just give a little internal nod to the world of pretentious wordplay.
5. “Touche”
While this is a totally legitimate phrase, and even a good one to use in lighthearted conversations when you’re acknowledging that the other person actually had a great comeback to something you said, it’s one of those phrases that’s often overused by pretentious people in circumstances where it really doesn’t apply. As a result, it just kind of makes them look dumb and try-hard.
6. “With all due respect”
This is an alternative to the classic “no offense” because it basically implies that the user is giving a half-hearted apology before saying something that’s actually offensive as heck. By starting a sentence with the phrase “with all due respect,” pretentious people likely don’t realize that they’re basically saying, “I don’t respect you at all, but I’ll pretend that I’m super mature by prefacing it this way.”
7. “A whole nother”
A “a whole nother” is a quirky twist on “another whole.” It’s like someone decided to cut a word in half and stick another one in the middle. It’s playful and definitely has character, but in terms of proper English, it’s a bit of a maverick move.
8. “Utilize” instead of “Use”
Sometimes people toss in “utilize” when a simple “use” would do the trick. Sure, “utilize” sounds more technical and fancy, but most of the time, it’s just an unnecessarily complicated way of saying you’re using something.
9. “Conversate” instead of “Converse”
“Conversate” is one of those words that sounds like it should be right, but it’s actually not. The correct term is “converse,” but “conversate” often sneaks into conversations, dressed up to sound more sophisticated.
10. “Orientated” instead of “Oriented”
You might catch someone saying they feel “orientated” when they mean “oriented.” Adding that extra syllable can make it sound more complex, but it’s really just a longer, more convoluted way of expressing the same thing.
11. “Hence why”
When people want to sound extra smart, especially in arguments or explanations, they might say “hence why.” The correct usage is just “hence,” as in “hence the confusion.” Adding “why” is redundant but often slips in to give the sentence an extra dose of formality.
12. “At this point in time”
This phrase is a lengthier, more elaborate way of simply saying “now” or “currently.” It’s often used to add a bit of gravity and seriousness to a statement, but it can come off as a bit too much. Sometimes, simpler is better, especially when you’re just referring to the present moment.
13. “Firstly, Secondly, Thirdly”
While not incorrect, using “firstly, secondly, thirdly” in a list can sound overly formal and a bit pretentious, especially in casual conversations. It’s a way to structure arguments or points that aims to sound more academic or intellectual. In everyday speech, just saying “first, second, third” is usually more natural and straightforward.
