I discovered last week that there is one word I cannot abide: irregardless.
You can say thingy or whatchamacalit or whatever else and I'll probably actually say it too. I love big words, but I still find myself engaging in good, old-fashioned slang.
But here's the thing about the word irregardless, it's not a word. Think about it, regardless signifies despite, or without regard. It seems that people have combined regardless and irrespective and formed the word irregardless. They don't realize that the re- prefix and the ir- prefix is actually a double negative and therefore the word cancels itself out. Thus, it doesn't exist.
Here's what strikes me funny about using irregardless in speech--the person is always trying to sound intelligent, cultivated, or articulate. Instead, you sound like an idiot. It is not a word, it does not exist. It shouldn't be used. You shouldn't use it.
It just drives me crazy.
