• The Web's Ten Most Irritating Words

    The Web's Ten Most Irritating Words

    Techtree News Staff, Jun 24, 2007 2010 hrs IST

    Topping the list of irksome words is 'Folksonomy', a Web classification system, followed by 'Blogosphere' at second place.

    mail share

Can you believe that the World Wide Web has actually spawned words that might make users want to pull at their hair in frustration?

British pollsters, YouGov, conducted a poll for Web publisher Lulu.com, creator of the Blooker Prize that converts Web diaries/Blogs into Web books or Blooks, and came up with a string of not so happening words on the Web...

Topping the list of irksome words is 'Folksonomy', a Web classification system, followed by 'Blogosphere' at second place.

'Blog itself comes in at third position, followed by 'Netiquette' aka Web etiquette at fourth place.

The fifth most irritating word is 'Blook' or a book based on a Blog. At sixth, seventh, and eighth place respectively are 'Webinar', 'Vlog' or video Blog, and 'Social Networking'.

Qualifying as the ninth most irksome word is 'Cookie', a file sent to a user's computer after he/she visits a Web site. At tenth place is 'Wiki', meaning a collaborative Web site edited by its readers.

Reportedly, a universe comprising about 2,091 adults was questioned by the poll pundits to come up with these results.

Bob Young, Canadian founder of Lulu.com, expressed the view that the World Wide Web tirelessly continues to churn out new words so much so that there is now possibility for a new language aka Web-lish which could well be the new English.

Previously, even the Collins English Dictionary had announced that a string of words inspired by the Web would be given pride-of-place in their ninth edition. These include: 'me-media'; a term for personal content Web sites like Facebook and godcast, which is a religious service that has been converted into an MP3 format.

Follow Techtree on Twitter



Discussion Board
(24) Comments
Ravinder
,Hyderabad, on Jul 20, 2007 06:59 AM
As someone pointed out in the comments, wiki cannot be in this list. Its only who havent used it. Things like free ( when its actual trial ) should be there.
Irfan
,Mumbai, on Jul 18, 2007 07:15 PM
For me the most irritating word is "Get Free Download" ( When we download the software, it says 15 days trail. That means s/w is free to download but not to access it. )
ffdf
,sddsd, on Jun 28, 2007 02:30 PM
Yet another crappy article.... on an even crappier issue!!! i think the words : "Wanna get rich?"...or "Wanna make easy money?".... r the most irritatin on the web....
v.m.velloo
,Kuala Lumpur, on Jun 27, 2007 05:16 PM
There is nothing wrong in coibing new words as the English Language is insufficient of vocabulary.
jeff
,somewhere, on Jun 27, 2007 04:59 PM
Bull Shit
Muneer Dar
,Barzulla Srinagar kashmir, on Jun 27, 2007 04:19 PM
for me the most irritating word is "subscribe" . i really pull my hair when websites force me to go for it first ... :(
Minhaj
,Hyderabad, on Jun 27, 2007 03:34 PM
The most irritating word that I always find on web is "Bjp" ;-)
H Devaraja Rao
,Bangalore, on Jun 27, 2007 10:35 AM
Add Leverage to the list : The computer software industry started it because it makes the ordinary sound special.
Princellen2k5
,Madurai, on Jun 26, 2007 05:06 PM
What WIKI is most irritating word..??? No.. way.... May the survey people didn't use the wiki page properly.... U may ORKUT/youtube in that list but not this WIKI...
Ishaan Prasad
,NOIDA, on Jun 26, 2007 01:25 PM
a word most used to defame others and one which no one likes to be labelled with on the internet : NOOB :)
Grawp
,The Dark Forest, on Jun 26, 2007 01:18 PM
The most irritating word that I always find on web is "Microsoft" ;-)
Ajit
,tvm, on Jun 25, 2007 07:52 PM
"ubuntu" the worst name i have ever came across for a fine software.
Bill Holmes
,Colombo, on Jun 25, 2007 05:07 PM
On a completely different note, the most hated words for me are - Brangelina (Brad Pitt + Angelina Jolie) and TomKat (Tom Cruise + Katie Holmes). Can't imagine how many times I have seen this crap on the media sites.
Dave Henderson
,Glasgow, on Jun 25, 2007 03:20 PM
Is it not the misuse of words and not the words themselves? How annoying is my site name blogistics.co.uk
Rafa
,London, on Jun 25, 2007 02:54 PM
The Kiddies favorite... Leet (or 133t). Cant believe theres still people thinking thats cool or clever. Still use this, you need a slap.
cdxpat
,Singapore, on Jun 25, 2007 02:50 PM
Non story. Typical poll:- Give people a list of 20 words and ask them to pick 10 they dislike the most. Apart from the pretentious use of "Ciao" I dont think I hate any words. People yes - words no.
adit
,Mumbai, on Jun 25, 2007 12:35 PM
From this article itself, the more irritating words are :- YouGov, pollsters, Lulu....ugh, and these guys decide, prrffftt....
SWAT
,Zurich, on Jun 25, 2007 11:02 AM
Cant believe this article. How wont like wiki? who wont like social networking? I guess the survey statistics are wrong.
UK user
,Bristol, on Jun 25, 2007 04:54 AM
I think the most irritating word is "there" when people mean to write "their". Engage your brain once in a while, please.
Nubbins
,Nowhere, on Jun 24, 2007 11:57 PM
Anon from NY, I totally agree, mention a hacker nowadays and it means some obnoxious little kid "hacking" there way through a online game... I have another term for them, however its probably a banned word on here :D
Anonymous
,NY, on Jun 24, 2007 11:26 PM
I hare the term "hacker" since it has drifted so far from its original meaning of "someone who does amazing things with computers and electronics to get the most out of them".
Slimbo
,Tenerife, on Jun 24, 2007 11:27 PM
..you too dude
Abhishek Mitra
,Kolkata, India, on Jun 24, 2007 10:40 PM
Really interesting and true!
Slimbo
,Tenerife, on Jun 24, 2007 11:26 PM
abhishek, you must lead a very boring life.

Opinion Poll