By Tom Morrow

In case you haven’t noticed, the Queen’s English, or at least our American version of that language, is being quickly eroded with some rather boring words and phrases – most of which we don’t need. Our young people, and those well up into their thirties, are using language that makes them sound ignorant.
Here are some examples of words and phrases that should be phased out and/or never used at all:
“S up?” or “Whad up?” and political pundits constantly use: “At the end of the day” Or “When the rubber hits the road.”
Young people who haven’t bothered to learn how to properly carry a conversation (between texting on their phones) continue reminding us: “Ya know?” And, there’s the word “So” (used to begin a sentence or answer a question. “Very unique,” Most unique,” “Quite unique” are all exaggerations of the word “unique.” You cannot improve on “unique.” It’s unique in that it is the only word you need to describe something special or different than anything like it.
How about “Irregardless.” There is no such word. The correct usage is simply “Regardless.” (If someone has a dictionary with irrgardless, then it’s been slipped in without consulting Mr. Webster) – regardless what you may have heard.
So, at the end of the day, when the rubber has hit the road, you’ll find most of these language annoyances to be useless, ya know? Irregardless what some might say. Ya know?
‘LITTLE LADY’ – Back quite a number of years ago I went to a mock news conference held by the Journalism Department at Cal State Fullerton. The instructor invited John “Duke” Wayne to come in and give the students an experience of interviewing a celebrity. We in the media were invited to sit quietly in the back of the room, but were not allowed to participate with any questions.
After 30 minutes or so of questions – primarily male students, a petite young woman sitting on the front row raised her hand to ask a question. When the Duke called upon her, she stood up and in a somewhat sarcastic voice asked “Why is it the critics never like your movies?”
The Duke looked around the room with a smile on his face, then focused back on the young student. “Little Lady, ain’t no one likes my movies ‘cepted the public.”
BYGONE DAYS – We are the children of the fabulous fifties and sixties. No one will ever have that opportunity again. We were given one of our most precious gifts: relative peace and prosperity after two brutal wars – World War II and Korea.
KID SCIENCE — “Respiration is composed of two acts, first inspiration, and then expectoration.” — a sixth grader.
REAGANISM – “The taxpayer is someone who works for the federal government but doesn’t have to take the civil service examination.”
SCAG SEZ: One thing I’ve learned about my tongue, it’s usually wet so it can easily slip. – Cecil Scaglione
SEZ ME – While I’ve often been questioned about the validity of some of my stories, what you read in this column is fact – give or take a fib or two. But, if you’ll looking for reality, you’ll find my historical novels under my name at Amazon.com. Now, there’s some creative writing – in softcover or e-book formats.
Humorous or human-interest stories or notes can be forwarded via e-mail to me at: quotetaker@msn.com.