In the entangled web of office, corporate slang emerges as both the hero and villain of our professional lives.

A recent study by language-learning platform PReply, takes a closer look at the linguistic landscape of the modern office, unveiling the most irritating buzzwords that have infiltrated our daily grind.

The Annoyance Index

Embarking on a linguistic odyssey, PReply surveyed 1,002 souls to expose the most vexing vernacular infiltrating workplaces and the spread of office jargon. Brace yourselves, for the results are in, spotlighting the most irksome terms infiltrating our professional realms.

As the answers rolled in, certain phrases emerged as unrivaled pests. Drumroll, please! "Circle back" claims the top spot when it comes to causing annoyance, with other contenders like "work hard, play hard" and "put a pin in it" vying for the podium finishes. Let’s delve deeper into the intriguing list of the most irritating corporate and office jargon.

Job Postings and the Language Labyrinth

As job seekers navigate the treacherous waters of online job postings, certain buzzwords cast a shadow over potential opportunities, seemingly littering each and every post. The study unravels the disdain held for terms like "like a family," "fast-paced environment," and peculiar job requirements such as “we’re looking for a rockstar". Are these buzzwords turning job seekers away? Quite possibly. We're happy to point you in the direction of our own job listings, but we can't promise that they're entirely free of jargon.

Corporate jargon is hilarious.

Avoid people who only talk using these terms:

Synergy
Ping me
Deep dive
Hard stop
Rock star
One Pager
Rightsizing
Circle back
Bandwidth
Good catch
Silver Bullet
In the weeds
Table stakes
Park this idea
Balls in the air
Boil the ocean
Ducks in a…

— Chris Munn (@chrisxmunn) August 12, 2023

Buzzwords We've Had Enough Of

Reflecting the societal shift during the pandemic, the phrase "new normal" emerges as the most grating term, echoing the collective sentiment of buzzword fatigue. Gen Z, however, is introducing a fresh set of office jargon, adding zest to the linguistic tapestry, including words like “vibe”, “no cap”, “bet” and “basic”.

In a world where words shape our professional reality, this study peels back the layers of language, revealing the irritating underbelly of corporate jargon. As we wade through this sea of buzzwords, the question lingers: Are we truly communicating or drowning in a linguistic abyss?

The Top 10

Whatever your personal bugbear is, here’s PReply’s list of the top 10 most hated terms:

1. Circle back
2. Work hard, play hard
3. Boots on the ground
4. Let's table this
5. Synergy
6. Put a pin in it
7. Get ducks in a row
8. Low-hanging fruit
9. Reinvent the wheel
10. Throw it up and see what sticks

You can read the full report here.