Are there any phrases you think are unprofessional?

[CJ2008]

More and more I hear people saying "okie dokie" - it sounds so unprofessional to me...

I can't think of any other ones...well, actually, "hey" too...

Are there any phrases you find unprofessional, even though others use them all the time?

 

[packrat]

I think a lot of phrases could be considered unprofessional. Doesn't stop me from using them. I'm not a very professional person. I play w/glitter and glue and pretend to eat the kids feet at work. That's me in real life, not just for work. I would tell the President of the United States "Okie Dokie artichokey" and think nothing of it.

 

[VRBeauty]

One of my former co-workers always says gunna rather than going to or even gonna. Always made me wince inside. It hasn't hurt her career a bit though!

 

[OreoRosies86]

I had a coworker who used the word "brang" all the time. As in "I brang it in this morning." No one had the heart to tell her it isn't a real word.

 

[sonnyjane]

At work over the last year they have REALLLLLLLY been trying to get everyone to stop saying "you guys".

 

[JulieN]

"how is everything tasting?"

 

[OreoRosies86]

At work over the last year they have REALLLLLLLY been trying to get everyone to stop saying "you guys".

"Folks" is another one that seems to be discouraged.

 

[Gypsy]

That's a hard question. My job is contract negotiation and drafting for sales contracts. And language and diction can be everything. BUT...

I spend A LOT of time on the phone for my job. And when I am talking to my own team, I can be really informal and so can my coworkers. Even my boss. Our job is high stress and there are times when we're frustrated and need to vent. And we can do that with each other so we do. And no, the language isn't professional.

Then there's talking to my internal customers, and there I am more professional, but still can be casual if its appropriate. And that might mean using 'folks' or some other terms like that.

Then there is talking to external customers. There everything is strictly professional and has to be.

 

[NOYFB]

One of my former co-workers always says gunna rather than going to or even gonna. Always made me wince inside. It hasn't hurt her career a bit though!

Maybe I'm dense, but how does "gunna" sound any different from "gonna"? Unless it's in email format, obviously, the pronunciation is the same to me. Am I missing something?

 

[NOYFB]

I would tell the President of the United States "Okie Dokie artichokey" and think nothing of it.

And THIS is why I love you!!!!

 

[VRBeauty]

Maybe I'm dense, but how does "gunna" sound any different from "gonna"? Unless it's in email format, obviously, the pronunciation is the same to me. Am I missing something?

"guhnuh" vs "goanah"

Maybe it's just me.

 

[NOYFB]

Maybe I'm dense, but how does "gunna" sound any different from "gonna"? Unless it's in email format, obviously, the pronunciation is the same to me. Am I missing something?

"guhnuh" vs "goanah"

Maybe it's just me.

Are you pronouncing the latter as GO-nah? Because if so, that's the difference. Maybe it's a regional thing? I'm in Chicago.

 

[VRBeauty]

Maybe I'm dense, but how does "gunna" sound any different from "gonna"? Unless it's in email format, obviously, the pronunciation is the same to me. Am I missing something?

"guhnuh" vs "goanah"

Maybe it's just me.

Are you pronouncing the latter as GO-nah? Because if so, that's the difference. Maybe it's a regional thing? I'm in Chicago.

Yup. (or should I say "yuppers"? ) Don't know how to make the long O accent mark.

 

[Dancing Fire]

All of my post sounds unprofessional b/c I am UNprofessional... Ask Dan Quayle to spell "potato" or is it "potatoe"??..

 

[chemgirl]

I said "you guys" at a big meeting this week and cringed thinking about it for the rest of the day.

 

[pregcurious]

I say "dude" and am very casual when I'm having one to one meetings in my office with peers, or even my boss (he is from California). When giving presentations, or even working with other people who are not directly in my area of expertise, I act more professional.

 

[dk168]

Got some stuff to do, as says by my boss, and makes the "stuff" in question sound rather trivial when then are important tasks and actions! Grrrrrrrr!

DK

 

[JewelFreak]

Okay, if you can't say "folks" or "you guys," how do you address a group of people? "Would you ladies [oooh, no, sexist or elitist or something baddd] and gentlemen (why isn't this bad too?) like to order another cocktail?" "Men & women?" "Males & females?" "Youse guys?" "Y'all?"

 

[AGBF]

Okay, if you can't say "folks" or "you guys," how do you address a group of people? "Would you ladies [oooh, no, sexist or elitist or something baddd] and gentlemen (why isn't this bad too?) like to order another cocktail?" "Men & women?" "Males & females?" "Youse guys?" "Y'all?"

"Good evening. It's a pleasure to see everyone. Would anyone like to order a cocktail?"

Deb


PS-I would use, "ladies and gentlemnen". I was just accepting your challenge.

 

[Tekate]

'gotcha' (as in I understand)

high five and try to knock fists (so many jerks do this)

riiiiiiight?! (enuf of this one)..

Okie dokie has been around for ages.. I only hear that from the over 40 peeps (as Im over 60 I know all

Group think! (ugh)..

just a few I can think of now.

 

[Tekate]

"You guys" is just the NE version of You all or Y'all if you are even lamer..I think regional colloquialisms is not on the same level as riiiiiiiiiiiight!? these trendy, come and go 'hip' sayings..

At work over the last year they have REALLLLLLLY been trying to get everyone to stop saying "you guys".

 

[packrat]

I would tell the President of the United States "Okie Dokie artichokey" and think nothing of it.

And THIS is why I love you!!!!

haha thanks!

JD is super professional at work---well...I shall amend that to say he is professional when he's in public, on duty. When he's on duty at the department, there be a fair bit o'shenanigans.

If I *had* to be, I think I could be...my big-girl filter is kinda wonky tho. When I worked at the office my front desk cohort and I were told to be more professional. But you know what, sometimes when the natives were restless in the waiting room after sitting there for 2 hours, they seemed to like us to do the YMCA dance if it was on the radio, or throw out a note that says "Are you bored? Please circle yes no or maybe" or "Psst we have treats. We will share"

Preschool is a bit more loosey goosey. Granted, I'm the only one in a Dr. Seuss shirt leading my group of kids down to snack as a group of monkeys, ooo ooo ahhh ahhhhh with our hands scratching at our armpits...

I think this is why I work w/little kids.

 

[AprilBaby]

Co workers make fun of my pronunciations all the time because I am from Philly and I live in Chicago. Remember, people have regional words and pronunciations and just because you don't doesn't make it wrong.

 

[CJ2008]

Packrat - ahahahhaha when I first quickly read your post I didn't realize you had said KIDS - so I walked away thinking that maybe you did those kinds of things with ADULTS. Until I just reread it carefully now.

VRB - I wince when I hear okie dokie.

Elliot - I used to have a friend that would say brung.

Sonny - yes, I find myself saying that once in a while, and I hate it when I do. And I picture an older type executive level person saying "folks." I don't like the word for myself, I don't use it (even though I classify as old ) but I don't find it unprofessional necessarily.

Julie - yes, yes, yes, yes. There's something so off putting about being asked that...

Gypsy - yes, I think a lot depends on the environment or what's happening at the time...so for example, if we're all kidding around, "okie dokie" would still irk me but I realize we're all just goofing around...but if it's said to me in answer to something I just explained, I find it disrespectful, maybe even passive aggressive? "OK" wouldn't be so great if you're expecting more interaction/feedback...but it seems more neutral.

But by what some people are saying here it's a good reminder that where I may take it personally because I don't like it, it can really just be someone's more casual style...

DancingFire - here, anything goes!

chemgirl - I've done it too, and I've also said "at the end of the day" not unprofessional, and I don't hate the saying myself, but I know others do so I try not to use it.

pregcurious - dude not a favorite word of mine either...would you stop using it if you knew your boss hated it?

tekate - it's the opposite for me, I hear okie dokie mostly from younger people...

dk168 - so it's the word "stuff" that bothers you right? I probably am guilty of saying that one often...but do you find it unprofessional?

ETA: April (you must've posted as I was writing) - agree - you can find something annoying, but it does not necessarily make it unprofessional...

ETA2: I went back and fixed some mistakes and added some stuff. Sorry.

 

[packrat]

Goh you probably thought I was a pervy weirdo! I promise I'm not!

 

[CJ2008]

Goh you probably thought I was a pervy weirdo! I promise I'm not!

hahahahahahh no, this all happened in like 10 seconds so the rapid fire thoughts/feelings that went through my brain were more along the lines of "omg how weird" and "don't people find that annoying?" and "maybe they are all just really goofy like that I'd hate to work there"

hahahahahahahh

 

[dk168]

OP,

Yes I do, otherwise I would not have mentioned it.


As for addressing a group of people, I tend to say "ladies and gentlemen" in a formal situation, or "peeps" or "people" in an informal situation, or with a group of people that I know well.

DK

 

[CJ2008]

OP,

Yes I do, otherwise I would not have mentioned it.

As for addressing a group of people, I tend to say "ladies and gentlemen" in a formal situation, or "peeps" or "people" in an informal situation, or with a group of people that I know well.

DK

K

hahahaha another one of my favorites in emails

Interesting - when I think about it, I could see how "stuff" sounds somewhat childlike.

 

[dk168]

I am very careful with my e-mails at work, as it is so easy for one of mine to be forwarded to another person, deliberately or unintentionally.

And I am far more diplomatic and polite in my written communications, and would happily say what I say in e-mails face to face with people, in less words.

DK

 

[liaerfbv]

This makes me think about a young attorney in my office - he's brand new and just passed the bar last year, he can't be a day older than 25. He works with another attorney whose office is in the same hallway as mine, so I see the both of them quite frequently throughout the day. Almost everyday I hear him say choices things like "Yo, bro..." or "Duuuuuuude" or my personal favorite "Hey Brah." He also tries to bump knuckles with people! It makes me laugh because he's extremely intelligent, graduated from a top tier law school at the top of his class, was on law review, etc., but when he talks he sounds like a total frat boy. I don't work with him so I have no idea if he speaks that way to everyone or if I just overhear him speaking informally to a coworker -- I can't imagine he talks like that to his supervising partner or clients, but I honestly don't know. Everything that I hear out of his mouth sounds like an 80s movie and he's a John Hughes high school villain.