Alexia, i think you are in a line of marketing, because only then those words can occur frequently, yes if they are really occurring constantly then its sicking. well get one Thesaurus dictionary and get synonyms of all of those words, i m sure that will help you, lol.

thanks, waiting for more words to hear from you.

@Dr. Pepper: I've always hated the word "leverage" ... They used it a lot in the last corporate setting I was in.

I find myself using it occasionally now and I want to kick myself in the head. :)

@Alexia: That's very true. I like limiting the amount that I throw buzz words around too. It devalues your true knowledge when you have to use them as a crutch.

Good luck this week. Don't let any of those nasty words slip out :)

I think when you work in a certain field, for instance non profit, there are words that you cannot get through the day without using more than once. For instance: invest, support, cause, synergy, partnership, relationship...yada yada.

These words get boring, and I am always trying to come up with new ways of expressing the same meaning, but I always end up reverting back to them.

Goodluck Alexia on your challenge. I am not sure I could do it!:)

When I've noticed professors or bosses using the same words over-and-over, I've been tempted to start a game of Buzzword Bingo.

Take a white piece of paper, make a 4x4 grid, and fill in each square with a buzz-word. Each time someone in the class or meeting uses a buzz-word, put an X through it on the paper. If you get Bingo, and are very brave/fool-hardy, answer the next question with "Bingo sir, that's exactly what I thought."

When I find myself using jargon too much, I imagine the people I am speaking to are playing buzz-word bingo and I try and mix it up to avoid someone getting Bingo.

This reminds me of a song on music.podshow.com called "Business as Usual" by Sudden Death. If you dislike jargon, you may get a good laugh :-)

I can't stand the word authenticity anymore. It's so over-used I always stop and catch myself whenever I say it and try to think of something else. Thanks for sharing!

There's a concept of the DSL, or domain specific language. The point is that in every setting there is a set of words or phrases that mean something different. It's also similar to the concept of tribes. A group of people are connected by their language - it's not necessarily good or bad, that's just how it is.

There are overinflated, overused words whose biggest fault is that they don't really mean anything or are so often used, but incorrectly. Honestly the words in your list didn't strike me as these though. Some from the comments did: synergize, collaborate. My personal pet peeve is "social media" ... enough already!

Just over half of my first day in and recently had the first slip up (that I'm aware of). It was "possibilities." A client said it first and I mirrored it back to her so, perhaps it's not a true violation. In any event, what a great discussion. Thank you to everyone who's been participating in it.

@SarStry and @Tim Balzer
I come from the nonprofit world so perhaps this exercise is the final step in exorcising old demons! "Engage" and "muse on" were also big ones for us.

@Kendra Kinnison
Good luck! Please share back what you discover. I'm sure I'd also come up with about half a dozen phrases I revert to when contextualizing something I'm not fully comfortable owning.

@Jessica Dickinson Goodman
This is HILARIOUS and should be included in every NYU grad's welcome packet. I kid, I kid.... somewhat.

@Rebecca Thorman
That's why it's my number one word!

@Amber Shah
Thanks for introducing DSL to me and linking it to something I am familiar with, the concept of tribes. I love when a group creates it's own language. Too often though, an industry creates the language first and others feel like they have to use it to be understood and credible. Forecloses discussion on each person's particular standpoint on the topic/idea a lot of the time. We wind up circling and repeating rather than moving forward or into interesting, discrete discussions. "Social media" and "social networking" not only need to be retired but are redundant. What media or networking aren't social?

@Jon Davidson
That phrase makes me giggle. Although I do use "recycling the box" to address breaking down real and self-imposed limitations and reshaping them into beliefs, attitudes, values, and behaviors that sustain you and open up opportunities. But so far, I'm sticking by the phrase because it explains an important concept and is not yet overused.

@Amy rich
Good luck on your own journey to expand the words and phrases you use!

I had a meeting with a PR company yesterday, and quickly came to the realization that I use the same words a lot, and apparently they are the wrong ones!

In the social media world I constantly find myself using buzzwords. I try to make a conscious effort not to do it, but sometimes it is what people want to hear!

@Mehnaz
It's interesting that so many of these (e.g. value-added, process-driven, and developmental spectrum) are so subjective. When you work in and with a community it's easy to feel like everyone is on the same page. But I actually wouldn't know what you mean by any of them without some context.

@Dan Healy
Oh no! And what pray tell were they, if you don't mind sharing? In the spirit of learning, laughing, and moving on of course.

@Meenal Vamburkar
And they both can mean so many different things. We do ourselves a disservice when we forget to "show" what we mean and just plop in such words.

@Palla: yep, Buzzword Bingo is definitely unprofessional in most settings--but in a bad meeting it can be a good mental game to keep broader goals in focus.