I hate when the word "access" is used as a verb: "The password is used to access the software." Instead of "The password is used to give access to the software." In my mind, "access" is still a noun.
I hate the pseudo-word "24/7," and still prefer "around the clock," or something less jargonish.
I hate also when the name of a book, a film, a program or some other entity is preceded by the word "entitled." Books and movies are not "ENtitled," they are TITLED. And if you have quote marks around it, it is obvious that this is its title, so you don't need to use the word "titled," anyway.
....that's for starters! GGGRRrrrrr!
The only one I can think of that I really hate is "stay-at-home mom."
I know a couple of those mom, and they don't "stay" at home. They're never there when I try to call in the middle of the day!
I like "at-home mom," and will sometimes change it to that, if I feel I can get away with it.
Oh, and I hate "plate" as a verb meaning "to put the food on a plate in order to serve it. Waiters or caterers "plate" food. I consider that jargon, and I'll spend a lot of time trying to avoid it.
"To grow" as in "to grow the budget" or "to grow the organization." We grow flowers.
Also "impact" as in "this discussion will really impact the process."
Which makes me think, how about "impactful"? Now I'm scaring myself.
* Impact as a verb without reference to wisdom teeth
* titled/entitled -- I have lost this battle once or twice.
* myriad -- LOVE this word, hate the 97% chance it will be used incorrectly.
* irregardless...oh, wait, that's not a word. Would someone please inform the rest of the nation?
* "by the same token" -- My mother begins every fourth sentence with this phrase and it is, in fact, like fingernails on a chalkboard to me.
Sigh.
As you've seen if you followed through both "words we hate" thread on the ACES site, I'm doomed to go misunderstood in my time.
One, I was trying to be funny by ranting about words that should be stricken from the English language. Of course I don't actually feel that way, and of course I understand that my job is not be a judge of language ... but more of a police detective or a prosecuting attorney. Misspelling "gubernatorial" was intended to be a broad wink that conveyed my lack of seriousness on the subject.
Two, my point REALLY is that we all practice "preferential editing" ... but most of us aren't aware of it. We're largely the sum of our influences — some bullying and dictatorial in our formative years — and as such I think a lot of us make changes in knee-jerk, unconscious deference to false "rules" that were drilled into our heads decades ago. I was trying to make us all a little more aware of it.
I apologize for artlessly making those points. Deep down, we really do agree.
But I STILL don't see how "gubernatorial" is ever the best word choice in any context. 
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