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English as a foreign language

Apropos of nothing, a few bits of depressing corporate-speak by which my eyes and/or ears have been assaulted lately.


“Docks to” as a synonym for “reports to”—as in, “Team X docks to oversight group Y.”

If this catches on for line-management, the mental imagery is going to become a challenge.


“…as the UK cements its status as a life sciences superpower.”

Superpowers are considered to be science now, not science fiction.


“Most of our work happens at place where we work.”

You might think that the definite article has been omitted, but this is a very fashionable health service use of the phrase “at place” to mean “in a local community”. It is exactly the sort of jargon that ought to be called out on every use until it stops.


“We must flirt with apocalypse in order to feel alive.”


“The morning was dedicated to how we will improve the experience of our people.”

Leaving aside the vague use of “experience”, I find this use of “our people” to mean “employees” both vague (it could be any group of people—e.g. a racial group) and offensive (because I am not “yours”).

This post was filed under: Post-a-day 2023.

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