16 Phrases That Can Make You Sound Less Smart
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The words and phrases we use in our search for successful communication are extremely important in determining how others perceive our competence and intellect. Even though we frequently strive to speak elegantly and educated, some everyday expressions might unintentionally damage our reputation and make us seem less intelligent. These phrases, although they might appear innocent or even acceptable for a discourse, have the potential to be unclear, too cliched, or show a lack of accuracy and clarity.
By identifying and avoiding these expressions, we may improve our communication abilities and ensure that our thoughts are expressed with the assurance and clarity that truly represent our intelligence. Knowing how our word choices affect how we come out as intelligent and well-spoken in both social and professional settings is important.
“It’s up to You.”
You should provide your opinion if someone asks for it! “It’s up to you” conveys the impression that you don’t care or lack opinion. Saying this or any similar phrase, such as “your call” or “it doesn’t matter,” gives the impression that you are too lazy to make a recommendation. It’s likely that someone won’t come to you for advice in the future.
Say something like, “I’m happy to help, but I feel like you would know better than me,” if you genuinely believe the person you’re talking to would be better suited to making a choice, especially in a more difficult situation. This might more effectively increase their self-assurance in their decision-making skills.
“It Needs to Be Perfect.”
There is nothing wrong with wanting something to reach its full potential. However, there comes a time when it makes more sense to accept your limits and the fact that nothing is perfect.
According to research published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, acknowledging your imperfections and the fact that you still have much to learn is a sign of intelligence. There’s merit to recognizing when to give up and concentrating on improving down the road rather than obsessing over attempting to reach perfection.
“I Could Care Less”
This sentence is a perfect illustration of a typical grammatical error. When someone says, “I could care less,” they really mean, “I couldn’t care less,” which means they don’t care about the circumstance or subject.
Saying “I could care less” technically indicates that you care about the topic. The intriguing thing about this is that many people don’t even understand this statement is improper because it has been overused so frequently! When you say, “I couldn’t care less,” you’ll appear more knowledgeable and precise in your communication.
“Basically”
Using the term “basically” might make it harder to communicate clearly when you want to. For what reason is it the case? This term is overused, to start. It could come out as patronizing or dismissive of the intellect of your audience.
Why settle for boring words when you can improve your speaking skills by selecting powerful verbs and adjectives that precisely express your intended meaning? Try stating “In essence” or “To simplify,” for instance, if you wish to simplify a complicated idea. This will add complexity and depth to your explanation.
“I’m Not an Expert, But…”
Undergraduate students typically take great delight in the intricacy of their terminology and sentence structures when they analyze dissertation abstracts. But saying “I’m not an expert, but…” at the beginning of a statement might detract from all that work and damage your credibility.
Keep your remarks brief and truthful rather than undermining yourself, even if you find complicated terminology scary or unpleasant. This kind of vacillating makes people seem less reliable. Try stating “Based on my understanding,” “From my experience,” or “To the best of my knowledge” in place of “I’m not an expert.”
“To Be Fair”
The primary objective of the phrase “to be fair” is to recognize the opposing viewpoint in a situation or argument. On the other hand, overusing or misusing this term might come across as unsure or defensive. Try saying, “I understand your perspective,” “It’s important to consider,” or just presenting the facts without adding any qualifiers instead of depending on the phrase “to be fair.”
This will make you appear more certain and impartial as opposed to uncertain and unduly accommodative. Recall that you may accept opposing opinions without undermining your claims or points of view. Depending on the situation, alternative expressions such as ” to be precise,” “to focus on,” or “I want to clarify” can be more appropriate.
“It Is What It Is”
The cliche “It is what it is” is frequently said when someone is at a loss for words or cannot come up with a solution. However, in practice, it sounds indifferent or defeatist and offers no guidance. “It is what it is” is incorrect according to some dictionaries since it lacks a verb and a subject. It’s more of an expression of resignation or acceptance.
Try providing answers or recommending different strategies to prevent coming out as inactive. Say something like, “Maybe we can try this instead,” or “Let’s explore other options.” Recall that your communication style influences how intelligent others see you.
“We’ve Always Done It This Way.”
Smart people are open to new ideas and suggestions. Sticking to a method or process just because it’s familiar makes you look stubborner and close-minded rather than smart. Whether you’re at work, a volunteer organization, or your child’s school, it’s wise to be willing to listen when someone presents an opportunity for improvement.
“It’s Not My Fault!”
Just like saying, “It’s not fair,” announcing you couldn’t possibly be wrong or at fault makes you sound defensive and immature. Similarly, claiming, “That’s not my job,” implies you’re not a team player. If there’s a problem in the workplace, let’s not back away and avoid blame. Even if the issue isn’t your fault or your job, you’ll look much smarter if you pitch in and help.
“You Look Great for Your Age.”
Or “for having just had a baby.” Or “for” anything. Sure, you mean well, but saying that someone looks great “for their age” implies that people of that age don’t usually look good. So your “compliment” really comes across as insulting and condescending.
And you are saying it implies that you’re unaware of that (or just don’t care), which doesn’t reflect your intelligence well. Keep it short and sweet, and stop at “You look great”!
“With All Due Respect…”
If using this phrase causes your listeners to immediately tune you out, we can’t say we blame them. It implies that you’re about to say something impolite. You might think twice before saying “with all due respect,”, especially in a professional setting if you feel the need to do so. At the very least, try to devise a way to say it that doesn’t get the recipient bracing themselves for a veiled insult.
“I Told You So.”
There’s a reason this phrase drives people crazy. We all like being right, sure. But saying, “I told you so, ” makes you sound superior and petty. Chances are, the person who made the mistake doesn’t need you to tell them that.
Saying “I told you so” may even put them on the defensive, making matters worse. The phrase calls to mind a little kid taunting a sibling… not exactly the picture of sophisticated intelligence.
“Like I Said Before…”
This is “I-told-you-so” ‘s only slightly less obnoxious cousin. Sure, repeating yourself can be annoying, but you can’t realistically expect people to remember everything you say to them.
“like I said,” especially more than once, makes it seem like you’re personally offended by the fact that people aren’t hanging on to your every word. Instead, try phrasing whatever you say differently; make it clear that it’s the thing you’re saying that’s important, not you.
“For All Intensive Purposes”
You probably don’t know what this term means if you’ve been using it for as long as you can remember. The reason behind frequent English errors is that we listen to something and then repeat what we believe we hear. In this case, “all intents and purposes” is not the right term. “For all intents and purposes,” as in “for all our needs,” is what you are trying to imply here.
“Girls” Instead of “Women”
Do you call a gathering of females “girls”? If so, you might wish to adjust your behavior. This error might give the impression that you are illiterate or archaic, as it exposes your prejudice towards a certain demographic.
“‘Girl’ is not the same as ‘guy,’ because of a lot of small details. “That word trivializes and denigrates women, their accomplishments, their agency, and their adulthood.”
“Those People”
“This is almost always a signal that something biased is about to come,” says Suzanne Wertheim, PhD, CEO of Worthwhile Research & Consulting. It is naïve and a show of ignorance to generalize or make conclusions about someone based on anything, whether their race, style of dress, or anything else.
Discalimer; This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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