“Synergy.” “Leverage.” “Paradigm shift.” Why do people talk like this at work? 
People adapt to the conversational style of their workplaces, repeating its jargon no matter how ridiculous it sounds. As champions of clear writing, Writer cuts out wordiness and suggests crisper alternatives. While we see some pretty wacky prose, by far the biggest category of less-than-pristine writing is — you guessed it! — corporate-speak.
Here’s our top 20 list of the most annoying examples. These are the words we recommend you cut from your vocabulary, effective immediately. Your colleagues will thank you (though they may struggle to fill out their buzzword bingo cards as quickly as they used to).

#20. Leverage

Unless you’re talking about debt financing or employing the services of a simple machine, don’t say “leverage.” One of the hallmarks of great writing is simplicity. With that in mind, just use “use.”

#19. Utilize

Cringe, cringe, cringe. No.

#18. Scale

We’re pretty sure we haven’t read a business pitch in the last ten years that doesn’t have this word. We acknowledge it’s sometimes needed, but must we really use it to describe people, teams, processes, documents, job descriptions, and project management? It’s time to scale back our use of the word.

#17. Unlock

As in “unlock the value.” Our data show use of this phrase has declined, even in corporate-land. So don’t date your business by using it. 

#16. Unrivaled

If your product or service truly has no rivals, then you’re either a gazillionaire running a monopoly or you need to take a red pen to your latest competitive analysis. Either way, use your precious word count to say (or better yet, show!) why you’re better.

#15. Unparalleled

Like “unrivaled,” only more pretentious.

#14. Synergy

The 1980s called. They want their buzzword back. Besides having double the number of Ys any word should be allowed to have, “synergy” is right up there with Japanese’s “kanban” and Russian’s “perestroika,” except without the foreign cool factor.

#13. Paradigm Shift

Speaking of the 1980s. “Paradigm shift” is the “synergy” of change. Avoid it at all costs.

#12. Transformation

If “paradigm shift” is the “synergy” of change, “transformation” is the modern-day “paradigm shift.” Like avocado toast of 2015 cuisine and barn doors of 2017 home design, “transformation” is the “it” term of the 2021 business landscape. The word is usually paired with “digital” in “digital transformation,” which is a thing. Of course, it’s a totally overblown thing that means nothing anymore. Estimated at $6.8 trillion in global spend (IDC) — a whopping 70 percent higher than IT spend overall (Gartner) — it’s pretty much a free-for-all under which you could tuck virtually any technology investment.

#11. Business Velocity

What the heck does this even mean? Going fast? Just say “go fast,” then.

#10. On premise

Unlike those other unfortunate or ill-advised terms, this one’s actually wrong. Well, if you’re using it in the context of technology that is physically installed in the corporate network, it’s wrong. Looking at you, technology marketers.
One of the hallmarks of great writing is simplicity.

#9. Hone in

It’s either “home in” (like zero in on something) or “hone” (like perfect a skill). But “hone in” is just a weird mash-up that makes our head hurt. 

#8. Operationalize

While we acknowledge that this is actually a word (it snuck into the OED in the 1980s), it is totally unnecessary. In the spirit of clear writing, why not say, “put into use” or even “make happen.” While you're at it, we’d suggest taking a good, hard look at any words onto which you’ve randomly tacked “ize.”

#7. Literally

The problem with “literally” is it has become an everyword for emphasis. It has totally lost its meaning, which is simply a narrowing of something to its exact definition. In fact, the definition of “literally” is so limited, we’re not surprised it got hijacked for something broader.

#6. Motion

As in “sales motion” or “go-to-market motion.” Not only is this term over-engineered, but it now sounds smarmy, thanks to overuse. In fact, we’re pretty sure you’re only allowed to say it while making an “air guns” gesture and clicking sound with your mouth.

#5. Ninja

We recommend doing a Command-F on all your job descriptions for this word and deleting every instance en masse. Nobody wants to join the corporate ranks as a “ninja.” Unless, of course, you’re recruiting for a position as a spy in feudal Japan, in which case keep it.

#4. Rock Star

Ditto the above. Particularly if it’s coupled with a seven-years-of-experience requirement. Because if someone’s so excellent in their role that they’re deemed worthy of the label “rock star,” chances are they’re not going to be interested in spending an eighth year in the exact. same. role.

#3. Holistic

Is it herbal medicine? OK. Then, no.

#2. Go-Forward

Do you mean, “in the future?” Or, “from here forward?” Then say that.

#1. Actionable Insights

And now for the top spot, number one of our top 20 most annoying corporate buzzwords, we give you: “actionable insights.” Google this term and you’ll get 62 million hits. No matter how great this term is, if 62 million other people are using it, you don’t want to.

WRITTEN BY

May Habib