On Dec 5, 12:37 pm, Scott W wrote:
On 5 Dec, 12:28, "Dave Cornwell"

wrote:
Apologies for this but who else is there to bounce it off? I've recently
noticed among certain friends and family that they frequently reply with the
word "exactly" on those (rare) occasions when they agree with what I am
saying. It is becoming as annoying as the "rising intonation" at the end of
sentences which was seems to have had its heyday. Is anyone else noticing
this or is it a local thing?

Dave

It is as annoying as the presenters on the BBC who say "ahead of"
instead of "before". Annoying Americanisms that have been creeping
into our language for decades

"Exactly" is not, er, exactly, new, though maybe it's
suddenly been re-activated. "Ahead of" is now swamping the airwaves,
I agree, which reminds me I must set the video ahead of going out and
scrape the frost off the windscreen ahead of driving so I can see, er,
ahead. The "rising intonation", aka "upspeak" or the "interrogative
moronic" does indeed seem to be less prevalent, and no bad thing
because it is really, really, like, annoying? It will probably die
out, going forward. Very much so, Des. ((c) M Lawrenson. )

Tudor Hughes