May 23, 2008
This post is, like, totally awesome.
Pulitzer Prize-winning author David McCullough gave the commencement address at Boston College earlier this week.
I admire McCullough and his work very much. I just read “1776” earlier this year and I loved it. So I was very interested to hear what he had to say to this crop of talented graduates.
I was not disappointed—in fact, I felt vindicated. You see, McCullough’s advice to young men and women entering the real world was this: Speak better.
Specifically, he wants people to stop using such words and phrases as “like,” “actually,” and “you know” so prevalently. As in: “I’m, like, an awesome candidate for the job, you know, because I have the right experience, actually.”
Would you hire someone who talks like that? Would you want someone whose every other word is “like” to represent your organization? I know I wouldn’t.
The notion of the deterioration of the English language—in conversation as well as in print—is a very real one with serious repercussions in business and society.
I think we should all listen to McCullough and start speaking properly. Together, we can set a good example for future generations.
Like, you know?
Filed by rebecca at 12:01 pm under For the love of words