(no subject)

In the latest audioconference I transcribed, one woman used the word "essentially" exactly 50 times, sometimes twice in a sentence. This was in less than two hours, shared with two other panelists, a chair, and inquisitive audience members. Only once did anyone else say "essentially." She also said "in fact" 34 times, again sometimes twice in a sentence.

Reminds me of a teacher I had who said "actually" so often that the students made a point to count. Took me ages to hear the word the same way again.

I'm not saying this to gripe or shame these people; for all I know, I'm just as guilty. But now I've discovered a pattern to overused words and phrases in speech. When they're not breathers like "you know," they're usually adverbs or adverbial clauses, which are among the most optional parts of sentences. If the three cases above are any indication, the most overused focus on truth.