The one word that’s ‘undoing 2,000 years of human progress’

It is really. No, really, that’s the word a New York Times critic thinks is so deplorable, really. Jerry Seinfeld disagrees. And social media users, well, they embrace it.

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The Atlantic Wire‘s Jen Doll has led the charge; our sister site Ragan.com has added to the mix, as have a number of other websites.

This week, The New York Times made its case for a word that is so vile—so utterly detestable—that its use is “undoing 2,000 years’ worth of human progress.”

The word is “really,” and the Times‘ Neil Genzlinger writes:

“I’m not talking about ‘Really?’ as a request for more information or an expression of surprise. I’m referring to the more recent, faddish use of it: delivered with a high-pitched sneer to indicate a contempt so complete that it requires no clarification.

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