Somewhat

posted June 17th, 2019 at 10:30 PM

In just the last few years, I've noticed that the words "at all" have suspiciously arrived in the retail world. They serve as a form of sheer redundancy or outright confusion. I hear them at the grocery check out when all I've bought is four litres of milk: "Will you need a bag at all?" What is the option being offered? One bag or no bags. There is no "at all". There's no option for less than one full bag, like four tenths of a bag. Why end the question with this weak modification? "Will you need the receipt at all?" I'm sorry, is this not a yes or no question? Are you offering me half the receipt? Why not just ask: "Do you need the receipt?" The "at all" seems to suggest there is a degree of desirability in obtaining the receipt of purchase. There isn't. I either need it or I don't. "Would you like the two-year warranty with that at all?" I don't know, will you charge me less if I'm undecided? When this superfluous phrase is tacked on to any question, my new stock answer is: "Somewhat." Sort of throws them a curve ball.

11 Comments

Bahaha

Jun 18, 2019 at 9:08am

Bahaha u funny.

?

Jun 18, 2019 at 9:11am

It's basically just like you know right?

Life

Jun 18, 2019 at 9:22am

I think you should consider getting one. Are you the same person who posted about people saying “in terms of”? Sounds like just petty stuff that we all have to live with. Let it go.

Anonymous

Jun 18, 2019 at 1:48pm

For me, the expressions that I can't stand are "mansplaining" and "lady boner".

Well

Jun 18, 2019 at 3:22pm

I've not thought of that before. Thanks. I like you!

@Life

Jun 18, 2019 at 4:35pm

Not the Op here. I’m the “In Terms Of” person and I agree with this person. English is being butchered and has become confusing. I can barely understand what a 20 year old is talking about because everything is either related to sex or there are extra words tacked onto sentences that aren’t necessary. It becomes tiresome. Writing proper English should be something we strive for. All these abbreviations and internet jargon are becoming way too mainstream. Call me an old coot but that usage of language sounds unintelligent. I understand that language changes. Shakespeare can be difficult to comprehend but that was over 400 years ago. Our version of English is changing so rapidly that even people 15 years apart have trouble understanding each other. That’s just sad. Especially when it’s changing for the worse.
Ps, I’m 33.

@@life

Jun 18, 2019 at 5:41pm

It may surprise you to learn that I’m a senior who is constantly being told that the way I speak is too complex for the average person. I love using language properly. However, my point is that if you routinely concern yourself with such pettiness, you’re going to find yourself routinely annoyed. The fact is that, like it or not, language is not static. It has changed significantly over time and it continues to change now. We don’t have to agree with the changes, and I personally don’t like many of them, but given that it’s the general populace that will dictate how they speak, I’d say you should just get over it.