Stephan Zielinski: Dwa

(Click to enlarge.  Hur hur hur.)

MP3: Marbles Bouncing in Vase 3

(Derived from “marblesbouncinginvase3.wav” at http://stims.cnbc.cmu.edu/Sound%20Databases/AuditoryLab/. Sounds courtesy of the Sound Events Database (http://www.auditorylab.org/.)
Copyright 2008, Laurie M. Heller. Funding provided by NSF award 0446955.)

Have a look at this Google Trends data:

Since 2008, both searches for and web pages containing the word “adorable” have grown unchecked– like mildew on the flowered vinyl shower curtain of English diction.

“Adorable” is officially overused.  Using it now marks you as being unable to think of the correct word. Don’t do it.

Apple’s Dictionary.app lists these as synonyms for “adorable”:

Lovable, appealing, charming, cute, cuddly, sweet, enchanting, bewitching, captivating, engaging, endearing, dear, darling, delightful, lovely, beautiful, attractive, gorgeous, winsome, winning, and fetching.

If none of those fit, and you are not describing something worthy of worship as a divine being, STOP TYPING.

(For more information, you can run a Google Trends search on “adorable” directly.)

(After Simon Slavin.)

Benelli makes shotguns.  Pages on their site have a slide show in the header: various folks offering testimonials.  Most are unremarkable, but one caught my eye.  Click for full size in a new window: