AFFINITY

Before I rant too hard, to be fair, we should take a look at the Usage Note Dictionary.com provides:

Usage Note: In the sense of “attraction,” affinity may be followed by of, between, or with. Thus one may speak of the close affinity of James and Samuel, or of the affinity between James and Samuel, or of James’s affinity with Samuel. In its chemical use affinity is generally followed by for: a dye with an affinity for synthetic fabrics. One might want to avoid using affinity as a simple synonym for liking since 62 percent of the Usage Panel rejects the example [emphasis mine] Her affinity for living in California led her to reject a chance to return to New York. Nevertheless, the more sophisticated tone inherent in this use of the word can lend an archness to certain contexts, as when Barbara Tuchman writes of Kaiser Wilhelm’s‚“affinity for coarse physical jokes practiced upon his courtiers.” This may be why 65 percent of the Usage Panel approved of this quotation when it was presented as an example.*

*WTF? Their sample base can’t be more than 100%, yet 62 + 65 = 127. Something’s wrong here. Language people ain’t mathematicians, eh?

Fair enough. That being said, most folks who use this word are trying too hard to sound smart. Have a look at the definitions and see if you agree with me.

ALAS

No one uses this word in speech without a hint of sarcasm. Not anyone I know. People who use it in writing, again, are trying to sound sophisticated in the sense of

so·phis·ti·cate: To make impure; adulterate.

They are watering down the language with unnecessary verbiage.

ANYWAYS

From the Cajun World Dictionary: “Anyways” A Yat word meaning “And, then” or “and, so”.

I don’t know many Cajuns. What people mean to say is ANYWAY. What they should do instead is remain silent, as often the word is a filler for an uncomfortable silence in which they have nothing to say.

/RANT