Poll: 'Whatever' most annoying word

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y., Dec. 16 (UPI) -- A New York pollster said its survey indicates "whatever" is considered the most annoying or phrase in the English language by 39 percent of U.S. adults.

The Marist Poll of 1,020 U.S. adults, conducted via telephone Nov. 15-18 by pollsters at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., found 39 percent of respondents despise the word "whatever," while 29 percent cited "like" as the most annoying word or phrase in contemporary conversation and 15 percent said they were most incensed when people say, "you know what I mean."

The survey found "to tell you the truth" is the most irritating phrase to 10 percent of those polled while 5 percent said the word "actually" is their least favorite thing to hear in a conversation.

The poll had a 3 percent margin of error.