...and now for something completely different.

Consider the word now, a perfectly understandable three-letter word, usable in all sorts of timely constuctions and situations. Why, now, are we burdened with a whole list of tortured phrases (and what's wrong with them, anyway?)

at this point in time - This is a redundancy, brought to us courtesy of NASA, which used it to distinguish between a point in time and a point in space. The Nixonites picked it up at that point in time -- it sounds more important than now or then.

at the present time - As with the previous, why not simply say at present or now, if needed at all.

at this juncture of time - Again, this is redundant, as this sense of juncture already suggests a convergence of events or circumstances at a certain point (in time).

in the current time frame - This is ugly computerese, much in use now in lesson planning as well as in the office.



snoot

The Lone Haranguer