Do you have one or more words or phrases you can’t stand? I do. Among them is the word “further” instead of “farther” when talking about distance. Another is common on signs in stores, saying “10 items or less” when it should read, “10 items or fewer.”
But my Number One worst pet peeve is how people constantly use “No problem” as the response to almost everything. It’s become a so trite, clichéd, unoriginal, and commonplace.
I knew I reached a boiling point when I saw this quote by the British author P.G. Woodhouse: “A slight throbbing about the temples told me that this discussion had reached saturation point.” Not only do my temples throb, but my brain screeches every time I hear those two words. And sadly, I hear them all too often. Cashiers say “No problem” after I thank them for the change I receive for my purchase. Waiters say “No problem” when giving me change from the bill I just paid. Front desk attendants say “No problem” after I thank them for giving me my room key.
What was the problem in the first place? What happened to the simple yet powerful phrases of “You’re welcome” and perhaps “My pleasure?”
It’s not just people in the service field who say it. I recently heard it out the mouth of a 6-year-old boy, and worst of all I’ve caught myself saying it. (By the way, if you ever hear me saying “No problem” please feel free to call my attention to it, if I didn’t already do it first.)
In many other languages, the customary reply to “Thank you” is not always a literal translation of “You’re welcome.” In French, for instance, the reply is “De rien,” which means, “It was nothing.” In Spanish, a common response is “De nada,” which means, “It was nothing” as well. In the U.S., Americans even use the slang “No problemo,” a bastardization of the more correct Spanish phrase, “No hay problema,” or “Ningún problema.” Is that where we get it? The more we hear and see the term used – even in movies — the more correct we think it is.
No matter how you slice it, in American English, to use the phrase “No problem” as the correct response to “thank you” and most other situations is not accurate. In fact, it’s inappropriate, in most instances inaccurate and in some instances rude. The correct response… one more time is “You’re welcome,” or “It’s my pleasure.”
Help Me Stamp out “No Problem”
I’m declaring a personal crusade to stamp out the use of “No problem” in our society. Henceforth, this subject will be a standard item in all my seminars and presentations, as are a few other topics, such as writing thank you notes. If you agree, please join me in a crusade to stamp it out. Here’s all you need to do:
1. Post a comment in the area below to show support of my efforts. I’d love to know I’m not alone.
2. Share your own stories about situations you’ve encountered where you heard the words “No problem” in lieu of what you think would have been a better choice of words.
3. Submit your own commitment to making every effort to eliminate these words from your writing and speech.
4. For parents and teachers: Educate and encourage your children and students on the merits of not using these words.
5. As an employer, share this article as something for your staff members to not use in front of your clients and customers.
If we all reduce the use of these words in lieu of other more appropriate words, over time it will become less and less common and appropriate to say. This is exactly how etiquette comes into effect.
Together we may be able to make a positive change in our society.
Happy Practicing!
Tags: no problem, saying no problem
Thank you thank you thank you, for bringing this up.. I have been telling my workers this is very inappropriate for hair stylist. When someone says that to me I feel I was going to be a problem or could have been a problem… Plus it really is a negative come back.. It makes no one feel good… I found out hotels are training the workers not to say this, Chick Filet does not allow this & I hope lots of other businesses take notice.. Maybe , just maybe it would be ok if someone was working on a technical problem such as a car, computer or something that was not directed at you (the person himself) maybe, no not even then… Certainly not a customer who you want to come back and see you… Why even taking the chance to insult a person… I’m on a mission to kindly tell people not to say ‘no problem’ because it may reflect on there tip… So I give them choice & hopefully a good tip… Really folks, its just good common sense. This is a no brainer… It seems to be more in the young so I do understand some of it.. How sad for a grandparent for someone to say this.. An elderly lady once said this world is monkey see monkey do.. Lets make good decisions in life it goes a lot further…
i work at a help desk i find myself saying this all the time. now i realize that ‘no problem’ is the worst thing to say so i’m going to change it to ‘you’re welcome’ or ‘my pleasure ‘ or something besides ‘no problem.’
Amen! I found your page after searching for something I could take to work. I am responsible for education in a small hospital and I simply must find a way to redirect those who care for our customers – inpatients, outpatients. and visitors – in response to being thanked for their services. I am personally offended when someone responds “No problem” to me, because it implies that it could have been a problem; and it is sometimes stated with a bit of inflection as though sarcasm is in fact being stated outrightly. A solid, “You’re welcome” bears sincerity.
Thank you!
I completely agree. I find “no problem” so cold! English is not my first language so when I hear “no problem” it sounds even rude. I agree “what the problem in the first place?”. You’re welcome is the appropriate answer because when I say thank you I am genuine and if you respond “no problem” you are not being reciprocal, you are just responding for obligation (at least it’s the way it looks). I try hard not to take it personally
You all must either be single mothers/women or women over the age of 60 that have not yet learned how to adapt to today’s society. You people are really over thinking this. It is just the way that the language has developed in recent years. Different words, same meaning. Stop over-analyzing this. Sheesh…
Dear -_-: This is exactly the point of this discussion. The way language has developed in the recent 25+ years is skewing the English language. The better educated person will know the right words to use for the right situations. This is what it’s all about. It’s not about over analysing anything. Example: When talking about distance, sports commentators often say, “He threw the ball “further” down the field..” Rather, correctly it should be “he threw the ball “farther” down the field…” Farther describes distance, further describes advancing something. Different words used, yet absolutely do not mean the same thing. Another example is how stores have 10 items of less lines. It should correctly say, “10 item or fewer.” Less is quantitative as is 10 item or less than what? Fewer just means what it is… fewer than 10. It’s all about being “in the know.”
-_- Overthinking this? I think not. Perhaps you are under-thinking it. Not to mention the fact that you are marginalizing our language.
Your insult to single mothers//women or women over the age of 60 did not go unnoticed, either. There is no room for misogyny is this discussion, however.
We have all seen many examples of “the way the language has developed in recent years”, and many of us are concerned that it is quickly losing ground.
Well said Syndi.
Sadly, all too often these discussion get hijacked by “so called trolls”who’s clear intention is to ignite a controvesy that meanders off subjectand desends intoan exchange of insults. The usual hallmark of such is to annonymise themselves as seems to be the case on this entry.
Bringing the subject back to good English (not perfect ) I do spend time analysing what I and other people say and drawing “reasonable” conclusions which is not in itself bad.To illustrate, who of us will not evrry morning look at and analyse our appearance and where necessary make reasonable adjustments in order that when others look at us they form a favourable impression. Therefore it follows that the same approach to ones Enlishcan pay the same dividends. These and those people do not further their argument any farther by “celebrating” illiteracy.
Kind regards Gordon.
Because I’m bulgarian, I used to say it all the time. In bulgarian, one usually replies with “За нищо” which means “For nothing”. Another common response in bulgarian is “Няма проблем” which means “No problem” or “No worries”. I’m trying to stop using it lately.
You are not alone. When I ask a colleague to do their job and provide me info I thank them when they provide the info. 90% of time I now get a “np”. So now I reply “Were you expecting there to be a problem?”
Syndi, well done. Along with spelling and grammar, the use of “no problem” is also a pet peeve of mine.
P.S. On a related topic, I wanted to point out the improper use of the word ‘inn’ above. In the last sentence of the sixth paragraph, you say…”even inn movies”…, when I think you meant…”even in movies”…Sorry, but I just couldn’t help myself.
Dear Joe L: Thanks for the comment and catch on the typo. I appreciate you pointing it out. It’s now corrected. Syndi.