like

In recent years, like has been used so increasingly for as or as if that this usage is now accepted as popular or informal in constructions formerly considered nonstandard. When like precedes a noun that is not followed by a verb, its use is standard: "He talked like an expert." The use of like as a subordinating conjunction is not recommended, however (He drank beer like it was going out of style). In standard usage, say as or as if in clauses of comparison: "You should do as I tell you," not "You should do like I tell you." No longer do you need to avoid like "like" you once did, but it is preferable to use it only in a prepositional sense. In other situations, use as if, though, and as though not only for correctness but for effective variety. You will then speak as (not like) a good speaker should.

     In recent years, like has become a filler, a throwaway word used constantly in the speech of many persons, especially young people: "You know, I want to, like I said, try to do better, but something always, like, gets in the way." One can sympathize with the nervousness or ignorance that presumably causes this misuse and overuse, but one can also avoid the practice himself. See also as if.

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See as if, as though, like