One of my pet peeves is programmers who use the word "allow" when describing their software. For example, "Product X allows users to create snazzy documents." I don’t like hearing "allow" because it sounds as though the developer sees themselves in a position of authority, and they’re giving the customer permission to do something (perhaps because they’ve been such a good little user).
I prefer the word "enable." Yeah, I know – "enable" and "allow" are synonyms, but my brain is wired to interpret them differently. To me, software which enables customers to do something leaves them in charge, whereas software which allows assumes that the developer is in charge.
It’s a minor semantic quibble, of course, and there are far more important things to be bothered about. But if I don’t bitch about it here in my blog, then I’ll be forced to bitch about it on Twitter, and Nick Harris does enough of that for the both of us :)