On Monday, New York Times TV critic Neil Genzlinger wrote a column about the overuse of the word, “really” in pop culture. He explained the “faddish use of it: delivered with a high-pitched sneer to indicate a contempt so complete that it requires no clarification.” And that it’s part of the undoing of “2000 years of human progress.” While perhaps a bit dramatic a statement, he pointed out examples of the phrase being used to fill in lazy writing on current television shows like The League, Veep, and Animal Practice.

Genzlinger also utilized Jon Stewart and Seth Meyers as examples who’ve pinpointed the overuse of the word years ago and have been skewering it for years on The Daily Show and Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update.

Well, as luck would have it Jerry Seinfeld reads the Times; and he’s also used the word quite a bit over the years. Seinfeld decided to write a letter to the Times coming to the defense of the word. “Really, Neil? Really? You’re upset about too many people saying, “Really?”? I mean, really.” Stated Seinfeld.

Seinfeld fired back stating that though the use of the word might be lazy by comedy writers but there’s no changing comedy writer’s and their laziness. Seinfeld also defends the ability for the word to get a laugh because though it doesn’t work in writing, it’s a great word to implement when speaking to someone. However, in perhaps the most biting moment of his response, Seinfeld stated that Genzlinger can’t one moment complain about the use of “Really?” then use an equally worn phrase as, “wrap my head around it” right afterward. Claiming, “When I hear people say, “If you can wrap your head around it,” I want to wrap their heads around something, like a pole.” Blasting that Genzlinger crumbled a bit of civlization using that phrase himself.

Who’s correct in this situation? Well that’s up to the person reading the articles. But one thing I can say for certainty, SNL has been using the word in a perfect setting for years now.