2016 Banished Words List

[Samfan]

Lake Superior State University (Michigan, USA) has put out its annual Banished Words List. This year, So, Conversation, and Physicality made the list.

I could add "reach out" to the list. Instead of 'contacting' someone for information or to talk with them about an issue, we have to "reach out" to them. I hear this mostly with principals and teachers who need to contact parents to discuss their children.



Samfan

(I know that there are other banned/banished word lists out there, but I discovered this one years ago in my my local paper--in a Southwest Michigan town. It's the one I always look for every New Year's Eve).

[jewell]

So, thank goodness, they weren't banning "SO"!

I find SO, significant other, a handy phrase to describe the man I live with without benefit of marriage. He's much too old to be a "boy" friend - as I am too old to be a "girl" friend.

So I'm glad they weren't banning this handy acronym.

So, I guess that's all I have.

Happy New Year!! So long.

J

Thanks for the link, SF.

[Sunshine]

Thanks Samfan!

I had no idea that "secret sauce" was so overused. As long as banishing "walk it back" doesn't mean banishing George Gershwin's wonderful "Walking the Dog" music written for Fred Astaire, I'm all for it.

By the way, I've submitted a candidate for future consideration: "Showrunner," used as a substitute for television producer in the United States. That word is like nails on a chalkboard for me.

[Wolesley]

I'd agree with most of those, although I think sometimes starting a sentence with 'so' adds a bit of exasperated or ironic or puzzled or amazed commentary, as in the Internet-speak phrase, "So this happened:" accompanied by a photo of said event or phenomenon. It can be amusing.

As an educator, the current word that makes my skin crawl is the admin-speak term 'piece.' It is replacing or being pointlessly added to hundreds of more precise terms for what teachers are engaged in doing - research piece, evaluation piece, evidence piece, reporting piece, strategy piece, behaviour management piece. They may as well say 'thing,' for pete's sake! If all the work that a teacher or committee does can be labelled a 'piece' does that mean we're all doing piecework?! Aargh!

Lesley

[Lynette]

Lesley, the edjumacation-speak that currently drives me crazy is "performance task". Do you get that one?

[hazeleyes57]

Solutions is beginning to annoy me. It's on trade vehicles, 'serious' articles and in places that should know better. Creative solutions, plumbing solutions, building solutions, child-orientated solutions (by them or for them???), hoarding solutions, etc.

As I've always said: If you're not part of the solution, you must be the precipitate

[Samfan]

I think that along with beginning a sentence with 'so,' beginning a sentence with 'well' is similar ("Well, I...[did such and such]..."). Actually, I use 'well' a lot at the beginning of sentences, particularly here on QE ("Well, I went to my parents' house....).

Samfan

[Sunshine]

One of my pet peeves involves singers who begin the first line of a song with "Well" or "and."

[marigold]

The phrase "boots on the ground" is beginning to drive me wild. Read a comment from a woman who pointed out that her husband is in the military and he's not "boots," he's a person. Describing people in terms of boots seems demeaning...rant, rant.

[kitchenwonder]

I retired recently after over seven years at an Army training center. "Boots on the ground" is common parlance for those in the Army or Marines. Obviously it is not descriptive of those in the Navy or Air Force. Sounds like somebody (the wife) is a bit over-sensitive.

[Samfan]

I haven't heard this in years, but this week I came across it in writing: the word "flustrated." You're either 'frustrated' or 'flustered;' you cannot be "flustrated."

Samfan

[jewell]

Oh, Oh, Oh!

I hate flustrated, too (unless it's said ironically which is almost never. Most people who use flustrated think it's a word).

Which reminds me of another word mismash I HATE: "happy medium".

The saying is "happy median", people!!!

Happy medium doesn't even make sense, whereas happy median does.

Rant complete.

J

[Samfan]

[jewell]

Yes, Samfan, I suppose you're right. *sigh*

I've also seen it in magazine and newspaper articles quoting a person - I always wonder, did they really say happy medium or is that just what the ignorant reporter heard?

Guess I should give it up...





Nah!

J

[Sunshine]

Even though I work as an educator in a museum, I wince when I see or hear the phrase "teachable moment."

Heck, everything qualifies.

[Samfan]

After hearing it countless times from a student today, I think the phrase "I'm not for sure" should be banned. I know that the person is trying to say, "I"m not sure." Then say that!

Samfan

[Lynette]

Had the following exchange with a high-school student in my library last week.

Me: "Excuse me ... we don't eat in the library."
Boy: "For real?" (editorial comment: we have several signs posted to this effect.)
Me: "Yes."
Boy: "For real for real?"

[Samfan]

[Lynnedean]

The habit of many young people today frequently to use the word "like" when it's totally unnecessary and makes absolutely no sense drives me crazy ... "When I told my friend that John had asked me out, she was, like, "really?", and I was, like, "yeah", and she was, like, "wow!".

I find it, like, very irritating!

[Samfan]

A phrase that should not be used, but which I often hear: "I'm not for sure." What? Are you not sure that you are actually here? That you exist?