It's 2011, which means we're all going to be happier, healthier, nicer, and better at promptly responding to our email than we were in 2010. If the logophiles who participated in Lake Superior State University "36th annual List of Words Banished from the Queen's English for Mis-use, Over-use and General Uselessness" have anything to say about it, we're also going to be a whole lot better spoken.
Every year since Bill Rabe, then LSSU's PR Director, kicked off the tradition in 1976, the university has been putting together a list of words that contributing language-lovers would like to see scratched from the national vocabulary. (These days, LSSU receives well over 1,000 nominations annually through their website.)
Refudiate makes the list, as does epic, a-ha moment, wow-factor, and I'm just sayin'. More than a few Palinisms made the cut: in addition to the word of the year, mama grizzlies and man up get the proposed ax, along with bipartisan political favorite The American People.
As objectionable and annoying as contributors found Facebook and Google (nouns) when transformed into verbs, neither could top viral for dubious honor of "word most frequently nominated." As one commenter wrote, "this linguistic disease of a term must be quarantined."
What do you think--any additions to the LSSU list? Any words unfairly charged?
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1 comment:
The most unprofessional phrase used today is: "At the end of the day!"
Hearing this six-word missive by anyone, let alone a commentator, analyst or other communications professional, is tantamount to heresy. One word - 'ultimately,' should be used in its place. I've seen numerous 'professionals' use "At the end of the day" more than THREE times in less than one minute on television.
I cringe each time a Senator, CEO or commentator uses this overused phrase.
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