There are too many words out there that have worn out their welcome — if they were ever welcome at all.
That’s why we should all thank the people at Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. Every year for the past 35, they have published an annual “List of Words Banished from the Queen’s English for Mis-use, Over-use and General Uselessness.”
This doesn’t guarantee actual banishment, of course, but sometimes it is a start.
Among those making the list for the new year:
Enhanced interrogation: This is apparently “governmentalese” for “torture.” And haven’t we suffered enough?
Takeaway: Often used on TV newscasts. Such as, “What’s your takeaway on the recent vote of the city council, Scoop?”
Polar vortex: As one of the many nominators for this one pointed out, “Didn’t we used to call this ‘winter’?”
Skill set: The point here is why use two words instead of one — “skills”?
Foodie: As the nominator wondered, “Are people who like wine “winies” or beer lovers “beeries”?
Nation: A “suffering sports suffix,” as in “Bulldog Nation,” or “Wildcat Nation.” As was pointed out, “what next, Continent, World, Galaxy, Universe”?
The “banned words list” was started in 1976 by W.T. Rabe, once the university’s public relations director. Since then it has grown to more than 800 words and phrases selected by a school committee from nominations submitted online from word-watchers around the world. They range from “absolutely” to “zeroise.”
The institution receives no federal grant money for this valuable research. That seems unfair, since the bureaucrats in Washington are famous for handing out big bucks for such things as trivial as the study of sex habits of goldfish.
Actually, I don’t think this year’s list quite measures up to those in many other years. Last year, the appeal for banned words and phrases was headed by “on steroids,” “hashtag,” “selfie” and “Mister Mom.” Those are real words for the wastebasket.
My favorites over the years include “actual facts,” “at this point in time,” “level playing field,” “revenue enhancement,” “close proximity,” “sanitary landfill,” “clean fill dirt” and “virtual reality.”
And who can forget “same difference,” “open heart surgery,” “wardrobe malfunction,” “for the children,” “center median,” “false pretenses,” “completely empty,” “jumbo shrimp” and “turned up missing?”
“Embedded journalist” was dishonored in 2004 but, strangely, no one has yet nominated “investigative reporter.” Aren’t all reporters supposed to investigate?
Over the years, two words/phrases have been “honored” three times each: “basically” and “live audience.” That stands as an “all-time record,” I suppose.
I’m already collecting my nominations for next year. Heading it up will be a couple of manufactured words concocted by ex-jocks who provide “color” on televised football games. (Incidentally, “color commentator” won a “taboo title” in 1993.)
Physicality: Arrrgh! A team plays with a lot of “physicality”? That should go the way of “athleticism,” which made the list in 2002.
Trickeration: Teams don’t run trick or deceptive plays any longer, they employ “trickeration.”
Of course, if you don’t agree that these should be banned for all-time, I’d suggest you should be exiled from “Football Fan Nation.”
Dick Hilker (dhilker529@aol.com) is a retired Denver suburban newspaper editor and columnist who writes twice a month for The Denver Post.
To send a letter to the editor about this article, submit or check out our for how to submit by e-mail or mail.
