Lake Superior State University Releases Annual Banished Words List
Lake Superior State, the smallest public university in Michigan, has released their annual list of banished words. The list's proper name is the List of Words Banished from the Queen's English for Mis-Use, Over-Use and General Uselessness, and has been a university tradition since 1976. What words have been banned this year? Find out after the jump!
Fiscal Cliff - The term "fiscal cliff" has been thrown around quite a bit here towards the end of 2012. Why should it be banned? Well, according to Randal Baker from Seabeck, Washington (one of the many who nominated the phrase) it's because,
Continually referred to as 'the so-called fiscal cliff,' followed by a definition. How many times do we need to hear 'fiscal cliff,' let alone its definition? Please let this phrase fall off of a real cliff!
Spoiler Alert - "Spoiler alert" is a phrase that has become pretty commonplace since the internet became a thing, but it seems that many who use it don't really know what it means, or what its purpose is.
What was once a polite warning has turned into a declarative statement: I have just spoiled something for you. When news outlets print articles with headlines such as, 'Huge upset in men's Olympic swimming,' with a diminutive 'spoiler alert' on the link to the rest of the article, I think it's safe to say we've forgotten the meaning of the word 'alert.' - Afton, Portland, Oregon
YOLO - "YOLO"... I hate it. I understand completely why people want to get rid of it, but honestly, it never should have become a thing in the first place. An acronym for "You Only Live Once", the term was made popular by Drake and Rick Ross during 2012. Why do others think it should go away?
According to Brendan Cotter from Grosse Pointe Park,
Stands for 'You Only Live Once' and used by wannabe Twitter philosophers who think they've uncovered a deep secret of life. Also used as an excuse to do really stupid things, such as streaking at a baseball game with YOLO printed on one's chest. I only live once, so I'd prefer to be able to do it without ever seeing YOLO again.
Boneless Wings - I didn't know that people were so passionate about what their chicken is named, but "boneless wings" made it on to the banished words list this year. Why? Well, according to John McNamara of Lansing,
Can we just call them chicken (pieces)?
Which I suppose is a valid point.
Other words and phrases making the list this year include guru, superfood, trending, bucket list, passion/passionate, job creators/creation, double down, and kick the can down the road.
[LSSU]