Lake Superior State University Banished Words List

Lake Superior State University ^ | December 30, 2008 | Lake Superior State University

[Allegra]

Lake Superior State University "maverick" word-watchers, fresh from the holiday "staycation" but without an economic "bailout" even after a "desperate search," have issued their 34th annual List of Words to Be Banished from the Queen's English for Mis-use, Over-use and General Uselessness. This year's list may be more "green" than any of the previous lists and includes words and phrases that people from "Wall Street to Main Street" say they love "not so much" and wish to have erased from their "carbon footprint."

[Allegra]

If you know that I know, why do you insist on telling me again, and again, and again...

True. I wonder if, you know, that's a habit of people like you know, who lie a lot, you know...

[Hot Tabasco]

May I add two words to that list?

Detroit Lions

[bvw]

First banned word green: "If I see one more corporation declare itself 'green,' I'm going to start burning tires in my backyard." Ed Hardiman, Bristow, Va.

[bvw]

I’d like to see the phrase “It is what it is” go away

Origin, according to Safire:

[secret garden]

The list is weak this year, compared to previous ones.

[KarlInOhio]

The word I would like to go away: Kennedy.

[Watershed]

I’m tired of the word “global.”

[secret garden]

Have you noticed how global warming has morphed into climate change?

[JacksonCalhoun]

I love “First Dude”, its sums up what really impressed me at first about Sarah (outsider, breath of fresh air, happy family), until she got sucked into the MSM-SNL vortex and the general incompetence of her running mate.

[DaveArk]

Shit Happens was the phrase in the mid 80’s that was banned from bumper stickers on cars at Tyndall AFB.

Nothing is new. :)

[Flash Bazbeaux]

Up and comers:

“Skin in the game” to mean “put something at stake”

“Shovel ready” — WPA-style work projects which could start employing ditch diggers immediately if funded.

[aruanan]

“Shovel ready”

That would be the Obama Administration, right?

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I'd have thrown that "Change/Hope we can believe in" crap out the window above all of them.

My wife and I were watching an old episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" recently. It involved a group of Borg who were separated from the Collective (a telepathic link between all Borg) and were seduced by Data's brother Lore.
Anyway..."Hugh", the titular leader of this group of Borg 'individuals' spoke a line to Commander Ryker that caused my wife and I to sit up and just look at each other in surprise;

"You can't imagine what it's like for a mind to be so alone and starved for company that it will seize on to any voice promising change."

My wife said to me, "Wow. Does that describe the typical Obama voter, or WHAT?"

[Texas_JohnNY]

“It is what it is” is a Pulitzer Prize, and Irish, so it should stay; it’s how we CIA* view a quandary.
How about dumping “grates on me” instead?
*CIA=Certified Irish American

[philly-d-kidder]

My bumb to the List... “its not rocket science”

any adjective in a Weather broadcast!

[copaliscrossing]

I’m sick of ‘it is what it is’.

OK then, can I say "it be what it be"......

Seriously, my wife told me if I said that one more time, she would whack me over the head with a frying pan! I nominate "granular" when describing anything in the I.T. world. To me, my sugar is granular not my data.

[T Lady]

LOL! Yes!

...And just who are these people to lord it over the rest of us? I'll say whatever the heck I want to. I don't need a bunch of elitist Democrat snobs telling me what to say and not to say...in fact I have just one phrase for them, borrowed from none other than Theresa Heinz Kerry:

"Shove it!"