Posted on 01/01/2009 7:01:36 AM PST by martin_fierro
University publishes 15 words we <3 to hate for 2009
By David Chartier | Published: January 01, 2009 - 08:00AM CT
Just in time for the new year, Lake Superior State University has delivered on its decades-old tradition of publishing a "List of Words Banished from the Queen's English for Mis-Use, Over-Use and General Uselessness." The annual, jocular list began in 1976, with words and phrases like "meaningful" (which lost all of its meaningfulness at the time) and "call for resignation" as a publicity stunt to promote the university's existence. Since then it has grown into a crowdsourced list of the latest clichés to have been birthed from pop culture, and even text speech made this list of words we "<3" to hate for 2009.
For 2009, the words unofficially banned from our vernacular and publications revolve around environmental, economic, current events, and entertainment topics. We are apparently no longer allowed to "go green" or measure our "carbon footprint," according to Ed Hardiman of Bristow, Va., who qualified his vote in his submission: "If I see one more corporation declare itself 'green,' I'm going to start burning tires in my backyard."
Continuing down the catch-phrase hit list, any "maverick" who thinks he is a "game changer"—or who's vain enough to shoot for "iconic"—will surely get booted from both "wall street" and "main street" alike. "You know it's time to banish this word," said Scott Urbanowski of Kentwood, Mich., "when even the Maverick family, who descended from the rancher who inspired the term, says it's being mis-used."
Perhaps displaying the need to embark on a "desperate search" for words to ban, even emoticons like "<3" were apparently overused in 2008 (but seriously: is it actually possible to have too much <3 in one's life?). There will also be no "bailout" for those who cannot stop tacking "monkey" onto words in an attempt make them sound... something-er. Fortunately, other related and fundamental (and undoubtedly crucial) words in 2008—such as "economy"—did not make Lake Superior State's list this year.
Rounding out the list are more inane terms and phrases, such as "first dude," "staycation," "not so much," and "it's that time of year again." Participants were also tired of hearing about the potential for awards, as even "winner of five nominations" actually, erm, won an award.
If you want "more bang for the buck," you can flip through the pages of Lake Superior State's "online," "state of the art" archive for each year back to 1976 for a trip down memory lane that should "shock and awe" you.
My pet peeve is the word “literally”.
What is really irritating is the attempt to substitute perfectly appropriate words for others a little more deceptively PC. For instance, we are told we are “associates” not employees. I guess this is supposed enable us to feel like we are actually all one big family, sharing in the wealth.
Also, I am not a secretary, but an “administrative assistant.” This is supposed to make me feel more important when I get my boss’s coffee.
Absolutely.
For all the GREEN folks I’d like to start a new word for 09 ECOFRAUD
No gripe against Bob the Builder, but his ‘Yes we can’ has gotten too much exposure.
WTH does “we ‘less than 3’ to hate” mean?
The people that clean the floors where I work, folks WE would typically refer to as janitors, have the job title of "Floor Technicians". I wonder if they are certified by a national board of floors or some such nonsense. lol
When it comes to being tired of corp-speak, everyone in my work location is “on the same page”.
With you on that. . .I am sooo tired of that sort of spew.
My boss’s favorite: “Work smarter, not harder”
What sort of inane nonsense is that!?
"For Corporatese, please press '3', or say: "I would like to dialogue with a customer care professional regarding the future state of my account, specifically with regard to actionable, mission-critical metrics, compatible with the encouragement of a high-performance culture throughout the enterprise".
low-hanging fruit
That said, at the end of the day, we did our due diligence, and it is what it is.
Then. There’s. This.
Our official handbook:
But can you say you are all “teamplayers?”
“literally”
Yup, especially since it’s used incorrectly so often.
“Ted, they’re literally walking on eggshells down here at the courthouse.”
No they’re not.
Also,
“thrown under the bus” should be...well, you know.
“Am I saying -——? No, but what I AM saying is________”
“I firmly believe...” oh. For a minute I thought you were wrong but now that we see you “firmly” believe it...
“spot on” Unless you are English.
“Don’t let the door hit ya......” especially by one who posts just to share this tired cliche.
I’m afraid anyone who has ever heard the phrase “those who forget history are doomed to repeat it” are doomed to repeat it.
Look at it from the side - it’s supposed to be a heart.
As in, “I <3 NY” or something like that. The effect is better on Facebook, where typing the symbol in results in an actual heart shape.
I have to get a copy of that book, if only to break the old paradigm. ;-)
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