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"Perfect storm" of cliches make bad English list
Reuters ^ | 12/31/07 | Andrew Stern

Posted on 12/31/2007 8:13:17 AM PST by ricks_place

A "surge" of overused words and phrases formed a "perfect storm" of "post-9/11" cliches in 2007, according to a U.S. university's annual list of words and phrases that deserve to be banned.

Choosing from among 2,000 submissions, the public relations department at Michigan's Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie targeted 19 affronts to the English language in its well-known jab at the worlds of media, sports, advertising and politics.

The contributors gave first prize to the phrase "a perfect storm," saying it was numbingly applied to virtually any notable coincidence.

"Webinar" made the list as a tiresome non-word combining Web and seminar that a contributor said "belongs in the same school of non-thought that brought us e-anything and i-anything."

Similarly, the list-makers complained about the absurd comparisons commonly phrased "x is the new y," as in "(age) 70 is the new 50" or "chocolate is the new sex." "Fallacy is the new truth," commented one contributor.

Some words and phrases sagged under the weight of overuse, contributors said, citing the application of "organic" to everything from computer software to dog food.

In the same vein, decorators offering to add "pop" with a touch of color need new words, the list-makers said.

Such phrases as "post 9/11" and "surge" have also outlived their usefulness, they said. Surge emerged in reference to adding U.S. troops in Iraq but has come to explain the expansion of anything.

Other contributors took umbrage at the phrase to "give back" as applied to charitable gestures, usually by celebrities.

"The notion has arisen that as one's life progresses, one accumulates a sort of deficit balance with society which must be neutralized by charitable works or financial outlays," one said.

"Back in the day" raised hackles for being applied to recent trends rather than historical events.

Other teenage linguistic indiscretions such as the often meaningless use of "random" and "sweet" raised the ire of list-makers, as did the pointless "it is what it is."

Reporters were chided for skipping out on detail by describing an event or parting as "emotional," and for misapplying "decimate" when they mean annihilate or destroy, not the word's true meaning of to lose a fraction.

Sports announcers were urged to drop "throw under the bus" when assigning blame to a player. "It is a call for the media to start issuing a thesaurus to everyone in front of a camera," a contributor said.

And finally, any self-respecting writer would groan at being labeled a "wordsmith" who engages in "wordsmithing," the list-makers said.


TOPICS: Editorial; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: enemedia; language; mediawar; usefulidiots
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To: ricks_place
Being in IT, I'd like to nominate "bandwidth", as in:

"Do you have the "bandwidth" to work on [some useless project]?"

No, I don't have the "bandwidth" to work on yet another idiotic, poorly managed project. I think I do, however, have just enough "bandwidth" to go into the bathroom for an hour or so and "download" something for you...

It's right up there with "repurpose", as in "We're going to repurpose that website."

There is nothing worse than an idiot trying to sound intelligent by misusing or even inventing new words. And for those of you fortunate enough NOT to be in IT, trust me when I tell you that the field is overrun with idiots, and that generally speaking, the more degrees they have, and the more advanced those degrees are, the more likely that the individual in question is a pompous ignoramous who honestly believes they're the smartest person in the room, even as they repeatedly reveal themself to be a complete and utter maroon.

I've also found that a distressing number of people say "supposably", instead of "supposedly". "Supposably" is a word, but rarely applicable and appropriate the way people use it. Maybe these people are all just big fans of the TV show "Friends", and I am failing to appreciate their subtle reference? No, scratch that: they're really not smart enough to have even gotten that joke in the first place - to understand the joke, you'd have to know that the use of "supposably" in the show was wrong.

OK, end of rant. Thanks for listening, or rather, reading.

181 posted on 12/31/2007 11:37:21 AM PST by Sicon
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To: ricks_place
The article mentions the overuse of phrases, etc. What about the absence of parts of speech?

This happens all the time with the weather and traffic people:

1. There will be some sleet during the overnight [hours].

2. Traffic is backed up due to construction at the {name of your local traffic nexus here} [interchange].

Sure, I can fill in the needed word but it's just laziness. Apparently, correct grammar is not part of the journalism curriculum.

182 posted on 12/31/2007 11:59:56 AM PST by pa_dweller (South of the border - a phrase fast losing its meaning)
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To: ricks_place

I’m bailing out, have a nice the rest of the afternoon!


183 posted on 12/31/2007 12:05:32 PM PST by Revolting cat! (We all need someone we can bleed on...)
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To: Guna

Yes!!!


184 posted on 12/31/2007 12:08:50 PM PST by Binghamton_native
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To: ricks_place

I hate it when people say “Las cucarachas entran pero no pueden salir”.


185 posted on 12/31/2007 12:45:01 PM PST by Gritty-Kitty
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To: Tanniker Smith

“Or do you mean that they’re keeping his name out there?”


Exactly. It’s pretty much the only publicity he gets nowadays.


186 posted on 12/31/2007 12:49:08 PM PST by AuH2ORepublican (Fred Thompson appears human-sized because he is actually standing a million miles away.)
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To: Gritty-Kitty

I really meant to say “best of breed” but my stream of conciousness went there instead.


187 posted on 12/31/2007 12:55:13 PM PST by Gritty-Kitty
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To: ricks_place

“Global Warming” is overused


188 posted on 12/31/2007 12:59:51 PM PST by Rosemont
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To: ricks_place
the public relations department at Michigan's Lake Superior State University

So that's what - all of 2 people dictating what's OK?

189 posted on 12/31/2007 1:01:31 PM PST by LibFreeOrDie (L'Chaim!)
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To: AuH2ORepublican
Exactly. It’s pretty much the only publicity he gets nowadays.

Yeah, well in that case, there probably isn't that much to pass around to the puzzle people. :-(

190 posted on 12/31/2007 1:25:31 PM PST by Tanniker Smith (wee fish ewe a mare egrets moose panda hippo gnu deer)
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To: mossyoaks

How about “I’m just saying....”

It is a way of leaving out the insult or advancing an argument without committing themselves in real words and Taffini is tired of it, you hear, tired


191 posted on 12/31/2007 1:39:57 PM PST by Taffini (Mr. Pippin and Mr. Waffles do not approve)
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To: ricks_place
While we're at it, let's get rid of the suspiciously named, "historical present tense."

e. g. On the Ides of March, Caesar goes to the forum.

That just makes me cringe. In addition, it's impossible to understand what came when if you have the misfortune to be listening to one of these pompous jerks.

192 posted on 12/31/2007 1:48:58 PM PST by HIDEK6
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To: Charles Henrickson
impact football players this football team needs to win football games.”

...when they're not hitting golf shots.

193 posted on 12/31/2007 1:52:51 PM PST by HIDEK6
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To: the OlLine Rebel

The same people are *definately* the ones who write *rediculous.*


194 posted on 12/31/2007 1:53:09 PM PST by Rte66
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To: johnnyd
How about “conversate”. Needs to go IMO.

So does "commentate."

195 posted on 12/31/2007 1:55:00 PM PST by HIDEK6
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To: melancholy

How about

Relief became Welfare

Welfare became Entitlements


196 posted on 12/31/2007 1:56:10 PM PST by Taffini (Mr. Pippin and Mr. Waffles do not approve)
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To: Rte66

I *heart* someone

Please, let me gag along with you on that one


197 posted on 12/31/2007 2:07:55 PM PST by Taffini (Mr. Pippin and Mr. Waffles do not approve)
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To: Rte66

Yes, I’m very familiar with that show. You must be in Houston, too.

And, you’re right, she really is an airhead. Can’t stand to watch it. Though I would love to be able buy a new home.

Hope you have a Happy New Year!


198 posted on 12/31/2007 3:04:15 PM PST by msmagoo54
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To: ricks_place

I nominate “Curb appeal”.


199 posted on 12/31/2007 3:07:32 PM PST by ItsOurTimeNow ("Never get involved in a land war in Asia.")
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To: msmagoo54

Well, you’re ahead of me - I’ve never actually watched it because the stupid name and the girl in the ads turn me off. It just seems their info is not going to be serious or credible.

Yeppers, Houston, where we’re *all* supposed to have new homes because we’re the most affordable large city for housing!

Happy New Year to you, too!


200 posted on 12/31/2007 3:35:27 PM PST by Rte66
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