In December of each year, we are inundated with numerous lists most of which are
intended to recall important events and people who made their mark in our social
conscious, movies, television, and life in general. These lists include the best and worst
of the previous twelve months, predictions good and bad, what’s in and what’s out
all have their moment in the spotlight as we turn our calendars from the old to the
new year.
In 1976, Lake Superior State University joined the growing year-end practice by
offering their suggestions for words and phrases that should be banished in order
to safeguard public discourse from overuse, misused, or useless phraseology.
Originally created as a publicity stunt to increase public awareness for the school,
its Public Relations Director, Bill Rabe released the first tongue-in-cheek
“banished words list” as an imaginative advertising stunt
Over the last five decades, phrases and popular words have come
under fire. In 1979, “Yuh know,” became the focus of ridicule. The 1982 list
encouraged us to stop using,“classic.” The 1987 list suggested the redundant input
from the department of redundancy department highlighted “foreign imports” to
join the list. 1999 saw the ever-popular “Y2K” and any “-gate” construction. The
2000 election gave the energy to drop the word “Chad,” Thank you Miami-Dade,
Broward, Palm Beach, and Volusia counties in Florida for that overused word.
This past year “Slay” held the number five position because according to the list
producers it “transcended its original meaning and infiltrated situations where its
usage [lost its intended significance.” Coming in at position four on our 2024 list,
we have, “Rizz”, a short-hand form for Charisma. Number three on the list is the
phrase “at the end of the day” because of its overuse as a way to summarize complex
situations. The number two position is held by “Impact,” the list’s compilers believed
it robs other words of their spotlight. And finally coming in as this year’s number
one suggestion is…
“Hack,” – because its overuse “lessens its inherent significance.”
If I may be so bold, let me offer three suggestions for next years list; with the hope
that they are given greater consideration. First, on my list is the phrase “It is what it
is” – because is not only overused but its blinds the individual basic rationality of its
redundancy, bushing aside what the alternative could possibly be.
Second, the mother of all over used words since, 2020 – “Misinformation.” This is
the poster child of over used and misapplied words. Let’s call it, by its true meaning
an attempt to eliminate the constitutional rights given to individuals to speak their
minds. Because social media depends on freedom of expression, misinformation has
been attached to the expression of ideas that run counter to the desires of
organizations who have no rational abilities to support irresponsible political
policies, thus enacting a “1984-like” thought control practice. For example, the 2024
World Economic Forum proclaimed that misinformation was the top threat facing
society in the 21st century. Unfortunately, it completely ignores the reality that the
determiners of what qualifies as misinformation are the same individuals who see it
as a threat which is Marxism at its core.
Lastly, I offer “Big-“ construction. This I believe should be included in Lake
Superior States 2025 list because its continued use as a negative modifier has
watered down its original application to describe large successful business ventures
and blinded the general public to the benefits of the business in question. For
example, Big Pharma cloaks the entire pharmaceutical industry as evil uncaring
organizations who care only about corporate profits, with no interest in healthcare.
Big tech is the label we attach to counter legitimate free speech and freedom of the
press. and lest we forget “Big Sandwich” which came to the forefront as an effort by
a U.S. politician’s opposition to Roark Capital’s attempt to add the Subway sandwich
chain to its assets which include Arby’s and Buffalo Wild Wings.
If you would like to see the published lists from 1976 to 2023 refer to the school’s
website at https://www.lssu.edu/traditions/banishedwords/year/. Look and see how
you can influence our social vocabulary, not to mention that it can make a wonderful
conversation starter at your next dinner party.
© Joel Grigg