For 40 years in a row, the LSSU-Nation folks at Lake Superior State University have been curating a cra-cra list of “Words Banished from the Queen’s English for Misuse, Overuse and General Uselessness”.
During last week’s polar vortex, I hacked the entire 800+ word list to understand if the authors should swag for their skill set in choosing words. My takeaway is they are just having fun – and doing a bit of friend-raising.
LSSU’s 2015 list of banished words are:
- BAE
- Polar Vortex
- Hack
- Skill Set
- Swag
- Foodie
- Curate
- Friend-raising
- Cra-Cra
- Enhanced Interrogation
- Takeaway
- <anything>-Nation
I agree with most of this list but wonder about BAE. Other than Pharrell Williams himself, I don’t think most people over 40 would even know what it means. This begs the question of whether you can banish a word that hasn’t even been established.
Instead of BAE, I would offer up photo-bomb. What would you add?
JB- thought you’d be interested to know that BAE means “poop” in Danish and “bye” in Icelandic so, by banishing we acknowledge this by saying “bye poop” y word:)
I like that! I would have said #awesome but hashtag was banned on last year’s list http://jonathanbecher.com/2014/02/16/banished-words-2014/
From the UK I read BAE as the firm BAE Systems: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BAE_Systems. I bet that leads to a lot of confusion
Perhaps it’s on an earlier list but I think the use of “inflection point,” once rare, has reached an inflection point.
Good one, Ron. I don’t think “inflection point” has ever been on the list. You can submit it here: http://www.lssu.edu/banished/submit_word.php
I have to assume use “gift” as a verb has already been banned , as well as “at the end of the day”, to “socialize” an idea, being “provocative” (in a business context), and “have an adult conversation” with your customers. Ban, ban, ban!!
Great suggestions Violette but unfortunately not all banned. Yet.
It’s only a matter of time, Jonathan, only a matter of time.