A Surge of Overused Words

[shetuck]

Reuters: A Surge of overused words

Wordsmiths, avoid these words..

Tue Jan 1, 2008 9:35am EST
By Andrew Stern

CHICAGO (Reuters) - 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.

cont'd...

 

[OCBucksFan]

Buzzword Bingo?

 

[shetuck]

Buzzword Bingo?

lol?

 

[Bob Saccamano]

"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."

Way to go, IAB!

 

[sandgk]

Submit a word for banishment right here.

Why hang back, when you can be front and center in the banishing of words and phrases?

Remember, be proactive, not reactive, don't forget!

 

[shetuck]

Submit a word for banishment right here.

Why hang back, when you can be front and center in the banishing of words and phrases?

Remember, be proactive, not reactive, don't forget!

i tried... they told me barksdale was banned from being nominated for getting banned!

 

[sandgk]

i tried... they told me barksdale was banned from being nominated for getting banned!

Try using "Any Updates on Barksdale" instead.

 

[OHSportsFan]

"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."

Don't make a lot of vnoise, or the vbookie will get his vhitmen to break your vlegs

PS - anyone know the vrecord for the vnumber of vsomething references in a statement?? vthanks

Don't worry BuckeyeMike, v-anything is still OK to use.

 

[Gatorubet]

i tried... they told me barksdale was banned from being nominated for getting banned!

How'd secspeed work out?

 

[shetuck]

How'd secspeed work out?

speed sex?

 

[OCBucksFan]

speed sex? your wife said not so good... :p

Everyone knows sex is a race, first to climax wins.

 

[FCollinsBuckeye]

I think the phrase 'pin their ears back' is fucking stupid and tired as well.

Please stop using it.

Thanks.

 

[Gatorubet]

Everyone knows sex is a race, first to climax wins.

Nonsense.

Everyone know that it is the first to climax and go to sleep who wins.

 

[Romanowski]

Nonsense.

Everyone know that it is the first to climax and go to sleep who wins.

not quite my friend...it's first to fall asleep then fart without waking your significant other up...

 

[Best Buckeye]

the most overused words my wife says are;
"Dammit, did you fart again".