College releases annual list of banned words
January 10, 2012
A Michigan college has released the new list of words that it says should be banned from the English language.
The Lake Superior State University's (LSSU) 2012 Banished Words List includes words many people say are overused, misused, silly or made-up.
This year's list includes "baby bump," "man cave," "shared sacrifice," "blowback," "the new normal," "pet parent," "trickeration," "occupy," "win the future," thank you in advance" and "ginormous."
One word that made the list and might surprise some is "amazing." USA Today reports that the word received more than 1,500 nominations, more than any other word on the list.
"Banish it for blatant overuse and incorrect use … to stop my head from exploding," said the UK's Paul Crutchfield.
Added Gregory Scott from Palm Springs, California, "Although I am extremely happy to no longer hear the word 'awesome' used incorrectly and way too often, it appears to me it is quickly being replaced with 'amazing.' Pay attention and you will no doubt be amazingly surprised to find that I am right."
Individuals can read more about the banished words and the comments people made about them by visiting LSSU.edu.
LSSU has been compiling the yearly banished word list since 1975, when the school's then public relations director and his friends created the first list at a New Year's eve party and released it on New Year's day. Since then, LSSU says that it receives tens of thousands of nominations for the list from all over the country and the world each year.
"A lot of people can take this wrong. We don't mean any malice when we publish it," university spokesman John Shibley told USA Today. "If it makes you angry, it gets you thinking about language. If it gets you laughing, it gets you thinking about language. It's done its job - to get you to think about how you express yourself."
While the list simply serves as a suggestion of words that should no longer be used, student parents and others can still use these words and phrases in their conversations and assignments.
However, those who are pursuing their dream of getting a college degree thanks to college scholarships, grants for parents or other financial aid may undoubtedly think that it is an "amazing" opportunity!
