Last summer, we had a discussion here at The Rumpus about the worst words ever. Well, it turns out that for the last 35 years, Lake Superior State University has been doing even more: a “List of Words Banished from the Queen’s English for Mis-use, Over-use and General Uselessness.”
There seems to be some technophobia in the 15-word 2010 list, but I’m okay with that, because I agree that the words “tweet” and “sexting” are terrible. There’s also a lot of economy fatigue, but I couldn’t agree more with those choices, either. If I hear “in these economic times” again I’m robbing a bank so I can take a bath in cocaine while smoking opium wrapped in hundred dollar bills.
Because the banished words seem to be tied to current events, though, I got curious. What was banished in 2001? Dude, dot.com, chad, and going forward. How about 1989? Glove compartment, alcohol-related drunk driving, read my lips, and infotainment. The list for the year I was born, 1979, just feels oddly dated. I feel, social security, and what are you into? are banished.
My favorite year was 2002. If we’d listened then, we’d never have to hear the words faith-based, 9/11, brainstorming, synergy, killer app, or reality TV ever again.
Here’s a complete list.
