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Lake Superior State University
Issues 2002 List of Banished Words
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - Lake Superior State University released its
27th annual List of Words Banished from the Queen's English for Mis-
Use, Over-Use and General Uselessness. The compilation draws from
hundreds of nominations received from all over the world by mail and
through the Internet.
LSSU forms a committee in December to review the year's entries and
decide which of them will be included on the list. Word-watchers pull
nominations from everyday speech, as well as from the news, fields of
education, technology, advertising, politics, and more.
The complete 2002 list follows:
Politics and the Media
DISENFRANCHISE - "Somewhere along the line, somebody stumbled into it thinking he was
saying 'disfranchise.' It caught on, and for more than 30 years we've been subjected
to this negative-positive abomination. What's next
? 'Disenable'? - Mike Bunis, Key West, Florida.
"The term has been frequently applied to describe voters who have experienced
difficulty in following directions." - J. H. Jaroma, Sault Ste. Marie, Micihigan.
"Our country cannot possibly hold that many victims." - Linda, Kansas City, Missouri.
SURGICAL STRIKE -- Over-used in the news media to describe bombing campaigns.
"As in bombing a Red Cross building by mistake?" - nominator from Sault Ste. Marie,
Michigan.
FRIENDLY FIRE -- "Would unfriendly fire be less painful?" - nominator from Sault Ste.
Marie, Ontario.
BRING THEM TO JUSTICE or BRING THE EVIL-DOERS TO JUSTICE - "Practically every news
reporter and our President has uttered these words. Now, hearing this phrase is almost
comical, even under these most serious circumstance
s that profoundly affected my hometown..." -- a proud New Yorker from Queens.
FAITH-BASED -- "All it means is religious entities, but I presume 'faith-based
organizations' will elicit less recoil." - Michele Mooney, Van Nuys, California.
"I'm just tired of hearing it. Bombard the phrase with guided Missals." - Elaine
Hampton, Burbank, California.
BI-PARTISANSHIP -- "Bipartisanship, to most politicians, only seems to happen when one
side gets its way and the other goes along with it. I didn't vote for my guy to submit
to the will of the opposing party. I want lots
of partisanship!" - Michael Bush, Jersey City, New Jersey.
Anything modified by DOPPLER -- Stems from when TV newscasts began using new doppler
weather radar. Now 'doppler-fication' has become a badge of excellence with local
newscasts, regardless of whether it involves weather.
Even the stations are amused by it. The Morning Crew at YES-FM in Sault Ste. Marie
predicts sweet forecasts with its "Hobbler-Dobbler-Peach-Cobbler." Claire Rynders of
Madison, Wisconsin, asks, "If my TV station uses 'Dop
pler 2001,' does that mean weather forecasts are more accurate because it has bigger
doppler?"
FRIG and FRIGGING - A sneaky way of getting a version of the dreaded 'F' word on the
radio and TV. Is there anything one can't say on the airwaves these days? - Merri
Carol Wozniak, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.
NINE-ELEVEN (9-11) and its variations -- We received many nominations for this
annoying abbreviation that refers to Sept. 11, 2001, the day terrorists attacked and
killed thousands in New York, Washington, D.C., and Penns
ylvania. Those who sent nominations said they were in no way trying to make light of
the day's events, or the subsequent events. Most of them asked if finding a 'cute'
abbreviation for the day makes the attacks any easier
to accept.
"Last year, we had Y2K and 24-7. This year, we have 9-11. This new digital language
(digitalk?) should be banned no later than 1-1-Y2K-2�Do we refer to the Chicago Fire
as 10-8 because it occurred on Oct. 8, 1871? How abo
ut the sinking of the Titanic - it is not called 4-14. A tragic event of such
proportion should not be confused with a telephone number. The name will be remembered
as long as there are people who can read." - nominator f
rom Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.
"I can't believe people are abbreviating the worst act of war this country has seen
since Pearl Harbor. I've never heard anybody refer to the attack on Pearl Harbor as
Twelve-Seven, or 12-7." - nominator from Colorado Spr
ings, Colorado.
"It was September 11." -- nominator from Ishpeming, Michigan.
"It's over-used and sounds ridiculous when used to represent what happened on
September 11. - nominator from Madison, Wisconsin.
"It's worse when people play on the ambiguity with '911' in the emergency phone number
context." - nominator from Los Angeles, California.
IF�THEN THE TERRORISTS WIN or THE TERRORISTS WILL HAVE WON - "Since Sept. 11, we've
heard countless variations of this phrase, usually from politicians, encouraging us to
get back to our normal way of life. It has become
so over-used as to become almost meaningless, especially when, for example, the
Smallville Chamber of Commerce says, 'If you don't come to the annual parade, then the
terrorists win.' I can't imagine al-Qaeda cares whethe
r we attend parades�Sorry to have taken up so much space, but if I can't complain
about things that bug me, then the terrorists will have won." - nominator from
Chicago, Illinois.
"The phrase makes a mockery of those extremely tragic events of that day." - nominator
from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
BUSINESS/TECH
BRAINSTORM/BRAINSTORMING - "Bureaucrats and bosses often use it to sound hip instead
of dry. 'We brainstormed.' Didn't you simply 'think'? 'We had a brainstorming
session.' Didn't you simply have a meeting?" - Ken Marten,
Hamtramck, Michigan.
"If you've ever been on a committee for anything, you've heard this." - Thomas
Heilman, Lebanon, Pennsylvania.
SYNERGY - nominated by many, including John from Medicine Hat on Lindy Thorsen's CBC
radio show out of Regina, Saskatchewan.
"It's used as a weasel-word, as in, 'There might be some synergy between our
companies,' instead of 'We want to make some money off of you.' It's one of those
words that's used by salespeople the way a parrot uses profani
ties - they blather away without a clue as to its meaning." - Gervase Webb, London,
England.
"A favorite of politicians and bureaucrats, and used to make one sound smart. It comes
from the Greek sunergos, which means 'working together.' Why not just say that? I'll
bet most people using the word can't define it."
- Ken Marten, Hamtramck, Michigan.
"It's a blanket term used by people so they won't have to actually articulate their
business case in a meaningful way." - T. Conte, Woodstock, Ontario.
RAMP UP - Often used to suggest an increase in productivity or your product's
effectiveness.
"Whatever happened to the word 'increase'? - Lance Rivers, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
"Whoever started it should be made to ramp up (walk) the plank." - Howard E. Daniel,
Kailua, Hawaii.
EDGY - "Supposedly referring to creative work that is provocative and interesting, the
word now has become a signal that someone is trying to 'market' yet another piece of
contrivedly offensive hack work. We should limit
the word to physical things that have edges, such as an 'edgy coffee table.'" - Ron
LaLonde, Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada.
INFOMMERCIAL - "Is everyone else as tired of this as I am? If a commercial lasts for
30 minutes, it's a PROGRAM. It's also boring!" - John King, Oceanside, California.
MAKING MONEY -- As a caller into a radio program on Detroit's WJR pointed out, only
counterfeiters make money. Honest people earn it.
'BOTS -- A fashionable construction that refers to robots. "Please restore the
neglected 'ro-'," pleads Bob Forrest of Tempe, Arizona.
Does Not Compute
FUNCTIONALITY - Nominated by many, including listeners of Lindy Thorsen's show on CBC-
Regina.
"The word is used in the computer field when people don't seem to know how to explain
a software feature. It's used as a crutch, and it's used way too much!" - Scott
Watson, Oxford, Michigan.
"Used all too frequently in the information technology industry to describe attributes
and capabilities � Product 'upgrades' are said to feature 'enhanced functionality,'
whatever that is." - Terry Shannon, Ashland, Massa
chusetts.
KILLER APP -- Used to describe an outstanding computer program. "If its function
doesn't approximate that of the HAL 9000 computer from 2001, it's not really a killer
application," says Peter Lynn of Toronto, Ontario.
SOLUTIONS -- The Banishment Committee pines for the days when our economy offered
merely goods and services. Its usage especially miffs Greg Arens of Brainerd,
Minnesota, who points out that "problems demand solutions; ne
eds demand fulfillment."
Miscellaneous/Overuse
REALITY TV and REALITY-BASED TV -- "Banish the words, banish the shows, banish the
people who came up with the idea for the shows, because there is nothing real about
this form of television." - Mary Li, Toronto, Ontario.
CAR-JACKING - "Throughout my long career in law enforcement, there was a name for the
forcible taking of an auto from the driver. It's called armed robbery." - John King,
Oceanside, California.
IN THE WAKE OF� - "What was ever wrong with the word 'after?'" A caller on WJR
Detroit's David Newman Show wondered if we should all take one tablet in the wake of
each meal.
NO-BRAINER -- Charles VonHout of Climax, Michigan, wonders, "Who doesn't have the
brain in this transaction, you or me?"
SPORTS
ATHLETICISM - instead of saying that an athlete is very good.
"Not yet in the dictionary, but no doubt on the way�exceeded only by 'tremendous
athleticism'!" - Keith, Edwardsville, Illinois.
"This word is so over-used by coaches and players that it has ceased to have any
meaning (if it ever did). He's graceful. She can jump. She's strong. He's accurate.
Give me details." - Sarah Kickler- Kelber, Columbia, Mar
yland.
RUN THE TABLE - "Sneaking into sports programming to refer to 'winning all games.' For
example, 'The Jets have to run the table to make the playoffs.' It's football, dough
head, not Casino Royale." Sent by Brian Giffen, B
urnaby, British Columbia, who is also bothered by what he calls the proliferation of
'gangspeak' in sports broadcasts, e.g. 'deuce' for 'two,' 'rock' for 'ball.'
Redundancies
'Uniquely Unique' has been on the list for many years. Some variations have been
showing themselves.
TOTALLY UNIQUE - Jeremy Mulliss, New Westminster, British Columbia.
VERY UNIQUE - Alastair Forbes, Buckinghamshire, England.
SWORN AFFIDAVIT - "If it is not sworn, it is not an affidavit." - Smitty Landry, New
Iberia, Louisiana.
Miguel McCormick of Orlando, Florida, should take his redundancy act on the road. He
sent us some beauties.
POSSIBLE CHOICES - "No need to include the impossible choices, I'm sure."
FOREWARN - "But if not, then warn after the fact."
UNPRECEDENTED NEW - "Not to be confused with the unprecedented old one."
RENAME IT SOMETHING ELSE - "Be sure not to rename it the same name."
DELAY DUE TO AN EARLIER ACCIDENT - "Now in standard use�As distinguished from the
delay caused by an accident yet to occur."
FORESEEABLE FUTURE - Just how long is foreseeable? "What about the unforeseeable
future?" ponders James Hartman from Winnipeg, Manitoba.
CONTACT: Tom Pink 906-635-2315, [EMAIL PROTECTED] OR John Shibley, 906-635-2314,
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Lake Superior State University is Michigan's smallest public university with an
enrollment of just over 3000 students. It is known for its academic programs such as
fisheries and wildlife management, engineering, teacher
education, nursing, geology, business management, and criminal justice. For admissions
information, go to LSSU's web site: www.lssu.edu.
LSSU accepts nominations for the Word Banishment list throughout the year. To submit
your nomination for the 2003 list, go to www.lssu.edu/banished.
Home | Sitemap | Contact LSSU | Visit LSSU Today! | Campus Directory
| News & Information
Lake Superior State University
650 W. Easterday Ave, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783
Phone: 1-888-800-LSSU Fax: 1-906-635-2111
Please direct comments or questions to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
End<{{{
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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The only real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking
new landscapes but in having new eyes. -Marcel Proust
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"Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe
simply because it has been handed down for many generations. Do not
believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do
not believe in anything simply because it is written in Holy Scriptures. Do not
believe in anything merely on the authority of Teachers, elders or wise men.
Believe only after careful observation and analysis, when you find that it
agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all.
Then accept it and live up to it."
The Buddha on Belief, from the Kalama Sutta
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A merely fallen enemy may rise again, but the reconciled
one is truly vanquished. -Johann Christoph Schiller,
German Writer (1759-1805)
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It is preoccupation with possessions, more than anything else, that
prevents us from living freely and nobly. -Bertrand Russell
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"Everyone has the right...to seek, receive and impart
information and ideas through any media and regardless
of frontiers."
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
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"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will
teach you to keep your mouth shut."
--- Ernest Hemingway
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