(WWJ) There are over 171,000 words in the English language.
Many of them are great. Some of them are terrible. Since 1976, Lake Superior State University has kept a list of banned words and phrases that they add to each year.
On a new episode of The Daily J podcast, WWJ's Zach Clark learns the list can be used as a time machine, giving us a glimpse into our past.
Wednesday, Nov. 30, is the final day to submit entries to Lake Superior State University's mock-serious list of Banished Words for Misuse, Overuse, and Uselessness. The goal, LSSU says, is to “uphold, protect, and support excellence in language by encouraging avoidance of words and terms that are hackneyed, redundant, oxymoronic, clichéd, illogical, nonsensical—and otherwise ineffective, baffling, or irritating.”
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Among the top three banished words for 2022 were “at the end of the day,” “no worries,” and sitting in the top spot, “wait, what?”
Over the decades, LSSU has received tens of thousands of nominations, including more than 1,250 last year. In total, the list of banished words has more than 1,000 entries.
Visit Lake State’s website to submit your word or phrase for banishment. (Entries for this year will be accepted until 8 a.m. on Nov. 30).
The Sault Ste. Marie-based school will announce the banished words for 2023 on Dec. 31.
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