Where overused words go to die

I love the annual List of Banished Words because it's created from nominations by regular people - like me - who are fed up with hearing the same words and phrases over and over again until we just can't take it anymore.

Lake Superior State University, a small college in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., has been compiling the list since 1976, releasing it each New Year's Day. Overused words and tired phrases are chosen from thousands of nominations sent from around the world.

This year, environmental buzzwords were on the chopping block, green and going green in particular. Carbon footprint is getting the boot, too.

Comments from those nominating their hated words are sarcastic, biting and sometimes downright funny.

Ed Hardiman of Bristow, Va., wrote: "If I see one more corporation declare itself 'green,' I'm going to start burning tires in my backyard."

It's true. We heard more than enough about building green, living green, green technology, green solutions, etc.

As you might guess, the seemingly endless presidential campaign produced a few gems we'd rather live without. Americans grew sick and tired of maverick and superdelegates.

Joked Michael Burke of Silver Spring, Md.: "I'm a maverick, he's a maverick, wouldn't you like to be a maverick, too?"

First Dude, the nickname given to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's husband, Todd, made the banished list, too, with Paul Ruschmann of Canton, Mich., admonishing, 'skateboard English is not an appropriate way to refer to the spouse of a high-ranking public official."

I'm surprised Joe the Plumber didn't make the list. Change was another word I thought was overused and abused, but people didn't seem to mind.

And then there was the dreaded economy last year, which spawned the infamous bailouts. People are fed up with hearing about bailouts, especially since "ordinary workers can't qualify," said Tony of McLeansville, N.C.

"Don't we love how Capitol Hill will bailout Wall Street, but not Main Street?" asked Derrick Chamberlain of Midland, Mich.

Other overused words/phrases for 2008 included: icon or iconic (it seems everyone in show business is 'iconic' for something") and game changer ("it's game over for this cliche"). Also banished are desperate search, not so much, winner of five nominations and it's that time of year again.

Equally entertaining, for me anyway, is perusing the lists of banished words from bygone years.

In 1979, for example, people were fed up with the phrase, "what are you into?" Energy crisis was on the banished list, as was Social Security, which nominators said was "neither social nor secure."

Chill out was banished in 1980; get in touch with your feelings was a hated phrase by 1984; more bang for the buck was ousted in 1996, and Yadda Yadda Yadda was worn out and thrown out in 1998.

I'm curious what we'll find tedious in our lexicons this year. Recession special? Living within our means? For the Flathead Valley, perhaps winter-storm warning should make the list.

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Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by e-mail at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com