Michigan Radio & TV Buzzboard

The annual 'List of Words Banished from the Queen’s English for Mis-Use, Over-Use and General Uselessness' has been going on since New Year’s Day 1976.

Save one*, there are no real surprises on this year's crop from LSSU in da Soo, eh?... listed below, minus the explanations that accompany them on the LSSU site above:

1. COVID-19 (COVID, coronavirus, Rona)
2. Social distancing
3. We’re all in this together
4. In an abundance of caution (various phrasings)
5. In these uncertain times (various phrasings)
6. Pivot
7. Unprecedented
8. Karen
9. Sus
*10. I know, right?

Is #10 making a comeback or something? That one should have been banished - and illegal when used by anyone over the age of 15 - five to ten years ago.

Those that came close, but didn't hit the top-10 this year, are also on the university's site above.

If I may add one:

Starting a response to a question with the word So....

This is a verbal tick that originated in Silicon Valley (listen to Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg....they do it ad-nauseum). I've heard it used increasingly by respondents who somehow believe it conveys intelligence. Beginning a thought with a conjunction isn't intelligent....it's just poor sentence structure.

Aside from that, I'm especially tired of commercials that refer to "these uncertain times", as if we need to be reminded. I'm also weary of hearing "we're all in this together", when it's obvious some aren't in the same boat as others.

Calvert DeForest wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 02, 2021 11:05 am

..
Starting a response to a question with the word So....

...

I'm guilty of that one. It's not used to convey intelligence, but as a contraction of "if that's the case"

I'm guilty of over-using the phrase "Here's the thing..." to start an explanation of something to somebody.

And I'm with Calvert on corporate propaganda. If I hear the phrase "these uncertain times" just one more time in a tv or radio commercial I think I might just

I don't have a problem with so, but I don't like people that start out an answer with "well...", especially when it is more like "wellllllll..." and then follow it with a pregnant pause. I'm thinking of someone I know that has absolutely 0 self-awareness.

Calvert DeForest wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 02, 2021 11:05 am

If I may add one:

Starting a response to a question with the word So....

This is a verbal tick that originated in Silicon Valley (listen to Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg....they do it ad-nauseum). I've heard it used increasingly by respondents who somehow believe it conveys intelligence. Beginning a thought with a conjunction isn't intelligent....it's just poor sentence structure.

Aside from that, I'm especially tired of commercials that refer to "these uncertain times", as if we need to be reminded. I'm also weary of hearing "we're all in this together", when it's obvious some aren't in the same boat as others.

Yes I thought I was the only one who noticed that or was annoyed by it.

Another one that irks me is when you thank someone for serving you at a store or restaurant and they reply, "No problem>"

Like I should expect it to be a problem for them that I'm doing business at their place.

“Pregnant pause...” since Matt used it

I have a few choice words for folks....

I agree with the list above.... and hope we all just learn to get-along here.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Turkeytop wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 02, 2021 3:02 pm

Another one that irks me is when you thank someone for serving you at a store or restaurant and they reply, "No problem>"

Like I should expect it to be a problem for them that I'm doing business at their place.

Bingo! I first noticed it in the youthful employees of the service industry. Now it's becoming so commonplace that I'm finding myself saying it as well! Is it easier to say than a simple "You're welcome"?

Another speech mannerism that drove me nuts. Fortunately, it was unique to just one person, who has now dropped out of sight. Sarah Sanders.

When she used to hold here Press Briefings, her answer to every question started with "Look."

MS Sanders, what day is this?

"Look. Today is Tuesday."

MS Sanders, what is two plus three?

"Look. The President has already said, two plus thee equals seven."

Turkeytop wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 03, 2021 12:34 pm

Another speech mannerism that drove me nuts. Fortunately, it was unique to just one person, who has now dropped out of sight. Sarah Sanders.

When she used to hold here Press Briefings, her answer to every question started with "Look."

MS Sanders, what day is this?

"Look. Today is Tuesday."

MS Sanders, what is two plus three?

"Look. The President has already said, two plus thee equals seven."

She looked drugged 24/7

I don't believe anyone is seriously suggesting the banning of any words. It was just pointing out that in any year, certain words are overused and we get tired of it.

Some folks don't understand "tongue-in-cheek".

Another one is "Perfect Storm."


When the confluence of unfortunate but unrelated happenings leads to an adverse outcome, it's a perfect storm.

The price of butter had gone up. The river was frozen over. The home team lost another game. The mill was closing down. The car needed new tires. It was a perfect storm.

MrReason wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 05, 2021 11:54 am

Calvert DeForest wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 05, 2021 10:48 am

Some folks don't understand "tongue-in-cheek".

I try to avoid sexual references.

See, you do have a sense of humor.

MrReason wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 05, 2021 11:54 am

Calvert DeForest wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 05, 2021 10:48 am

Some folks don't understand "tongue-in-cheek".

I try to avoid sexual references.

That’s new and exciting.