Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Why are these words “banished”?

Daily edition

Why are these words "banished"?

Everyone has pet peeves, and this list of "banished" words is a group of linguists' sore spot. What words would you get rid of?

pressing the delete button on a computer keyboard

S ometimes banishment can be a good thing — just look at Napoleon's exile to Elba or when Pete Best was pushed out of the Beatles. The concept applies to the English language as well, which is rife with words that have overstayed their welcome. Linguists at Michigan's Lake Superior State University are particularly passionate about the topic, so much so that they've released a Banished Words List annually since 1976. This quirky tradition seeks to playfully ban any words, acronyms, or slang for "Mis-Use, Over-use, and General Uselessness." Let's take a look at the 2025 contenders for linguistic banishment.

Some "banished" words have been used so frequently that they've lost all meaning. This includes "cringe" — the No. 1 entry — as saying it is likely to make anyone within earshot do that exact action. We also have "game changer," which has been said so often that it's nothing more than a cliché. "Era" is the third entry on the list, as a certain megastar's tour encouraged marketers to make everything in the past year an "era." Next up is "dropped," which used to be reserved for major album debuts. However, I recently heard someone use it for a new grocery product, so I can confirm it is indeed over.

The 2025 Banished Words List also includes acronyms and slang, such as "IYKYK." This translates to "If you know, you know," and was lambasted for being too cryptic and also unhelpful. Another bit of modern slang to get rid of is "Sorry, not sorry," a phrase that's more backhandedly disingenuous than it is sincere. LSSU also recommends doing away with youthful slang such as "Skibidi" (a true nonsense word) and "100%," the latter of which has been overused in place of more straightforward phrases like "I agree."

To complement LSSU's Banished Words List, I have a few other recommendations. Let's start with "very" — overuse of this term is a sign of lazy writing. English is full of so many descriptive terms, so forgo phrases such as "very happy" and use "ecstatic," "overjoyed," "blissful," or another synonym instead. I'd also like to get rid of the phrase "It is what it is," as it's unhelpful and fails to contribute much, if anything, to the conversation.

Obviously none of these words is actually being banished, but it's worth using this list to analyze your personal vernacular. If you find yourself guilty of falling back on these terms and phrases, try to incorporate some more interesting alternatives in their place.