The Annual List Of Words That Should Be Banished Is Out: ‘Cra-Cra,’ ‘Bae’ Get To Get The Axe


Every year since 1977, Lake Superior State University (in Michigan) has issued a list of “Banished Words,” that is, words that its Public Relations Department would like to see banned from use in the English language forever. The 2015 Banished Words list was released today, and they’re words that you either use every day; or words that make your teeth grind when you hear them; or both.

This year’s Banished Words include “Bae,” “Cra-Cra,” and “Enhanced Interrogation,” among others, according to Yahoo! News. The Banished Words are culled from suggestions (presumably by uptight 8th-grade English teachers) submitted to the university, and can include made-up slang, euphemisms and doublespeak, or words that people are simply tired of hearing.

Here are all 12 Banished Words to make the list for 2015, and brief definitions, for those of you who aren’t hip to the slang those Millennials are using these days.

  • Bae: Short for “Babe,” or an acronym for “Before Anyone Else,” depending on whom you ask. Example: “My bae is stopping by my house on her way home from work; better clean up.”
  • Polar Vortex: Technically it’s a real phrase used in meteorology (it refers to a blast of cold, Arctic air plunging south), but apparently just about every English speaker in the U.S. got tired of hearing it in 2014. Example: “The Polar Vortex plunged temperatures in Chicago to -20 degrees over the weekend.”
  • Hack: A shortcut; an upgrade; a clever idea. Example: “I found some great kitchen hacks on Pinterest this weekend.”
  • Skillset: Corporate Human Resources jingo that means “things one is good at.” Example: “The applicant’s skillset doesn’t match our company’s needs at this time.”
  • Swag: A display of wealth, prestige, or attitude. Example: “Justin Bieber has so much swag!”
  • Foodie: A fan of food. Example: “My boyfriend and I hit all the food trucks whenever we visit Austin. We’re such foodies!”
  • Curate/Curated: Specifically designed for the user. Example: “Order a box of curated treats and toys specifically for your favorite pet.”
  • Friend-Raising: Using one’s friends for the purpose of fundraising. Example: “My colleague brought her daughter’s wrapping-paper catalog to work today; I’m so sick of all this friend-raising.”
  • Cra-Cra: Synonym for crazy. Example: “That snowstorm in Buffalo last month was cra-cra!”
  • Enhanced Interrogation: Government euphemism for torture. Example: “Guantanamo detainees were subject to enhanced interrogation.”
  • Takeaway: The point; the bottom line. “The takeaway from this informative article is that sometimes people and the media overuse certain words and phrases.”
  • -Nation: Used as a suffix. A fandom; a community. Example: “On Game Day, the area around Wrigley Field is packed with Cubs Nation.”

The Banished Words list was first published in 1977, and while many of the words on the list represent the fads of their time, others continue to be used. You may “LOL” (2004) about them now, but any “meaningful dialogue” (1976) about English words will require “input” (1976) from “The American People” (2011). “Back in The Day” (2008), our English teachers would “basically” (1984, 1986, 1993) expect us to stick to the dictionary whenever possible, but the “blowback” (2012) from that trend has resulted in a new “paradigm” (1994).

What words or phrases would you like to see banished from the English language in 2015? Sound off in the comments below.

[Image courtesy of: GTM Mobiles Reviews]

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