Gee whiz… it’s hard enough to come up with some interesting prose every week without being told there are now certain words and phrases that need to be eliminated from the conversation.
But such is the case with the 2025 release of the annual Lake Superior State University Banished Words List. In case you’re not familiar with it, the list dates back to 1976 when a PR guy at LSSU, doing what PR guys do, created the first collection and described it as a “List of Words Banished from the Queen’s English for Mis-Use, Over-Use and General Uselessness”.
Since then, hundreds of words and phrases have been cited in the annual assemblage, each with a reason as to why they made the list, often exhibiting a reflection of the times. For example, the 1998 list included the phrase, Yadda yadda yadda, which gained traction from the Seinfeld episode, The Yada Yada.
Wait, what? (2022)
As with many entries on the lists, not all of the banishments stuck. The 2000 list included Road rage. Neither the phrase nor the practice has seen any usage decline in the subsequent years.
A couple entries have made the lists more than once. That would certainly suggest their banishments had been ignored, or societal conditions brought them back. Whatever. (1997) In my humble opinion (1992), it would be foolhardy to assume our disparate citizenry would come together, without dissent, and get with the program. (1992)
The 2005 list included the term, wardrobe malfunction. Had you ever heard that before Super Bowl XXXVIII? Probably not, but you’ve heard it plenty of times since.
Post 9/11 made the 2008 list. We don’t use that much anymore, rather we’ve co-opted it to post pandemic, which hasn’t made a list… yet.
2022’s You’re on mute, became popular when our meetings all went Zoom and some of you… okay, some of us, struggled to navigate the new world of video conversations.
I mean (2020)
Much to my chagrin, many of the words I’ve employed in my posts, often multiple times, have appeared on the lists. Looking back, I’ve used the phrase, that said, more times than I’d like to admit. It’s been banished since 2003.
Last year’s list included wait for it. Oh my. How many times have I actually waited for it, only to suffer the disappointment of finding there was nothing of actual value worth waiting for. You might agree, with a been there, done that, except that’s been banished since way back in 1996.
Make no mistake about it (2003), trying to control the words we use is the mother of all (1994) challenges. Our creative differences (1991) will always manifest themselves in the way we use language. Each list speaks to (2001) a conversational time and place we’ve each visited… way too often. In other words, it is what it is… banished in 2008.
Spoiler Alert (2013)
I’d like to think there’s a teachable moment (2010) here, but at the end of the day (1999 & 2024), we have to acknowledge the new normal. (2012 & 2022) which is to say, I know, right? (2021)
You may think this yearly exercise is a big nothingburger (2018), but there’s nothing more critical to understanding each other than the words we choose to utilize. (2025) Does that make sense? (2023)
Just remember, we’re all in this together. (2021) Unfortunately, in these uncertain times (2021), re-engineering (1994) our language to get everyone on the same page (1996) is likely a wake-up call (2000) that won’t be answered. Know what I’m sayin’? (2000)
Going forward (2001), any new wordsmithing (2008) will require an a-ha moment (2011) which brings about an entirely new paradigm (1994) offering a viable alternative. (1992) In other words, a real game changer. (2009 & 2025) Let that sink in. (2018)
No worries (2002)
Bottom line (1992), eliminating words from our vocabulary is anything but a done deal (1996). If I’m wrong, that’s my bad. (1998) Otherwise, it’s all good. (2000)
Well, to wrap my head around (2019) all this, I’m gonna have to double down (2013) on my efforts to bring you the best words which haven’t yet been banished. You would think writing a weekly blog (2005) would be a no-brainer (2002), but… breaking news (2006), it’s anything but.
Which begs the question (2001), with so many words and phrases no longer available… who in their right mind would want to take on such a task? Asking for a friend. (2022)
To check the lists for yourself, visit the LSSU Banished Words Archive. It’s hands down on fleek. (2017)
Have a good one! (2001)