Do you use any of these “banished” corporate terms?
What happens when the faculty from the English Department at a local university start talking to the university’s PR director at a New Year’s Eve party?
It was New Year’s Eve, 1975. Professors and staff from Lake Superior State University (LSSU) began discussing words that people love to hate . . . and the “List of Words Banished from the Queen’s English for Mis-use, Over-use and General Uselessness” was born.
Every year since 1976, wordsmiths from the English Department at LSSU have published a list of banished words based on nominations they receive from people all over the world. “Word-watchers target pet peeves from everyday speech, as well as from the news, fields of education, technology, advertising, politics and more. A committee makes a final cut in December.”
There now are more than 1,000 banned words or phrases in the LSSU archive.
Below are 44 terms and phrases from the banished words lists that are often seen in corporate communications (annual report messages, executive blogs, press release quotes, etc.). Words are shown with the year they were nominated for banishment, revealing exactly how long language enthusiasts have been maligning “implement” and “cutting edge.”
How many of these words would you like to see banished?
- Quid pro quo (2020)
- Curated (2020)
- Influencer (2020)
- Wheelhouse (2019)
- Thought leader (2019)
- Unpack (2018)
- Impactful (2018)
- Listicle (2017)
- Stakeholder (2016)
- Price point (2016)
- Walk it back (2016)
- Hack (2015)
- Skill set (2015)
- Takeaway (2015)
- Fiscal cliff (2013)
- Double down (2013)
- Guru (2013)
- The new normal (2012)
- Teachable moment (2010)
- Game changer (2009)
- Author/authored (2008)
- Having said that (2003)
- Synergy (2002)
- Ramp up (2002)
- Negative growth (2001)
- Leverage (2001)
- Take it to the next level (1998)
- My plate is full (1995)
- Paradigm (1994)
- Downsizing (1993)
- Creative differences (1991)
- Cutting edge (1988)
- Irregardless (1988)
- Signage (1987)
- Basically (1986, 1984)
- Up to speed (1985)
- Conceptualize (1983)
- World class (1982)
- Time frame (1980)
- Ball park (indicating an estimate) (1980)
- Memo (as a verb) (1978)
- New Dimension (1977)
- Implement (1976)
- Viable (1976)
Have a word or phrase to add to the 2021 list? Click here to nominate.
