Words from de-wise
From AP
Posted: 12:28 AM, January 1, 2013
DETROIT — Spoiler alert: This story contains words that some people want to ban from the English language. “Spoiler alert” is among them. So are “kick the can down the road,” ‘‘trending” and “bucket list.”
A dirty dozen has landed on the 38th annual List of Words to be Banished from the Queen’s English for Misuse, Overuse and General Uselessness. The nonbinding, tongue-in-cheek decree released yesterday by northern Michigan’s Lake Superior State University is based on nominations submitted from the United States, Canada and beyond.
“Spoiler alert,” the seemingly thoughtful way to warn about looming references to a key plot point in a film or TV show, nevertheless passed its use-by date for many, including Joseph Foly, of Fremont, Calif. He argued in his submission that the phrase is “used as an obnoxious way to show one has trivial information and is about to use it, no matter what.”
The phrase receiving the most nominations this year is “fiscal cliff,” banished because of its overuse by media outlets when describing across-the-board federal tax increases and spending cuts.
“You can’t turn on the news without hearing this,” said Christopher Loiselle, of Midland, Mich., in his submission. “I’m equally worried about the River of Debt and Mountain of Despair.”
Other terms coming in for a literary lashing are “superfood,” ‘‘guru,” ‘‘job creators” and “double down.”
As usual, the etymological exercise — or exorcise — only goes so far. Past lists haven’t eradicated “viral,” “amazing,” ‘‘LOL” and “man cave” from everyday use.
