Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2009/12/31/word_list/

US word czars unfriend shovel-ready toxic assets

2010 list of banned vocab - there's no app for that

By Lester Haines

Posted in Bootnotes, 31st December 2009 12:16 GMT

Michigan's Lake Superior State University has issued its 2010 manifest of 15 words and phrases consigned to the lexicographical dustbin in the 35th "List of Words Banished from the Queen's English for Mis-use, Over-use and General Uselessness".

Or rather, "word 'czars' at Lake Superior State University 'unfriended' 15 words and phrases and declared them 'shovel-ready' for inclusion" in the annual cull of repulsive vocab.

A Word Banishment spokesman, who was "chillaxin" for the holidays, explained: "The list this year is a 'teachable moment' conducted free of 'tweets.' 'In these economic times', purging our language of 'toxic assets' is a 'stimulus' effort that's 'too big to fail.'"

And if purging the lingo of those outrages doesn't satisfy you, the list also includes "app", "sexting", "bromance" and the prefix "Obama-", as in Obamanomics, Obamanation, Obamafication, Obamacare, Obamalicious and Obamaland.

As the team puts it: "We say Obamanough already."

Bootnote

Lake Superior State University explains: "Former LSSU Public Relations Director Bill Rabe and friends created 'word banishment' in 1975 at a New Year's Eve party and released the first list on New Year's Day. Since then, LSSU has received tens of thousands of nominations for the list, which includes words and phrases from marketing, media, education, technology and more."