Words That Are So Last Year
The list of overused words and phrases for 2007 is out... "Surge," ""perfect storm," "webinar," even "post-9/11" all made the list. And it's not just words; phrases like "give back" and "______ is the new _____" (as in green is the new black) are so last year, too. The public relations department at Lake Superior State University in Michigan come up with the lists every year, rummaging through a couple thousand submissions of cliches and well-worn phrases. And they give special attention to us media types... Reporters use terms like "emotional", or "decimate" too often, and often incorrectly. The list also throws sports writers who use the phrase "thrown under the bus" under the bus. My favorite, though, may be one that I use myself a bit too often: "it is what it is." The list-makers point out (correctly) that it's completely pointless. All you wordsmiths (another term on the list) out there, what words or phrases are you tired of hearing?
Tags: cliches | overused words
11:41 AM ET | 01- 2-2008 | permalink
