Bushisms make university's banned list
There are words and phrases I'd love to see banished from the English language. Whether from overuse, crass commercialism, or a criminal lack of originality, people and institutions tend to ride a catchphrase until it inspires homicidal urges. Thankfully, Lake Superior State University has a site that chronicles "Words and phrases BANISHED from the Queen's English for Mis-, Mal-, or Over-Use, as well as General Uselessness." Strangely enough, our beloved Presidentiary & Esteemed English Mangulator makes several appearances on the list. I know; Whodathunkit??
Some of the banned phrases include:
- "Make no mistake about it"
- "Material breach"
- "Weapons of Mass Destruction"
- "Must-see TV"
- "Now more than ever"
- "Extreme"
- "Homeland Security"
- "Branding"
- "Having said that"
- "That said"
- "Challenge"
- "Got game"
- "Mental mistake"
- "Frozen tundra"
- "An undisclosed, secret location"
- "Untimely death"
Of course, if I really wanted to aggravate these folks, I'd figure out a way to use all of these words and phrases in a single sentence. I'll pass, though; I think the effort would make my head explode.
