Key Takeaways
- The 50th annual "Banished Words List" has been released, featuring the top 10 overused and misused words and phrases of the year, including "6-7", "cooked", "demure", "incentivize", "perfect", "gift/gifted", "my bad", and "reach out".
- The list is compiled from submissions from all 50 states and several countries outside the US, and is intended to be a tongue-in-cheek roundup of slang that has been overused or misused.
- The list represents the fad and vernacular trends of the younger generation, and is influenced by social media and the lack of context and tone in online communication.
- Some phrases on the list, such as "6-7", are considered nonsensical and are driven by social media trends, while others, such as "my bad" and "reach out", have been around for decades and have become ingrained in everyday language.
Introduction to the Banished Words List
The 50th annual "Banished Words List" has been released by Lake Superior State University, featuring the top 10 overused and misused words and phrases of the year. The list is compiled from over 1,400 submissions from all 50 states and several countries outside the US, including Uzbekistan, Brazil, and Japan. The list is intended to be a tongue-in-cheek roundup of slang that has been overused or misused, and is affectionately called the list of "Queen’s English for Mis-use, Over-use and General Uselessness".
The Top 10 Words and Phrases
The top 10 words and phrases on the list include "6-7", "cooked", "demure", "incentivize", "perfect", "gift/gifted", "my bad", and "reach out". Some of these phrases, such as "my bad" and "reach out", have been around for decades and have become ingrained in everyday language. Others, such as "6-7", are considered nonsensical and are driven by social media trends. The placement of "6-7" at the top of the banished list puts it in good company, with previous top phrases including "quid pro quo" in 2019 and "fake news" in 2017.
The Meaning of "6-7"
But what does "6-7" actually mean? The phrase exploded over the summer, especially among Gen Z, and is considered by many to be nonsensical in meaning. It is an inside joke driven by social media, and even the dictionary’s editors are still trying to figure out exactly what it means. Each number can be spoken aloud as "six, seven", and they can even be combined as the number 67. At college basketball games, some fans explode when a team reaches that point total. Despite the confusion surrounding the phrase, some people, such as 19-year-old sophomore Alana Bobbitt, enjoy using it and find joy in its silliness.
Reactions to the Banished Words List
Not everyone is a fan of the banished words list, however. Jalen Brezzell, a 19-year-old sophomore at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, says that he doesn’t get the joke and doesn’t see what’s funny about "6-7". He also uses other words and phrases on the list, such as "cooked", which he thinks got popular on the internet over the past year. David Travis, the president of Lake Superior State University, says that while some terms on the list "will stick around in perpetuity", others will be fleeting. He thinks that "6-7" will be gone next year, but other phrases, such as "my bad", will continue to be used.
The Impact of Social Media on Language
The banished words list represents the fad and vernacular trends of the younger generation, and is influenced by social media and the lack of context and tone in online communication. Social media allows a greater opportunity to misunderstand or misuse words, and terms that are shared through texting or posting can be easily misinterpreted. Travis says that "we’re using terms that are shared through texting, primarily, or through posting with no body language or tone context. It’s very easy to misunderstand these words". This highlights the importance of considering the context and tone of language, especially in online communication.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the 50th annual "Banished Words List" is a tongue-in-cheek roundup of overused and misused words and phrases that represents the fad and vernacular trends of the younger generation. The list features phrases such as "6-7", "cooked", and "my bad", which are driven by social media trends and the lack of context and tone in online communication. While some phrases on the list may be fleeting, others will continue to be used and become ingrained in everyday language. The banished words list is a fun and lighthearted way to look at the evolution of language and the impact of social media on our communication.
