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Fun With Banished Words in 2023

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Although I have paid attention to the Banished Words List for more than a decade, last year was the first time I actually wrote about it. A lively discussion among co-workers about the words was my inflection point for doing so. The list, complied by Lake Superior State University, aims to retire “overworked, redundant, oxymoronic, cliched, illogical, and nonsensical” words and terms.

In following the lead of last year’s post and in homage to Lake Superior State University’s own paragraph it uses to introduce the annual words, here is a little sample from me…

I am by no means the GOAT of getting young children dressed in the morning. Irregardless, I do try to accomplish the amazing by getting Sloan and Beau in their school clothes by 7:30 a.m. every weekday. Sloan tries to gaslight me by saying I am too rough pulling on her clothes but it is what it is. You see, the inflection point is always getting Sloan ready first so Beau follows her example. Does that make sense? Sidney might think my effort is akin to quiet quitting but moving forward I hope she can see that I always give 100%. Am I the corniest dude alive? Absolutely!

The Banished Words List of 2023 might contain some of your own go-tos.

To be honest, the words in the 2023 list didn’t resonate with me as much as the 2022 version. Maybe that is a good thing? However, the one word in this most recent list that I completely abused over the past 12 months was absolutely. Just like LSSU framed it, I used “absolutely” in a way that I hoped would convey enthusiasm and cooperation. But sometimes over eagerness can be a bit much.

I thought it was interesting that it is what it is made a re-appearance on the list (it was banished in 2008). I do remember when that phrase was all the rage and I can distinctly remember an NFL Films reel in which it showed coaches and players exclaiming it in a whole bunch of different contexts. I abused the phrase myself but eventually moved on. Little did I know that it made a comeback this past year.

The one term that I definitely agree deserves banishment is gaslighting. Completely overused in 2022, I consider it the ultimate buzzword that pretty much was erroneously used to encompass anything said by one person that another person did not like.

Moving forward, I think we should probably check ourselves against overusing the recently banished words/phrases in 2023. Here’s hoping for another year in which Don’t Blink makes the list. Don’t Blink.

Fun With Banished Words

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I seem to come across it via social media or the newspaper at the end of every year. The Banished Words List is a pop culture mainstay that aims to retire “overworked, redundant, oxymoronic, cliched, illogical, and nonsensical” words and terms. Lake Superior State University compiles the annual list and always has fun with the press release by sprinkling all the banished words into a single paragraph. If they can, why can’t I?…

Wait, What? You’re surprised that I took a deep dive into this year’s list with some of my work pals? No worries, it is the new normal to start Zoom meetings these days with an ice breaker. That being said, the ice breaker kind of manifested itself throughout the rest of the day as we would circle back to the list by cleverly using the banished words in opportune spots. You don’t think that’s unprofessional, do you (asking for a friend)? At least not as unprofessional as still forgetting to tap the Zoom microphone icon before speaking so everyone has to say, “you’re on mute.” Oh well, at least at the end of the day the list generated more lively chatter than depressing chit-chat about the supply chain.

The Banished Words List of 2022 contains some good ones.

That last paragraph is not a complete embellishment. I did have some lively conversations about the banished words with some of my colleagues. When you specialize in marketing and communications, a list like this can produce a lot of laughs and perhaps a wake up call.

You see, I must admit that I consistently used at least a few of the banished words/terms in 2021. What does that say about me as a communicator? I definitely don’t want to develop a reputation as someone who speaks in an endless stream of clichés.

Then again, who is to say that Lake Superior State University is the main authority on what words should be retired or not? I mean, I they have only been at this for 46 years.

As guilty as I am for using and abusing this year’s banished words, I do have a soft spot for the list. I think it is a great reflection on the cultural vibe of the past year and a fitting time capsule of the English vernacular. At the end of the day, as long as Don’t Blink never makes an appearance on the list I have no worries. Don’t Blink.