2009 List of Words That Should Be Banned

May it be so. Fun stuff from The Guardian:

Lake Superior State University in Michigan has unveiled its 34th annual list of words that should be banished from our vocabularies this year, a selection of which we set out below.

Green (and all its derivatives) Whether list compilers are sick of worrying about the planet's destruction or merely of the shorthand used to describe it and the means to avert disaster remains unclear, but this term tops the list, closely followed by "carbon footprint" and "carbon offsetting". Truly, we are all doomed.

First Dude "Skateboard English is not the appropriate way to refer to the spouse of a high ranking public official," says one commentator on the university's website.

Maverick The word has been left so battered and bruised by the assaults perpetrated on it by John McCain and Sarah Palin that it might be a kindness to leave it in peace to recover for a while.

Bailout Because it only ever seems to apply to impossibly rich people and institutions who have screwed up, and never to the much poorer people they have screwed over.

Icon/iconic The Guardian has fielded a number of complaints about the mis- and overuse of this word. We promise to use "legendary", "famous for" or "seen once or twice before" as appropriate.

Staycation Banishment of this seems harsh. Staycation is a succinct, witty way of labelling the new trend for staying in your home country at holiday time, but it is suffering for enshrining both green and economic concerns, which as we have seen above, is a sure way to tick people off.

<3 A new text icon (we use the word in its technical sense), resembling a heart and meaning "love". As a contributor to the list explains, "Just say the word, instead of making me turn my head sideways and wonder what 'less than three' means."

The Guardian features desk collectively wishes to call for "going forward" to be stricken for ever from the record. Personally, I intend to pistol-whip anyone using "FYI" in conversation (instead of confining it to the realms of brief email instructions). Please do add your own suggestions/vent your own furies by emailing g2@guardian.co.uk, with the subject line "banned words", and have a maverick-free new year.

I can think of quite a few, how about you - where ever you live?

And so it goes.

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