Wordsmiths banish ‘go green’ for overuse

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Islamabad: ‘It’s that time of year again’ these ‘six useless and annoying words’ that announce Valentine Day’s sales to charity dos, have been banished with 15 others by wordsmiths at Lake Superior State University, who have been knocking off words for ‘misuse, overuse and general uselessness’ for the past 34 years.

Words getting the axe in 2008 include the environmental buzzwords ‘green’ and ‘going green’ and all-time media and entertainment favourites like ‘icon’, ‘iconic’ or a ‘desperate search’ launched by the press to cover up for lack of news.

The university, which started banishing words in 1976 as a ploy to get publicity, issues its list on New Year’s Day each year. The list, which is in its 34rd edition, is eagerly awaited by language enthusiasts across the world. Word-watchers are encouraged to target pet peeves from every day speech, as well as from news, advertising, politics and sports.

Topping the list of words put to sleep in 2008 is ‘it’s that time of year again’. Nominated by Kathleen Brosemer of Canada for ‘general overuse and meaninglessness’, she asked “When is it not ‘that time of year again?’ Just get to the point of the solicitation, invitation, and newsletter and cut out six useless and annoying words.”

The ubiquitous ‘green’ and all of its variables, such as ‘going green’, ‘building green’, ‘greening’, ‘green technology’, ‘green solutions’ and more, drew the most attention from those who sent in nominations this year. “This phrase makes me go green every time I hear it,” wrote Danielle Brunin while nominating the words for banishment. “I’m all for being environmentally responsible, but this ‘green’ needs to be nipped in the bud,” wrote another contributor Valerie Gilson. Another environmental term, ‘carbon footprint’ or ‘carbon offsetting’, too has been banished by the university. A contributor wrote that each time he heard the phrase, he envisioned “microscopic impressions on the surface of the earth where an atom of carbon forgot to wear its shoes”.

Perhaps taking a cue from LSSU, researchers at the University of Oxford also took a shot against tired language and released their list last month.