Words to Ban in 2016

The gang over at Lake Superior State University is out with a list of words or phrases they would like to see banned this year. And, I have a couple I'd like to add, too.

An official at LSSU first published a list of words people love to hate back in the mid-70's, after talking with guests of his at a New Year's Eve party. The LSSU website says,

"Fellow LSSU faculty and staff came up with the first list of words and phrases that people love to hate at a New Year’s Eve party in 1975, publishing it on Jan. 1, 1976. Though he and his friends created the first list from their own pet peeves about language, W.T. Rabe, creator of the original list, said he knew from the volume of mail he received in the following weeks that the group would have no shortage of words and phrases from which to choose for 1977. Since then, the list has consisted entirely of nominations received from around the world throughout the year."

So what's on the list of words we ought not use this year? Well, words like 'so,' 'stakeholder,' and 'price point,' are on it, as are phrases like 'join the conversation,' 'break the Internet,' and 'walk it back.' You can check out the entire list HERE.

Here are a couple of words and phrases, though, I'd like to add to the list: "Connect with us..." I always hear this one used referring to various big social media sites from TV networks or magazines. It's always seemed like whoever uses this phrase is trying a little to hard to be fresh and new to me. Can't I just comment on your Facebook post? I have to 'connect with you'? Maybe I don't want to 'connect'-- in fact, I'd really like to DISCONNECT this year, thank you!

Another phrase I'd like to ban in 2016 is, 'reached out.' As in, "We reached out to them to comment on this story..." Now, in addition to 'connecting with you,' we all have to 'reach out' too? Doesn't anybody just call anymore?!? No, all the news organizations are suddenly 'reaching out.' And, if using that phrase is an attempt to be all new, fresh and current, doesn't anybody remember those AT&T commercials from the 80's that featured the slogan,"Reach out and touch someone..."? So, 'reaching out' isn't even new!  Which is why I'd like it banned this year.

Do you have any words or phrases you'd like to ban?