The 2012 List of Banished Words and Phrases

Posted on December 30, 2011

Lake Superior State University has released its 37th annual List of Words Banished from the Queen's English for Misuse, Overuse and General Uselessness. The university takes suggestions all year for obnoxious words and phrases that should be banned from decent discourse.

Tongue firmly in cheek, an LSSU representative issued this statement: "Worn-out words and phrases are the new normal this year, but with some shared sacrifice, we can clean up the language and win the future. With the addition of this year's nominations, the list of words and phrases banished over the years has become ginormous."

The list was created by former LSSU Public Relations Director Bill Rabe and his friends in 1975 while at a New Year's Eve party. They released the list the next day and it was a big hit. Now LSSU received thousands of nominations for words and phrases taken from marketing, media, education, politics, technology and more.

This year's list bans the phrase "baby bump," "man cave" and "the new normal." It also bans Trickeration which we have never heard, although we are not opposed to its banishment. Here is the amazing 2012 list of banned words and phrases:

More from Writers Write

  • Costco Plans to Sell Books Only From September to December


  • Karlie Kloss to Relaunch Life Magazine at Bedford Media


  • NBF Expands National Book Awards Eligibility Criteria


  • Striking Writers and Actors March Together on Hollywood Streets


  • Vice Media Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy


  • New in Products: Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition