Lake Superior State University has put together their 2009 "List of Words to Be Banished from the Queen's English for Mis-use, Over-use and General Uselessness". I can certainly get behind such a list as I am often the offender and sometimes the offended. The list has words you might suspect:
From the election: Maverick, First Dude
From the economy: Wall Street/Main Street - caused a great amount of intoxication during a Presidential debate drinking game earlier this year.
One my personal annoyances is "green", since it is used pretty indiscriminately on things that could never be conceived of as good for the environment.
I encourage you to read the comments on the list as their are some suggestions for additions (such as robust as a verb).
Showing posts with label words. Show all posts
Showing posts with label words. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Scripps Spelling Bee words I will try to use in everyday speech
I only caught the end of the Spelling Bee last week or so, I must not watch enough ABC shows to be warned that it is coming because I miss most of it every year. There were several words I want to continue using in regular conversation.
In Round 13
hyphaeresis - omission of sound, syllable or letter from word. "The word o'er in the middle of a word is an example of hyphaeresis." Now I have a fancier name than contraction for when the church hymn omit syllables such as in o'er and heav'n. I sing both syllables anyway. By the way, contraction is a shortening of a word, syllable, or word group by omission of internal letters, is it the same thing?
Kulturkampf - culture wars, or culture struggle. Wikipedia says it refers to German policies in relation to secularity and the influence of the Roman Catholic Church, enacted from 1871 to 1878 by the Chancellor of the German Empire, Otto von Bismarck. I think I will use it out of its original context for any culture struggle. German words always sound great in English usage.
In Round 14
Introuvable - impossible to find. Such as the definitions for some of these words. French words always sound great in English usage as well.
(needless to say, Blogger spellcheck is not familiar with these words)
(Dr. Bill Long watched the whole thing and has commentary, essays and definitions for many of the words here I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII)
In Round 13
hyphaeresis - omission of sound, syllable or letter from word. "The word o'er in the middle of a word is an example of hyphaeresis." Now I have a fancier name than contraction for when the church hymn omit syllables such as in o'er and heav'n. I sing both syllables anyway. By the way, contraction is a shortening of a word, syllable, or word group by omission of internal letters, is it the same thing?
Kulturkampf - culture wars, or culture struggle. Wikipedia says it refers to German policies in relation to secularity and the influence of the Roman Catholic Church, enacted from 1871 to 1878 by the Chancellor of the German Empire, Otto von Bismarck. I think I will use it out of its original context for any culture struggle. German words always sound great in English usage.
In Round 14
Introuvable - impossible to find. Such as the definitions for some of these words. French words always sound great in English usage as well.
(needless to say, Blogger spellcheck is not familiar with these words)
(Dr. Bill Long watched the whole thing and has commentary, essays and definitions for many of the words here I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII)
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