Lake Superior State University’s latest annual list of overused words or phrases that ought to be banished includes using “so” as an adjective or the start of a sentence, along with 12 other grating terms. This included manspreading, special sauce, break the internet and that odious example of corporate babble: stakeholders.
While we agree with many of its suggestions, we can’t help but think of a few more of our own. Would the language be poorer if the term “curate” was restricted to just actions by a professional curator, rather than a fancy way to describe someone making a selection of songs or photos? Similarly few would mourn the loss of terms such as iconic, legendary and charm offensive.
If we lose these words, we can think of a few disused and archaic terms that deserve a return to common usage. “Eye servant” used to refer to an employee who would only work when watched by the employer. Or would this be an act of mumpsimus, a Middle English term for being an incorrigible, dogmatic old pedant?
