Michigan's Lake Superior State University has issued their list of banned words for 2003:
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION — Used more and more (and just too much according to James of Canberra, Australia) as a card that trumps all forms of aggression. In danger of becoming a push-button buzzword. Many nominators point out that any weapon, used effectively, does a lot of destruction. "A few thousand machetes in the hands of an army in Africa can lead to mass genocide," writes Howard Stacy of Atlanta, Georgia.
Jack Newman of Cypress, Texas, often hears the hybrid, "wepuhmadistricshun."
"Over-used, over-wrought." Michelle Gill, Chicago, Illinois.MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT — Nominated by many, including Angela Wood of Anchorage, Alaska, for over-use since the 2000 election.
"Generally used instead of 'don't underestimate' or 'understand,'" says John O'Connell of San Jose, California. Are listeners really going to mistake what the questioner is saying?
"Who's mistaken, anyway?" asks Barb Keller of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.HOMELAND SECURITY — A new and improved buzzword. With billions of dollars at stake, perhaps "national security" is just plain blase.
"What happened to the Department of Defense?" asks Rick Miller of Champaign, Illinois.
(Thanks, Jeff!)
