Lake Superior State University’s 34th annual “List of Words to Be Banished from the Queen's English for Mis-use, Over-use and General Uselessness.”

As 2008 winds down I noticed my growing distaste for the word “staycation.” When friends and family heard about my plans for the holiday season, a handful replied “oh, that’s nice, a staycation?” I, in turn, realized that behind my generally soft smile I consistently, forcefully clenched my teeth at the word. Sometimes a grimace leaked through.  There may have been times when I wove a glorious yarn of adventurous plans just to avoid the word altogether. I wasn’t quite sure why I had such distaste. But Lake Superior State University helped me out.

It’s not that I dislike the coziness of home.

I am a huge fan of travel. I enjoy jaunts to the far and away, the opportunity to interact with people I've never met, in places I never knew.  But I am often equally content to sit under the bright, warm winter light that pours through my home windows this time of year. I appreciate the time to go for crisp walks along familiar creeks, to check in with friends over homemade cinnamon hot chocolates, to bike over to the local bar for a drink or dancing.

But “staycation” grates on me. Its rough. It interrupts itself just to be articulated, “stay-cation.” A “staycation” does not sound at all restful or relaxing. It is a chore to hear it, speak it and even live it.

I am not alone. Lake Superior State University, (a brilliant institution from the state where I was born) informed me that my distaste is shared.  Furthermore, many people have similar distaste for other words, the cousins of “staycation,” such as “maverick,” and the always-progressive-sounding reference to anything “green.” All three words of these words made it onto Lake Superior State University’s 34th annual ----

“List of Words to Be Banished from the Queen's English for Mis-use, Over-use and General Uselessness.”

Words, phrases and one symbol were chosen from about 5,000 nominations. The most irritating 15 of 2008 according to Lake Superior State University are,

• green

• carbon footprint or carbon offsetting

• maverick

• first dude

• bailout

• Wall Street/Main Street

• monkey (used as a suffix in order to invoke humor. Example: cybermonkey)

• 3 (Emoticon for 'heart' used in text messages and e-mail.)

• icon or iconic

• game changer

• staycation

• desperate search

• not so much

• winner of five nominations

• it's that time of year again


Thanks Michigan. I feel a sense of camaraderie. I can now greet the new year as a fresh page and wonder which words will be over-used throughout the coming 365 days.