Lake Superior State University (LSSU) in Ste. Sault Marie, Michigan, has released a list of "banished words" every year since 1976. While the list began all in fun, it quickly caught on, and the University receives nominations for overused and misused words every year.
Students might wonder why particular words are deemed not worthy of being used in academic essays. The words on each year's list aren't necessarily "bad" words, but professors who assign essays (and who hold classroom discussions) tire of the use of particular words. So, students, take note! If a word appears on LSSU's list, it might be a good idea to choose a different one. Here are a few reasons why some words appear on the annual list.
Words That are Overused Tend to Lose Importance
When words are used over and over and over, they tend not to make the impression they once did. LSSU's list this year flagged these words and phrases as overused:
- Viral
- Epic
- Fail
- Wow factor (one voter described this phrase as "done-to-death")
- Man up
- The American people
- Live life to the fullest
Students are continuously advised to avoid clichés. Why? Because they are overused and trite, and people who nominated the words above did so because they were overused, meaning the originality was gone and people were numb to the words' original meanings. LSSU agreed that they were overused. So, if a student wishes to say something is "epic," he might instead say he was quite impressed with the enormity of something. An instructor will appreciate genuine description over a trite adjective every time.
Some Words are Neither Professional Nor Academic
If words are not professional nor academic, they are not worthy of being used in an essay. Essays should be polished and, well, adult-sounding. While some of the words in the previous section can be considered non-academic, these words and phrases are best avoided in essays as well for the same reason:
- A-ha moment
- BFF (for Best Friends Forever)
- Refudiate
- I'm just sayin'
- Verbs such as "Facebook" and "Google"
Students who use these sort of words and phrases may be looking at a less-than-stunning grade. Instead of saying in an essay that she "Googled for evidence to support her claim," a student should instead say she "searched the internet." If LSSU has deemed these words as worthy of banishment, it's best to keep them out of one's academic writing.
Word Choice Can Make or Break a Student's Essay
Some students simply write their essay, not taking time to examine their choices when it comes to words and phrases. However, tired words, overused and misused phrases, and the like can literally drive instructors to distraction, so much that they lose the student's ultimate message.
Remember, it's best to use simple, clear, and accurate words, and it's always best to avoid cliches and colloquialisms. LSSU's list gives students clear examples of words that are best to avoid, and if a word or phrase is on this list, it should definitely be shunned, no matter how "epic" that word might be.
Cynthia Jones-Shoeman - Cynthia (“Cindy”) Jones-Shoeman earned her MA in English from Colorado State University in 2007; her thesis was "Toni ...
