Tired Turns of Phrase
by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin on 12/31/2007 at 3:00 PM
As a writer, I enjoyed reading this article about the cliches that made this year's bad English list.
Choosing from among 2,000 submissions, the public relations department at Michigan's Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie targeted 19 affronts to the English language in its well-known jab at the worlds of media, sports, advertising and politics.
The contributors gave first prize to the phrase "a perfect storm," saying it was numbingly applied to virtually any notable coincidence.
If you're in the habit of saying "30 is the new 20" or "the Wii is the new Xbox," you're also in hot water.
List-makers complained about the absurd comparisons commonly phrased "x is the new y," as in "(age) 70 is the new 50" or "chocolate is the new sex." "Fallacy is the new truth," commented one contributor.
Other words and phrases brought to light by the cliche-catchers, included Webinar, organic, post 9/11, surge, decimate, give back, random and sweet. The article hit close to home at the end.
And finally, any self-respecting writer would groan at being labeled a "wordsmith" who engages in "wordsmithing," the list-makers said.
Point well taken. I've never liked the title. It calls to mind images of a hot fire, anvil and sweaty biceps -- a world too far removed from my G4 Powerbook. It's the perfect storm for a bad analogy.
1. Leann said the following at 5:07 PM on Dec 31:
Whew! I think the only word I've used that they don't like is "random." So, I think I'm good... :)
2. Mike Theemling said the following at 5:10 PM on Dec 31:
I too read that article this morning and found it entertaining, especially how some terminology is overused simply because a related product or idea is popular (instead of "organic" I would've used "i-": iCar, iBrush, etc.).
However, it's trends like these that new words and phrases are formed or existing words that gain new meaning. For example, I suspect the word "podium" was never meant to mean what most people refer to as a "lectern". However, because of so much misuse, now "podium" and "lectern" are considered synonyms. Someone explain to me please the origin of kids nowadays calling everything undesirable as "ghetto".
I am also fascinated by metaphorical words or words which refer to proper nouns. Remember how just a few years ago anything and everything which took more than a millisecond of what we THOUGHT it should take was considered a "quagmire" (I was in a "quagmire" at the airport because my flight was delayed by 15 minutes)? And if something was a "Rube Goldberg" way of doing things, it's definitely not straightforward.
On a related note, virtually every sub-community (including writers, gamers, the military, waiters, ...) have their own argot and "buzz phrases" of overused terminology. In the Christian community (at least in this country), it's words like "discipleship", "ministry", and the infamous "Christ-centered" which like "organic" can be used to describe any object or activity. A "Christ-centered life", a "Christ-centered occupation", a "Christ-centered SUV".
3. Chris said the following at 7:15 PM on Dec 31:
"organic" is by far the worst. Whenever anyone says they prefer "organic" food, I want to say, "Oh, so you can't stand the taste of inorganic food, either? I agree. Silicon-based food is rather ho-hum."
Just my chemical background speaking.....
Of course, it's rather bogus to whine about teenagers' use of language. I mean, like, gag me with a spoon, whatever. I'm stoked about cool phrases and stuff.
4. BDB said the following at 9:53 PM on Dec 31:
Suzanne with sweaty biceps? Now THAT's a vivid word picture...
5. Suzanne said the following at 2:25 AM on Jan 1:
A Christ-centered SUV. Ha! :)
6. Joshua said the following at 10:00 AM on Jan 1:
But what if you are a person who creates new words or languages? Also, what if you are employed in using iron to forge motivational phrases or signs?
Either of these could be wordsmiths!
Just kidding. Interesting article! Thanks for posting!
7. Becca said the following at 12:45 PM on Jan 1:
The whole "x is the new y" thing, along with similar constructions, are known among linguists as "snowclones". Many, many more examples can be read at The Snowclones Database.
8. Becca said the following at 12:49 PM on Jan 1:
I don't see the problem with "organic" - according to my dictionary, there are a number of definitions.
One of them is "of, relating to, or denoting compounds containing carbon (other than simple binary compounds and salts) and chiefly or ultimately of biological origin".
The other one is "(of food or farming methods) produced or involving production without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or other artificial agents." It's a legitimate usage, and an important specification for small farmers worldwide...
9. DannieA said the following at 1:30 PM on Jan 1:
Ok, Ok, I'm guilty of still using the words "Random" and "ghetto" very frequently in my vernacular. I just like these words.
Although my personal favorite phrase that I made up is
"You must be smoking some serious crack!"
10. Lauren T. said the following at 3:29 PM on Jan 1:
Want my submission?
"Global Warming".
I am so sick of this phrase! *chuckling*
"Organic" is funny: every time I hear someone saying they're only drinking organic milk these days, I say, "How exactly do you get un-organic milk?"
11. Mike Theemling said the following at 4:12 PM on Jan 1:
Maybe if the food lacks any carbon then it could be accurately said it's "inorganic" food.
12. Dan Gill said the following at 7:30 AM on Jan 2:
I make my living as a technical writer, and I've always liked the term "wordsmith", when applied to my writing skills. It puts me in mind of a craft that is part art, part skill, and part labor. That describes writing pretty well to me.
13. Charles H. said the following at 1:11 PM on Jan 2:
Webinar!!
Boy, that one seemed odd to me the first time I heard it, and I guess it didn't go away. Could we coin the term "Webi-narcosis" to describe the all-too-frequent result?
14. Suzanne said the following at 2:12 PM on Jan 2:
Also, consider that their beef with "organic" is not when it is used to describe food or chemistry. The problem, I think, is its overuse...as in an organic idea, relationship, etc. The word seems to be popping up everywhere.
15. Leah said the following at 8:57 AM on Jan 13:
I have just finished a journalism degree, and our lecturers just about crucified us if we used cliches in our writing.
I've never actually heard it (I think), but I actually kinda like the word "wordsmith" ;)