Writers Tricks of the Trade VOLUME 8, ISSUE 4 | Page 17

ATTENTION WRITERS:
W ORDS AND P HRASES C ITED F OR O VERUSE ,
M ISUSE O R G ENERAL U SELESSNESS IN THE
P AST Y EAR
H AL M ORRIS WWW . GRUMPYEDITOR . COM
Every year the Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
issues their list of banned words and phrases. Some of them have been overused during the year to the
point of nausea As writers, we need to be aware of these offenders so they don’t sneak into our manu-
scripts. Thanks to veteran newsman and columnist, Hal Morris, who hangs out at
www.grumpyeditor.com these days, here is the list.
C
ollusion, a word heard almost
every day on TV news and spot-
ted in print stories, made it to the
list
"We need to collude on getting rid of
this word,” yelled the wordsmiths.
Others making the banished list —
with word collectors’ comments:
Wheelhouse , as in area of expertise.
“It’s an awkward word to use in the 21st
century. Most people have never seen a
wheelhouse.”
In the books , as in finished or con-
cluded. “It seems everyone’s holiday par-
ty is in the books and it’s all there for
friends to view on social media.”
Wrap my head around. “ Impossible
to do and makes no sense.”
Platform . “People use it as an ex-
cuse to rant. Facebook, Instagram, Twit-
ter have become platforms.”
OTUS family of acronyms such as
POTUS , FLOTUS , SCOTUS . “Overused useless
word for the President, First Lady, Su-
preme Court.”
W INTER 2019
Ghosting . “So somebody doesn’t want
to talk with you. Get over it. No need to
bring the paranormal into the equation.”
Yeet, as in vigorously throw or toss.
“If I hear one more ‘yeet,’ I might just
yeet myself out a window.”
Litigate . “Originally meant to take a
claim or dispute to a law court now ap-
propriated by politicians and journalists
for any matter of controversy in the pub-
lic sphere.”
Grapple . “People who struggle with
ideas and issues now grapple with them.”
Eschew . “Nobody ever actually says
this word out loud, they just write it for
filler.”
Crusty . “This has become a popular
insult. It’s disgusting and sounds weird.
Make the madness stop.”
Optics . “The trendy way to say ‘ap-
pearance’.”
Legally drunk . ”People who are tick-
eted for drunk driving are actually ‘illegal-
ly drunk,’ and we should say so.”
P AGE 12
W RITERS ’ T RICKS OF THE T RADE