Are You Banished In Toronto? Check Out Lauren Mitchell’s Favourite New Year’s List
December 28th, 2007 Categories: Lifestyle News, News Wire, Slice of Toronto
One of my most looked-forward-to moments of a Toronto New Year’s Eve is the annual release of the banished words list; more accurately titled “List of Words Banished from the Queen’s English for Mis-Use, Over-Use and General Uselessness”. Say what?
A bit of back story:
This list was conceived as a publicity ploy by the then little-known Lake Superior State University. Introduced in 1976, the banishment list is released on New Year’s Eve, traditionally a slow news day (sadly, perhaps not so much these days).
To participate, you nominate the word or phrase that you would most like to see purged from the language. The University accepts submissions (word plus reason for banishment) throughout the year and then publishes their annual list on New Year’s Eve.
Toronto Real Estate Blogger Salutes Personal Favourite
Yeah, you and I know the words and phrases; 
we’ve heard them, we’ve mentally rolled our eyes over more than a few, and perhaps embraced one or two as our very own. The list amuses, but I’ll admit I’m rather relieved when my most-used words and phrases don’t make an appearance in any given year.
In anticipation of the 2008 list, a salute to my personal favourite from 2007:
BOASTS — See classified advertisements for houses, says Morris Conklin of Lisboa, Portugal, as in “master bedroom boasts his-and-her fireplaces — never bathroom apologizes for cracked linoleum, or kitchen laments pathetic placement of electrical outlets”.
Heh! That hits home with this Toronto real estate blogger as I often wonder if real estate agents actually read some of their over-the-top listing descriptions. The thinking seems to be “Let’s include every tony phrase we’ve ever heard of whether or not it makes sense”. Phrases like, “the living room speaks to …”. Seriously? The living room can speak? Does the kitchen know? Or, “Escape to your backyard oasis …”. What? You will be held hostage in your own home at some point?
Are You a Toronto Word Watcher?
I hope you enjoy the list as much as I do. If you’d like to send me an email with your personal favourite from 2008, please do.
Have fun welcoming in the New Year, don’t drink and drive, and don’t forget that the TTC is offering free rides starting January 1 from 12:01 a.m. till 4:00 a.m.
And we all know that happens only once a year!
