Words and phrases

In December, I mentioned the most looked up words of the year according to Webster's online English Dictionary. Blog was the most looked up word in 2004. This weekend, two linguistic groups met to name the phrase of the year and the "List of Words Banished from the Queen's English for Mis-Use, Over-Use, and General Uselessness". Several phrases, including blog (again) and red state/blue state, can be found in both lists. English is a growing and changing language and a lot of new slang, like metrosexual last year, really get over used. Some of the phrases that reached popular language last year are red state/blue state/purple state (purple for undecided), flip-flopper, mash-up(two songs or albums blended into one like the Beatles/Jay Z "Gray Album" or Jay Z/Linkin Park), and wardrobe malfunction. Some of the most overused phrases included blog, sale event, body wash, and zero percent APR financing. The group looking to ban over used phrases also mentioned hillbilly armor, nerdvana, "You're fired!", and battleground state.

In Iraq today, 3 more people lost their lives bringing the total to 23 for January and 1356 for the war.

I'm Gary Grice and I approved this message.