The List so far

Okay ... for the year 2008, I'm compiling a list. We're about halfway through the year, and so far, these are the suggestions for the CUT IT OUT List of things people say. Figures of speech that need to be drawn, quartered, tarred and feathered, and ridden out of town on a rail. We're going to need a lot of rails by the end of the year.

Why, why, why has the term "24/7" not died already? This weekend I heard someone get the sleeve of this one turned wrong side out. He said he was an entrepreneur "7/24, 365," and it was a relief to hear it said in such a disorganized way.

After this Election "Year" Marathon has lasted for its entire two years, could we also eliminate the phrase "day one"? Please? Just make it go away. And while we're at it, the word "change" needs a vacation as well.

Awesome is one of those words that needs resuscitation rather than elimination. It means "inspiring awe." And awe is not a synonym for "wow, man." Awe is about fear, not fascination, and has to do with being stunned into silence - not overtaken by a sudden adrenaline rush.

Another one for the category of resuscitation is the poor, sad word, impact. It's a noun!!! You have an impact. This one is probably a lost cause, and I know it. I found proof at Dictionary.com that I'm fighting a losing battle.

It is unclear why this usage provokes such a strong response, but it cannot be because of novelty. Impact has been used as a verb since 1601, when it meant "to fix or pack in," and its modern, figurative use dates from 1935. It may be that its frequent appearance in the jargon-riddled remarks of politicians, military officials, and financial analysts continues to make people suspicious. Nevertheless, the verbal use of impact has become so common in the working language of corporations and institutions that many speakers have begun to regard it as standard. It seems likely, then, that the verb will eventually become as unobjectionable as contact is now, since it will no longer betray any particular pretentiousness on the part of those who use it.

But ... impactful? Cut that out! That is NOT a word!

And lastly, let's require correct pronunciation of just a few things, as a high school graduation prerequisite. Everyone together ... ready?

Real estate -- not rela-state. It's "real." See the space between the two words?

And, jewelry. It's jew-el-ree. Not jew-la-ree.

After this year's November, is there some small chance of fixing this one? Nuclear. Say, "new-clee-er." It's easy. The word clear is in it. New. Clear. Not new-cue-ler. Not.

I know, I know. In this vast world of real problems like famine and genocide and drought and flood, it doesn't really matter if we have an awesome and impactful experience on day one, but people keep talking about flipping relastate and shopping for jewlary on QVC 24/7, and I mean, like, really, man, I'm about to go nuculer.