PERFECT Lists

I hate to fall behind the times. Certain lists come out annually that are worth checking out. Among them are two from schools of higher education that serve as my favorites. One is the Banished Words List from Lake Superior State University. It releases around the last day of each calendar year.

The second is the Mindset List previously published by Beloit College (which they ceased sourcing in August of 2018). This list reminded educators and parents heading off to college that the incoming freshmen have a different frame of reference. Totally. That list has now become the Marist Mindset List, published by Marist College (albeit a much shorter list) and releases in August.

The 2025 Mindset List included these gems—for those incoming freshmen of 2021:

• Incoming students and their professors are among the first to adjust to a new reality of digital learning, which has changed the face of higher education for years to come. 
• At some schools, such as Villanova, all students, faculty, and staff who will be on campus are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
• First-year students are demanding fashion brands that offer dignity and justice to employees throughout the “global value chain.” (This year’s list may adopt some language about supply chain shortages!)

As to that last point, I recently had lunch with a young man attending USC – the University of South Carolina. He planned to graduate with a degree dealing with managing the supply chain! My how times have changed.

On to that other list I mentioned. First, it should be noted that the annual Banished Words List compiled by Lake Superior State University (LSSU) is notably tongue-in-cheek. I’m not sure it should be.

The top vote getter for this year was, “Wait, what?” As LSSU reported, “These two four-letter words should not go together under any circumstances because the two-part halting interrogative is disingenuous, divergent, deflective, and other damning words that begin with the letter d.” So there!

The Banished Words List has been released every year since 1976 “to uphold, protect, and support excellence in language by encouraging avoidance of words and terms that are overworked, redundant, oxymoronic, clichéd, illogical, nonsensical—and otherwise ineffective, baffling, or irritating.” Let’s all PIVOT!

Banished word champions from previous years included, “surely,” “classic,” “bromance,” “COVID-19,” “wrap my head around,” “user friendly,” “at this point in time,” “not so much,” and “viable alternative.” Even comedian George Carlin submitted an entry that appeared in 1994: “baddaboom, baddabing.”

Besides “Wait, what??” – here are several of the other words/phrases on the 2022 “banished” list:

• No worries
• At the end of the day
• That being said
• Asking for a friend
• Circle back
• Deep dive
• New normal
• You’re on mute

So now let me add my personal irritant: perfect. This word has been catching on in the service industry. Like when we step into our favorite restaurant and the hostess asks, “How many in your party?” I say, “Two.” She says, “Perfect.” Really?? What if I said three…or four, or even, just me! Is any answer perfect??

Follow up. “Will you need a menu?” (vs using the QR code to get one) I say, “Yes.” She says, “Perfect!!” Aaaauuuggghhh! (Apologies to Charlie Brown.)

And it’s happened in other locations as well. Everything becomes just, well, perfect. And we all know NOTHING in this world is perfect. Ban that word now!!

And if I really had my way, I’d ban both the phrase and the abbreviation for “Oh my god!!” I used the little “g” here because who knows who the god is being called upon! My God tells me this, “Do not misuse the name of the LORD your God, because the LORD will not leave anyone unpunished who misuses his name.” Exodus 20:7 (CSB) That’s a pretty serious response!

Well I know I can’t stop people from saying it. But I wish I could. Few profanities reach the level of offending God Almighty! It’s part of His PERFECT list.

That’s Forward Thinking. 

You can find a number of YouTube episodes and podcasts of Mark’s program, Moving People Forward at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCosyuBzdSh1mXIas_kGY2Aw?

For more information on the Elfstrand Group, please visit www.elfstrandgroup.com

Articles of interest:

https://www.lssu.edu/traditions/banishedwords/

https://www.marist.edu/-/mindset-list-2021