The Worst Words of 2012

Writing in The Atlantic, Jen Doll has created a list of the worst words of 2012.

A few of her selections are listed below:

Epic. Adjective. Unless you’re describing The Iliad or The Odyssey (and in a high school or college English class), choose anew, friends. Don’t make me say this again in 2013.

YOLO. Soul-searching, soul-sucking acronym. YOLO is probably the most disliked word among the groups I surveyed for this post. Merriam-Webster’s Kory Stamper says it best, prefacing her opinion with this disclaimer: “As a lexicographer, I must withhold judgment on any word, either established or in-the-making. Words are raw materials and each has its place and purpose; some people find eggs to be slimy and gross, yet they will happily eat them when they’re incorporated into a cake. Even moist, which seems to get the brunt of the word-hate, has its place.”

Read the whole list here.