"Get thee to a word-nunnery!"

Lake Superior State University, which is not a character in a David Lodge novel , has released its 2008 list of  words that need to be banished from the English language. Waldo, typing furiously in his bath, grunted, "I agree with the entire list."

Our favorite is a reader comment about the term "Surge": 

This word came out in the context of increasing the number of troops in Iraq. Can be used to explain the expansion of many things (I have a surge in my waist) and it's use will grow out of control…The new Chevy Surge, just experience the roominess!" – Eric McMillan, Mentor, Ohio.

You can also look up the university's banishees for the last 32 years, including Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg's bete noire, "you know," (1978); "my bad" (1998); "world class" (1992); and "webinar" (2005 and 2008).