Real Estate Phrase Makes 2006 Banned List of Words
Inanimate objects shall refrain from bragging in real estate circles, according to Lake Superior State University, on its 32nd annual List of Words Banished from the Queen’s English for Mis-Use, Over-Use and General Uselessness.
The list includes ‘boast’; as used in real estate listings in lieu of verbs such as ‘features’, ‘offers’, ‘provides’ or simply ‘has’.
See classified advertisements for houses, says Morris Conklin of Lisboa, Portugal, as in “master bedroom boasts his-and-her fireplaces — never ‘bathroom apologizes for cracked linoleum,’ or ‘kitchen laments pathetic placement of electrical outlets.’”
Amen to that. I also fear that real estate standby descriptors such as ‘charming’, ‘motivated seller’, and perhaps, ‘UnZillowable‘ may make future lists.
Other on the list for 2006:
- Combined Celebrity Names - TomKat, Brangelina, et al.
- Awesome — I’ve been overusing that word since Sean Penn uttered it in ‘Fast Times at Ridgemont High’.
- We’re Pregnant — I’ve never once made that claim in my wife’s presence.
- Drug Deal Gone Bad — In contrast to all the good drug deals.
- Truthiness – Steven Colbert’s contribution, here and gone in a matter of months.
- Chipotle — It’s time for the ancho chile to receive its due.
- i-Anything — Following the e-Anything of the dot-com bust.
and
- Search — Forevermore replaced by the verb ‘Google’
The list and lengthy commentary, in its entirety and awesome truthiness.
Technorati Tags: real estate, words, boast, misused, banished, satire
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1 comment January 5th, 2007
