Each year Lake Superior State University publishes a list of the ten most overused words and phrases in the English language.

We usually post it on the wall in the OUTinPerth office and do our best not to use any of the overused phrases.

This year is the list’s 40th anniversary but one of the words got our attention – ‘cray cray’.

Yes – Drag Queen lingo for crazy ‘cray-cray’ has crossed over into the mainstream and become one of the most overused words of the year.

The other overused words include ‘polar vortex’. ‘hack’, ‘skill set’, ‘swag’, ‘foodie’, ‘curate/curated’, ‘friend raising’, ‘enhanced interrogation’, ‘takeaway’ and adding ‘-nation’ to anything.  Rounding out the list is Gen Y favourite ‘bae’.

While Lake Superior University encourages journalists to avoid these words, we’ll give three random CD’s to the first person who can send us an email with all ten words used effectively in a sentence. Send your attempt to editor@outinperth.com.

Image: YayMicro-Creativia