To be an interesting human and avoid sounding like you are the living, breathing voice of AI, you need to speak and write with as few predictable words and phrases as possible.

Please note that this year’s bad words didn’t necessarily originate this year. They simply bothered us this year.  An asterisk (*) by the submission indicates the word or phrase is so offensive, it garnered a repeat submission.

Therefore, we kindly ask you to consider banning or mitigating the use of the following words and phrases from your vocabulary in 2026:

Era – Unless you are Taylor Swift or have significant accomplishments in unique time frames, please move onto another era to describe your life.

“You do you.” – This can be a pejorative or a compliment, but it’s a pejorative to me because I believe it encourages acceptance of mediocre behavior and aspirations. As in, “Stay as you are, don’t improve yourself or your service to others.” Just. Do. You.

Paradigm shift – A phrase used by those who hope a new framework will save them from the old one—unaware that they themselves are the constant in both equations.

Lean in/Lean into* – Embrace, adopt, and engage are all preferable synonyms for “lean into.”
— Kelly Knowles

Thought Leader* – A semi-ecclesiastical (and frequently self-awarded) title by certain people who are polishing their LinkedIn profiles. You are only a thought leader if other people are following your recommendations and / or quoting you frequently (or, sadly, stealing your concepts). Writing “how-to” content for those new to your profession doesn’t count. Those thoughts are old, but it does qualify as being a “thought-stealer.” Nor does speaking at a lot of meetings without saying anything thought-provoking make you a thought leader.

“It is what it is.”* – Just another way to say “I’m done with trying to solve anything, anytime.”
— Brittany Starr

Platforming – Here we are again turning a noun into a verb. Usually derogatory term for using social media platforms to spread controversial statements that surely will have dire, world-changing consequences. However, it exaggerates the power of “platforming” because rarely is someone’s mind changed from online content uttered by someone they don’t agree with on 90% of other issues.

“6-7” – “If you are a parent, no explanation necessary. To be replaced by silence. Blessed silence. We played UNO after Thanksgiving dinner, and I was about ready to pull all of the 6’s and 7’s out of the deck.”
— Jen Pugh

“Meet people where they are.” – “More appropriate would be consider their perspective, honor their path or journey, or seek to understand—those kinds of phrases. It’s just tired.”
— Kelly Knowles

Thoughts and Prayers – A caveat: I very much believe in thoughts and prayers, they are preferable to doing nothing. However, it’s banal when stated as a sentence (I have heard this!) because it’s not one. Someone died? “Oh, thoughts and prayers” isn’t a comforting response.

I think we can be a bit more sincere. I leave the judging to Jesus, but when we simply say “thoughts and prayers” instead of the full sentence, we are trivializing another’s pain, and trust me, you won’t want to hear that when you are in the cauldron of sadness.

First, let’s try for a complete sentence, as in, “I am thinking of you and praying for you,” or “I will remember you in my prayers,” or “I pray that you will feel the comfort of those around you.” Please accept my thoughts and prayers for expressing sad, difficult emotions in a sincere manner.

“My truth” – “It’s woke gibberish, and people really mean to say, ‘It’s my opinion.’”
— Bruce Carroll

“Yup”
“Nope”
“Yep”

Yes and no just sound nicer to the ear and will suffice, thank you.

About the Annual List

Our annual list had its genesis in 2009 with my colleague Kelton Rhodes, PhD. We enjoy judging the lexicon (but not those who use the offensive language). All submissions are our responsibility except for those of our guest contributors where noted.

Our 2025 Guest Contributors

Bruce Carroll, Director of Public Affairs – Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited
Kelly Knowles, Senior Advisor Advocacy & Industry Relations – SNAC International
Jen Pugh, Political Director – American Council of Engineering Companies
Brittany Starr, Senior Director – Franklin Templeton