Linguists call for 6-7, other TikTok slang to be…
They’re calling for “6-7” to be 86’d.
New 12 months, new checklist of obnoxious slang phrases proliferating society — from mind-numbing rap track catch phrases to good phrases that have been bastardized or run their course.
In an effort to protect the English language, specialists from Lake Superior State University have unveiled their checklist of so-called “in” expressions that need to be banished in 2026 — with the viral Gen Alpha vocab “6-7” topping the checklist of lingual infractions.
Started as a New Year’s Eve celebration thought in 1976, the annual Banished Words checklist has blossomed into a “grown into a global reflection on the words that wear out their welcome.”
This social media-fueled jargon is driving linguists up a wall. nicoletaionescu – stock.adobe.com
“Since former public relations director W.T. (Bill) Rabe showcased the first “List of Words Banished from the Queen’s English because of mis-, mal-, over-use, or general uselessness,” LSSU has carried the torch. “The entries continue a tongue-in-cheek commentary on language, catchphrases, and corporate jargon.”
For the fiftieth version of the vocabulary blacklist, over 1,400 submissions have been submitted to the org this 12 months, coming from all 50 U.S. states, and international locations as faraway as Uzbekistan, Brazil, and Japan.
LSSU whittled them down to just ten expressions it desires to see excommunicated in the New Year.
What’s to blame for the proliferation of said slang? David Travis, Lake Superior State University president, blamed “social media” for permitting a “greater opportunity to misunderstand or misuse words.”
“We’re using terms that are shared through texting, primarily, or through posting with no body language or tone context. It’s very easy to misunderstand these words,” he said.
6-7
The expression stems from a track by rapper Skrilla called “Doot Doot (6 7) which options the recurring numerical lyric. YouTube/Skrilla
Originally a lyric from the Skrilla track, this omnipresent time period has change into embedded in Gen Alpha vernacular — just like “LOL” and “YOLO” with millennials back in the day.
The actual which means of the meme-fied time period stays ambiguous — that’s ostensibly half of the enjoyable — but it has change into so reviled in sure educational circles that educators have called for its exile.
The LSSU crew overwhelmingly concurred. “The volume of submissions for this one could have taken up the whole list, at least slots 6-7,” they quipped.
Meanwhile, submitter Scott T. from UT quipped, “it’s time for “6-7” to be 86’ed.”
Demure
TikTok person Jools LeBron posted her first video utilizing the phrase “demure” on August 2. TikTok/joolieannie
One of the more shocking candidates for the vocab graveyard was demure, which the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines as “reserved or modest in manner” — a time period that often has a female connotation.
However, it turned a buzzword over the summer season after TikTok person Jools LeBron posted a video over the summer season in which she used it to describe her work look.
“See how I come to work? Very demure, very mindful,” she said, pointing our her natural make-up look and straightened hair. “Let’s not forget to be demure, divas.”
Now, Gen Z has been accused of describing nearly something as “demure and mindful,” including eating chocolate cake, scrolling on telephones in mattress, and others that stray far from the unique which means.
LSSU submitters thought it was high time to call a moratorium. Madison C wrote that overuse “waters down the real meaning.”
Cooked
“Cooked” is often used synonymously with “screwed.” Ãâþóôðý ÃÅðûÃâÃâ ÃÅúøù – stock.adobe.com
“Cooked” was equally slapped with a scarlet letter after TikTok lots bastardized its which means. It went from getting used to describe food that had been put to flame to refer to somebody or one thing as exhausted, overwhelmed or in deep bother.
This contrasts with “let him/her/them cook,” which denotes permitting somebody to do one thing spectacular.
“Hearing it…my brain feels ‘cooked,’” groaned submitter Zac A while disparaging the adjective.
Massive
Mya Lenahan, 16, tries to guess Gen Z slang in the Post pop quiz. Olga Ginzburg for N.Y. Post
While this time period wasn’t bastardized as a lot as others, the phrase’s large overuse secured it a spot on this 12 months’s checklist.
“Way overused! (often incorrectly),” exclaim Don and Gail Okay. from MN.
Incentivize
Experts have blamed social media for the proliferation of sure slang phrases. gpointstudio – stock.adobe.com
Also on the no-fly checklist was incentivize, which LSSU specialists blamed as an instance of the troubling pattern of verbifying nouns.
“Two separate submissions likened listening to this phrase to ‘nails on a chalkboard,’” they noted, referencing one submitter who asked, “What’s flawed with inspire?
The top ten phrases that need to be banished in 2026
67
Cooked
Demure
Massive
Incentivize
Full stop
Perfect
Gift/gifted
My unhealthy
Reach out
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