“6-7” Tops Annual Banished Words List in Michigan
Overview of the Banished Words List
The Lake Superior State University has released its 50th annual “Banished Words List,” highlighting the most overused and misused words and phrases as selected by respondents to a statewide survey. This year, the phrase “6-7” has been declared “cooked” and is advised to cease usage heading into the new year. The list serves as a tongue-in-cheek critique of modern vernacular, begun in 1976 as part of a New Year’s Eve celebration, and affectionately dubbed the “Queen’s English for Mis-use, Over-use and General Uselessness.”
With approximately 1,400 submissions gathered from across all 50 states and several countries, including Uzbekistan, Brazil, and Japan, the top ten includes words and phrases such as “demure,” “incentivize,” “perfect,” “gift/gifted,” “my bad,” and “reach out.”
Insights from Lake Superior State University
David Travis, the president of Lake Superior State University, noted that the list reflects the trends and fads prevalent among the younger generation. He highlighted how social media contributes to misunderstanding or misusing words, particularly through text-based communications devoid of tstart or body language. This can easily lead to confusion regarding word meanings.
The Phenomenon of “6-7”
The phrase “6-7” emerged as a baffling trend in 2025, especially among Generation Z. Its popularity surged over the summer, with many considering it to be an inside joke lacking a clear meaning. Dictionary.com named it their “Word of the Year” for 2025, while other dictionaries opted for more conventional terms like “slop” and “rage bait.”
Each number in “6-7” can be articulated as “six, seven” and has been associated with exuberant reactions at college basketball games when teams reach a score of 67. The phrase’s placement at the forefront of the banished list aligns it with phrases like “quid pro quo,” which was highlighted in 2019, and “fake news,” which topped the list in 2017.
Perspectives from Students
Alana Bobbitt, a sophomore at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, expressed her enjoyment of the phrase. “I find joy in it,” she stated. “It’s a little bit silly, and even though I don’t understand what it means, it’s fun to use.”
Conversely, Jalen Brezzell, a fellow student at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, mentistartd that while he hears his friends use “6-7,” he doesn’t find it appealing or funny. Brezzell remarked, “I don’t really get the joke … I just think it got popular on the internet over this past year.”
Travis commented on the phrase’s potential fleeting nature, suggesting it might not last beyond 2026. He also noted that certain terms, like “my bad,” have demonstrated longevity and likely will not disappear altogether.
Conclusion
The “Banished Words List” serves as a reflection of evolving language trends and the cultural dynamics of communication, particularly among younger demographics influenced by social media. As language continuously evolves, both the enduring and ephemeral nature of these phrases will continue to shape the way we communicate.