See what New Year’s Eve superstitions that may bring luck in 2026
USA TODAY reporter Julia Gomez breaks down some of the superstitions you can take part in on New Year’s Eve that may bring you good fortune in 2026.
For 50 years, Lake Superior State University has presented a New Year’s tradition of linguistic commentary and the evolution of language.
According to LSSU officials, the annual Banished Words List first began as a New Year’s Eve party idea in 1976 and has since “grown into a global reflection on the words that wear out their welcome.”
Over 1,400 submissions for words and phrases considered to be overused or worthless were submitted from all 50 states and from all around the world.
This year’s entries range from corporate jargon like “incentivize” to Gen Alpha’s 2025 calling card of “6-7.”
LSSU banished word list 2026
- 6-7 (six seven): “There are six or seven reasons why this phrase needs to be stopped,” said Paul E. from Wisconsin. The top banishment this year, Scott T. from Utah added, “it’s time for “6-7” to be 86’ed.”
- Demure: “It’s very said more than very done, and we’re all very done hearing it!” remarked Tammy S. Often used in the phrase “very demure, very mindful,” Madison C. shared that the overuse “waters down the real meaning.”
- Cooked: “Hearing it … my brain feels ‘cooked,’ ” complained Zac A. from Virginia. James C. from Washington suggested a ban of “all forms of the word cook,” hoping that hearing them will become rare.
- Massive: “Way overused! (often incorrectly),” said Don and Gail K. from Minnesota.
- Incentivize: Two separate submissions likened hearing this word to “nails on a chalkboard.” Patricia from Texas asked, “What’s wrong with motivate?”
- Full stop: “For the same reason ‘period’ was banished … redundant punctuation,” explained Marybeth A. from Oregon.
- Perfect: “There are very few instances when the word actually applies,” noted Jo H. from California. Often heard during customer service interactions, Char S. from Ohio asked: “How do they know it’s perfect … what does that mean?”
- Gift/gifted (as a verb): “I found this on the 1994 list, but it will make me feel better to recommend that it be included once again,” said James S. from Oklahoma.
- My Bad: In the 1998 banishment, Elizabeth P. from Michigan suggested, “students and adults sound infantile when using this to apologize.” Andrea R. from Ohio said “It does not convey much meaning in the way of an apology.”
- Reach Out: First banished in 1994, people said this saying has strayed from the positive message it once intended to deliver. “What started as a phrase with emotional support overtones has now become absurdly overused,” said Kevin B. from the United Kingdom.
To nominate a word or phrase for 2027, or for more information on the tradition, go to lssu.edu/traditions/banishedwords.
— Contact Jillian Fellows at jfellows@petoskeynews.com.