{"id":25345,"date":"2018-11-09T14:30:48","date_gmt":"2018-11-09T14:30:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thevoiceoflondon.co.uk\/?p=25345"},"modified":"2018-11-09T14:30:48","modified_gmt":"2018-11-09T14:30:48","slug":"was-word-of-the-year-wasted","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/was-word-of-the-year-wasted\/","title":{"rendered":"Was word of the year wasted?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Collins Dictionary has just announced their word of the year: single-use. <\/b>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>In a year of activism and politics, how can just one word be picked to represent 2018?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

BREAKING! The Collins Word of the Year 2018 is… single-use \u267b Discover the full shortlist & find out more: https:\/\/t.co\/zPFXYBvXzb<\/a> #CollinsWOTY<\/a> #WordOfTheYear<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/gojH2f4P8Z<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Collins Dictionary (@CollinsDict) November 7, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Also making the shortlist for word of the year were terms such as \u2018#MeToo,\u2019 \u2018gammon,\u2019 \u2018VAR,\u2019 and \u2018floss.\u2019 An argument could be made for each of these as to why they should be word of the year. <\/span><\/p>\n

#MeToo sparked a powerful movement that is still making waves today and holding abusers accountable. Collins notes that the phrase has moved past just a hashtag and evolved to be part of our language like \u201cthe MeToo era\u201d and \u201ca MeToo moment.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Gammon\u2019 has risen more in use as a phrase to combat the term \u2018snowflake\u2019 and to describe a typically white, middle-aged man who\u2019s pro-Brexit.<\/span><\/p>\n

And following this year\u2019s World Cup, it\u2019s not a surprise \u2018VAR\u2019 would be a contender. An acronym for Video Assistant Referee, VAR played a big part in an important goal for France in the World Cup final against Croatia.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Floss,\u2019 while more lighthearted than the other words, was also just as influential. The popular dance has been an internet sensation across the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

[youtube https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=4oIzOOIwG9w]<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

So why did \u2018single-use\u2019 win out over these other words? In a press release sent to <\/span>Voice of London<\/span><\/i>, Collins Dictionary rationalises their choice by noting that use of the word has increased fourfold since 2013. There have also been large movements to ban single-use plastics this year which have raised the popularity of the term.<\/span><\/p>\n

Not everyone is happy with the choice though. Some Twitter users are upset about single-use technically being two words while others are upset about the inclusion of \u2018gammon\u2019 in the shortlist.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Not having it. Single use is two words. Simply trying to jump on the populist bandwagon. #coulddobetter<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 P Bar (@w0tsthis) November 7, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Reported for anti white racism #Gammon<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Paul \ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf1 (@PaulYamahaR) November 7, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

But for those unhappy about the choice, there may be hope yet. Kate Shepherd of Oxford English Dictionary told <\/span>Voice of London<\/span><\/i> that their shortlist of words will be released this coming Thursday. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Don\u2019t agree with Collins Dictionary\u2019s choice? Tweet us at @VoiceofLondonUK<\/a> with your choice for word of the year with #VoLWordoftheYear.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Featured Image: Pisit Heng via <\/span>Unsplash<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Words: Elise Fritts | Subbing: Taylor Paatalo<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Collins Dictionary has just announced their word of the year: single-use. In a year of activism and politics, how can just one word be picked to represent 2018? BREAKING! The Collins Word of the Year…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":476,"featured_media":25371,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[149,82],"tags":[3582,3681],"class_list":["post-25345","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culture-travel","category-lifestyle","tag-language","tag-lifestyle"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t