Eight words I would ban in 2010

A minor state university annually releases a list of words to be banished from the English language; this year they included appropriate picks, such as "tweet, transparent" and "friend" (when used as a verb). I have, however, decided that they missed more than a dozen which are equally in need of deletion; here are just eight of those.

Amp up (or ramp up) as used instead of "increase," or even "accelerate."

Bullet proof, to mean what? Are we thinking of "impenetrable, protected, survivable," or perhaps "armored"?

Goes (or went) when used incorrectly, in place of "said." First used only by uneducated teens in slurred and hurried conversations, the terms are now appearing even in print (written by perennial teens?)

Latte, which is Italian for "milk" and only milk. Now, of course, milk or cream are sometimes used with coffee, but coffee with milk, is not milk. I suggest that if you're ever in Italia, you avoid ordering a "latte," when what you apparently really want is caffé latte, because the waiter is likely to bring you a glass of milk.

Google sounds infantile when used in place of "search." I've long been puzzled by names selected for new Internet services, such as "Yahoo." Have "yippee" and "whoopee" been taken? Perhaps I should register those names and later sell them for millions.

Proactive continues to pollute our language. Does it mean that one is in favor of action, but not necessarily active oneself? If it is meant to imply taking action to prevent some undesirable future event, then say so clearly. You could, for example, take "preemptive" or "preventative" action. And can't one simply be "active" in fighting environmental pollution, without being "proactive"?

Move forward is routinely used in place of "proceed" or "advance." How does that improve our ability to communicate?

You know is sprinkled throughout our conversations, but seldom used in writing, because it is an unconscious injection, which adds nothing whatsoever to verbal communication. In fact, isn't it a rather humorous misuse of language, because if the listener "knows" what is about to be stated, then why say it?

Can you see how the careless misuse of words can get in the way of effective communication?

Man has seemingly always changed language to accommodate ethnic preferences and changes in lifestyles.

But reckless misuse of words by untutored children, thoughtless politicians or by adults simply out to impress others with words such as "paradigm" is destructive.

When coupled with the proliferation of new and faster means of communication (e-mail, instant messaging, texting, etc.), it actually diminishes our limited ability to express ourselves clearly and effectively.