Is "6-7" the most annoying phrase of the year? One college thinks so, and they're leading the charge to banish it from our vocabulary! Lake Superior State University's annual list of overused and misused words has declared "6-7" officially "cooked," demanding it be retired immediately. But here's where it gets controversial... is it really that bad, or are we just getting old?
For 50 years, Lake Superior State University has been hilariously but seriously compiling their "Banished Words List," a tongue-in-cheek roundup of linguistic offenders. Born from a New Year's Eve party game in 1976, the list, affectionately known as the "Queen's English for Mis-use, Over-use and General Uselessness," aims to curb the spread of irritating slang. And this year, "6-7" takes the crown (or, perhaps, the dunce cap).
This year, the university received around 1,400 submissions from all 50 states and even from countries as far-flung as Uzbekistan, Brazil, and Japan, demonstrating the widespread concern (or, at least, annoyance) with modern language trends. It's clear that words and phrases that grate on people's nerves are a universal phenomenon.
Alongside "6-7," the top 10 banished words also include "demure," "incentivize," "perfect," "gift/gifted," "my bad," and "reach out." Interestingly, "my bad" and "reach out" are repeat offenders, having appeared on the list decades ago in 1998 and 1994, respectively. This suggests that some linguistic pet peeves have serious staying power! And this is the part most people miss... the list isn't just about new slang; it's also about phrases that have simply become tired and irritating through overuse.
According to Lake Superior State University President David Travis, the annual list reflects the ever-changing trends of the younger generation. He points out that social media, with its reliance on texting and quick posts, can lead to misunderstandings and misuse of 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," Travis explained.
But what is "6-7" anyway? For many over 40, the phrase seemed to appear out of nowhere in 2025, leaving them utterly confused. Even Dictionary.com chose it as their 2025 word of the year, while other dictionaries opted for words like "slop" and "rage bait," highlighting the diverse linguistic landscape of the year. "Don’t worry, because we’re all still trying to figure out exactly what it means," the dictionary's editors admitted, emphasizing the phrase's inherent ambiguity.
Essentially, "6-7" exploded in popularity among Gen Z over the summer of 2025, often used as an inside joke with a seemingly nonsensical meaning. It's a prime example of how social media can fuel the rapid spread of trends, even those that are difficult to explain. Each number can be spoken aloud as “six, seven.” They even can be combined as the number 67; at college basketball games, some fans explode when a team reaches that point total. It's this ambiguity that probably led to it being considered for the "banished" list.
The inclusion of "6-7" on the banished list places it among other notable linguistic outlaws. In 2019, the Latin phrase "quid pro quo" topped the list, while in 2017, "fake news" earned the dubious honor. This shows that the list isn't just about slang; it also reflects the political and social climate of the time.
Alana Bobbitt, a 19-year-old sophomore at the University of Michigan, is unapologetic about her use of "6-7." "I find joy in it," Bobbitt said. "It’s a little bit silly, and even though I don’t understand what it means, it’s fun to use." This highlights the subjective nature of language and how even meaningless phrases can bring people together.
However, Jalen Brezzell, another 19-year-old sophomore at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, refuses to utter the phrase. "Never. I don’t really get the joke," Brezzell said. "I don’t see what’s funny about it." But banning it, even jokingly, might be a bit much, he admits, especially since he uses other words on the list, like "cooked." "I’ve always used the word ‘cooked,’” Brezzell said. “I just think it got popular on the internet over this past year. It’s saying, like, ‘give it up, it’s over.’”
President Travis acknowledges that some phrases on the list have staying power. "I don’t think they’ll ever go away, like ‘at the end of the day,’” he said. "I used ‘my bad’ today. I feel comfortable using it. I started using it when I was young. A lot of us older people are still using it." While some terms will stick around "in perpetuity," others, like "6-7," are likely to be fleeting, Travis predicts. "I think ‘6-7,’ next year, will be gone," he said. But, is he right?
So, what do you think? Is "6-7" truly deserving of banishment, or is this just another case of older generations not understanding the youth? Are there any other words or phrases that drive you crazy? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Let's have a linguistic showdown!
