Peter Elson: Let’s hear it for the Queen’s English

Jan 12 2009 by Peter Elson, Liverpool Daily Post

IF THERE is one word that makes my flesh creep, it is “iconic”. We’ve had a bit of rush on this word, especially in Liverpool’s Capital of Culture year, pressed into service to describe almost anything. Anything, that is, which lacks any other category and is, by definition, useless.

You will recall that the ill-fated Cloud, or Fourth Grace, was described by its promoters as being “iconic”, simply because it lacked any other function.

Yes, we do have iconic subjects in Liverpool: the Pier Head’s original Three Graces and The Beatles. Wider application debases them and the word itself.

Imagine my relief on finding “iconic” listed by that august US body, Lake Superior University, in Michigan, in its 34th annual list of words that should “Be Banished from the Queen’s English for Mis-use, Over-use and General Uselessness”.

Pinpointed as being the new “awesome”, the list cites “icon or iconic” as one of the most-nominated words of the year, as “Everyone and everything cannot be ‘iconic’, especially when it’s now applied to fast-food restaurants”.

The correct term is “recognisable”, ie, it has been mentioned in newspapers once before. Iconic means a symbol or representation which inspires worship or veneration.

Can we switch from “iconic” to “legendary”? Absolutely not. Legendary applies to Zeus, not Echo and the Bunnymen, or, indeed, my sons’ friends, who are also often conversationally elevated into this Olympian category.

Compilers say “this year’s list may be more ‘green’ than any previous one, which is the word people most want to have erased from their ‘carbon footprint’ (the second most nominated word, along with ‘carbon off-setting’ to be axed).”

Likewise, the skateboard English term “first dude”, to describe Barack Obama, is already criticised as being not appropriate for the US president- elect

“Maverick”, as applied to Democratic presidential nominee Sarah Palin, in this case being a euphemism for someone entirely unsuited to office, is also on the list.