Question of the Week: Overused, misused words

What overused, misused or otherwise abused word or phrase would you like to ban from conversation, writing, e-mails and text messages?

Shelby Sutter, Sophomore, Enochs High School

The one phrase I absolutely hate is "IDK." I have this one friend who I love dearly; however, every time I ask him a question, his reply is always, and I mean always, IDK. However, I am not one to talk, because ... I also use the phrase IDK a lot, because it is easier than writing the words I don't know. I should stop using IDK, and after responding to this question of the week, I will stop! To sum up my response: IDK is overused and should be banned from everyday conversation!

Carolyn Stevens, Junior, Whitmore Charter High School

"LMAO." It just really annoys me for some reason. Maybe if it was LMBO (laughed my butt off), I would have less of a problem with it, but as it is I find it really irritating.

Natalia Lima, Senior, Turlock High

Any and all abbreviations need to be banned! No more "c u l8r" or "tht was gr8!" Please! I noticed, however, that the the person committing this heinous infraction the most is not a teen as might be assumed, but my mom! She says goodbye with an "lol, mom." Which wouldn't make much sense considering "lol" means "laugh out loud," but not knowing this, she thought it meant "lots of love." I corrected her, but he still sends it, which is kind of cute. "Lol" can stay.

Emily Hoeksema, senior, Ripon Christian High School

Unknown to many unsuspecting Americans who shun the dictionary and let it gather dust on their shelf, the word moot is used incorrectly more often than it is properly. The word moot, by definition, means that a point is still debatable or arguable, but many people use it as exactly the opposite, to claim that the issue is no longer valid since neither side can make their point. It's just an OCD thing for me, but it's true.

Julie Fogarty, Sophomore, Central Catholic High School

I'd definitely ban the use of the word "like" as a placeholder. If you're not describing something, don't use "like!" It's, like, almost as annoying as um. I'd also put a ban on using "YOLO" too much. It's fine when someone uses it correctly, but only once in a while. Otherwise, it's just annoying.

Patrick Germann, freshman, CSU Stanislaus

Oh, where to begin? One of the worst is "YOLO" or "You Only Live Once," and others like "Beast mode," "What's Gucci?" "GTL," "Grenade," of Jersey Shore fame. The list goes on and on.

This question is answered by membersof Teens in the Newsroom, a journalism programfor local high school students.