Banish the Word

After the past four years, there is a certain word that I’m very tired of hearing. Every news report seems to repeat it at least three times. I’ll bet you know the one. But in case you don’t:

“Unprecendented.” Something that has never been done before. Singular. Unique. Surprising.

By now you know this is the word that reporters applied to almost everything our former president did. It became really monotonous. So much of what the man did was “unprecedented” that he, in fact, became the precedent. We saw so often that he tried to corrupt other public officials or distort the law in his favor, that it was no longer singular, unique or surprising. It was everyday, ordinary, and expected.

Maybe because I’m a writer, but I could have thought of a better word than “unprecedented” after about the first week. Maybe “shocking” or “horrific” when he separated families and then lost track of the kids. “Unconstitutional” when he instituted a travel ban. “Disloyal” when he described homegrown terrorists as very fine people. “Irresponsible” when he refused to wear a mask during a public health emergency.

So it’s a little thing, but I sincerely look forward to not hearing the word “unprecedented” any more.

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