On Friday, I discussed three 2008 word-of-the-year nominees that never quite caught on. Here are three more nominees that are still being used 10 years later.
Hypermiling
When Oxford Dictionaries chose hypermiling as their 2008 word of the year, the average price for a gallon of gas was $3.26, and drivers were obsessed with getting better mileage.
- hypermiling: the use of fuel-saving techniques (such as lower speeds and frequent coasting) to maximize a vehicle’s fuel mileage
In 2017, gas was down to $2.41 a gallon, but the word hypermiling stuck around. There are still internet forums related to hypermiling, and the word appeared in several news stories throughout the year.
Staycation
In addition to hypermiling, another way frugalistas saved money in 2008 was by vacationing close to home.
- staycation: a vacation that is spent at home or close to home
I don’t think I’ve ever heard the word staycation in normal conversation, but local news stations use it often—not just in San Diego, but also in Buffalo, NY; Chicago, IL; Davenport, IA; Fredericksburg, VA; and Fresno, CA, to name a few.
Tweet
Of the 2008 word-of-the-year nominees, tweet is undoubtedly the most successful. Interestingly, Oxford Dictionaries didn’t even choose it as a finalist in 2008.
- tweet: a post made on the Twitter online message service
Twitter went from six million users in 2008 to 328 million users in 2017, and President Trump’s prolific posting keeps tweet in the headlines almost every day.
Ben Ritter | Technical Editor | Symitar®
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