The top words and phrases of 2010

3. 'The Great Recession' dominated the 'narrative'

The Global Language Monitor put it best when it said that "narrative" is "virtually replacing the need for a party’s platform." The word blanketed midterm election coverage, perhaps because one of the major players in the election wasn't even an official party and didn't have a platform. Narrative seemed to work well enough for the tea party, though, and took the No. 3 spot this year on the top words ranking.

Meanwhile, global economic troubles, chugging along since 2008, fueled the rise of the phrase "The Great Recession" to the third most-popular phrase in the world. A triumph for economics writers, perhaps, but not such good news for, well, the world.

3 of 5
You've read  of  free articles. Subscribe to continue.