Slanguage: Not for Use at Work

[Instructors: Download PDFs of this exercise and solution at the end of the post.]

Everyone uses slang, especially when speaking to peers. While slang can create unity and community among peers, it can also alienate those who are not part of the in-group and affect how others view your professionalism.

Below are ten sentences containing popular millennial slang words. Rewrite the sentences to sound more appropriate for the workplace.

Word Definition Used in Sentence
lit amazing Did you see how Dipali made that sale? That was so lit.
trash terrible, worthy of being thrown out That email from HR about the increase in our co-pay was trash.
cancel(led) to reject a person, place, or thing Just because Mateo criticized your report in the meeting, you can’t cancel him.
drag to rake someone through the coals; burn someone I’m going to drag Ellen to the ground after she left me to clean up the office kitchen.
woke being aware You need to stay woke when Michelle sends out those meeting reminders.
savage hard core Did you hear that Su-lin stayed up all night to make that deadline? That’s just savage.
sic cool We made the sales goal! That’s sic!
hardcore intense (can be used as a positive or negative) Mireya is so hardcore she finished that brief in one day. Brendan got laid off. That is hardcore.
live cool/exciting or extreme/intense The intercultural training session was way live.

Miranda was way too live during that meeting.

excluded from this narrative negative response to a request Jean asked me to show the new dude the office, but I’m so busy I want to be excluded from that narrative.

Key to Slanguage: Not for Use at Work

Slanguage Sentence Standard English Sentence
Did you see how Dipali made that sale? That was so lit. Did you see how Dipali made that sale? That was impressive!
That email from HR about the increase in our co-pay was trash. That email from HR about the increase in our co-pay was upsetting.
Just because Mateo criticized your report in the meeting, you can’t cancel him. Just because Mateo criticized your report in the meeting, you can’t ignore him.
I’m going to drag Ellen to the ground after she left me to clean up the office kitchen. After Ellen left me to clean up the office kitchen, I’m going to suggest we put up a sign reminding people to do their own dishes.
You need to stay woke when Michelle sends out those meeting reminders. You should pay attention when Michelle sends out those meeting reminders.
Did you hear that Su-lin stayed up all night to make that deadline? That’s just savage. Did you hear that Su-lin stayed up all night to make that deadline? That’s dedication!
We made the sales goal! That’s sic! We made the sales goal! That’s phenomenal!
Mireya is so hardcore she finished that brief in one day.

Brendan got laid off. That is hardcore.

Mireya is so diligent she finished that brief in one day.

Brendan got laid off. That is awful.

The intercultural training session was way live.

Miranda was way too live during that meeting.

The intercultural training session was really interesting.

Miranda was way too intense during that meeting.

Jean asked me to show the new dude the office, but I’m so busy I want to be excluded from that narrative. Jean asked me to show the new guy the office, but I’m so busy I’d rather skip it.

Slanguage Exercise

Key to Slanguage

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