• Take a trip down memory lane with the most influential messages of 2022
• From Democrats mislabeling a Florida bill, to Gov. DeSantis being the poster boy of American conservatism, we have you covered with the biggest moments from the past year
• Florida featured prominently in a national list of epic language moments over the last year
• The Capitolist did not choose these rankings, they were produced by Maslansky + Partners, a language strategy firm

From politics to pop culture, language played a significant role in shaping the events of 2022 – and how people perceived them.

Florida, in particular, had no shortage of seismic semantics and misnomers that are now part of our lexicon.

Breaking them down, maslansky + partners, a leading language strategy firm, ranked the biggest moments of 2022. Here are the top language moments of the year:

1. The language leadership moment of the year: Zelensky’s quote, “We don’t need a ride, we need ammunition,” demonstrated his commitment to his fellow Ukrainians and showed that he was not backing down in the face of challenges.

2. The smartest reframe of the year: The change in language from the “Stop Sexualization of Children Bill” to the “Don’t Say Gay Bill” sparked a larger debate about the bill’s true intentions and impact on the LGBTQ+ community.

3. The message that impacted the midterms: President Joe Biden‘s declaration that “Democracy is on the ballot for us all” resonated with voters and played a significant role in the outcome of the midterm elections.

4. The language we weren’t supposed to see that changed the course of the midterms: Leaked documents from Justice Samuel Alito stating that “Roe and Casey must be overruled” brought the issue of abortion to the forefront of the midterm elections.

5. The language that changed our view of a celebrity: Tom Brady‘s admission that “There’s a lot of (sh*t) going on” at age 45 humanized the star athlete and allowed people to relate to him in a new way. On the other hand, Will Smith’s outburst, “Keep my wife’s name out your f****ing mouth!” damaged his reputation and led to a negative perception of his persona.

6. The message that came too late: House Republicans’ “Commitment to America” platform, introduced just weeks before the midterm elections, was seen as a positive message but came too late to have a significant impact on the outcome.

7. The language that changed a company before our eyes: Elon Musk‘s acquisition of Twitter and his declaration that “The bird is freed” signaled a new era for the social media platform.

8. The phrase that put a spotlight on a trend: The term “Quiet Quitting” brought attention to the phenomenon of employees leaving their jobs without announcing their departure or seeking a new position.

9. The phrase that demonstrated the power of contrast: Representative Adam Kinzinger‘s statement, “President Trump did not fail to act during the 187 minutes between leaving the Ellipse and telling the mob to go home, he chose not to act,” helped to change the narrative surrounding the events of January 6th and highlighted the intention behind the president’s actions.

10. The language that created the Florida Model of Conservatism: Governor Ron DeSantis‘ message of “Freedom is here to stay” resonated with voters and helped him secure a victory in the midterm elections. This language has come to define the Florida Model of Conservatism and has influenced political discourse in the state.