When SWB collapsed earlier this year, its website displayed a message that has become a symbol of modern life: "Our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause." From the most minor of annoyances to existential failures that cost livelihoods and even lives, the default reaction of governments and corporates today is to apologize for "any inconvenience".

Interestingly, Google Trends shows how this word rose into prominence in the popular lexicon beginning around 2006.

Equally interesting is how book usage collapsed in the late 1830s and has leveled off since the early 1990s.