Covid 19 dominates annual list of banished words, terms

There are hopes that vaccines can banish Covid-19 but efforts are also underway to bin the word itself. Photo / AP

Even as vaccines are being rolled out to battle the coronavirus, wordsmiths at Lake Superior State University in Michigan's Upper Peninsula say they want to kick any trace of it from the English language.

"Covid-19" and "social distancing" are thrown in with "we're all in this together," "in an abundance of caution" and "in these uncertain times" on the school's light-hearted list of banned words and phrases for 2021.

Out of more than 1,450 nominations sent to the school, about 250 words and terms suggested for banishment due to overuse, misuse or uselessness had something to do with the virus.

Seven of the 10 selected are connected to the virus, with "Covid-19" leading the way. "Unprecedented," which was banished back in 2002, has been restored to the list.

"To be sure, Covid-19 is unprecedented in wreaking havoc and destroying lives," Banished Words List committee members said on Thursday in a release. "But so is the over-reliance on 'unprecedented' to frame things, so it has to go, too."

The school in Sault Ste. Marie, has compiled the list each year since 1976 it says to "uphold, protect, and support excellence in language by encouraging avoidance of words and terms that are overworked, redundant, oxymoronic, clichéd, illogical, nonsensical — and otherwise ineffective, baffling, or irritating."

So far, more than 1,000 words or phrases have made the list. Nominations come from across the US and a number of other countries.

Joining past inductees such as "absolutely," "BFF," "covfefe," and "yuh know" are:

• We're all in this together.

• In an abundance of caution (various phrasings).

• In these uncertain times (various phrasings).

• Pivot. "Reporters, commentators, talking heads, and others from the media reference how everyone must adapt to the coronavirus through contactless delivery, virtual learning, curbside pickup, video conferencing, remote working, and other urgent readjustments," the committee wrote. "That's all true and vital. But basketball players pivot; let's keep it that way."

• Unprecedented.

• Karen. "What began as an anti-racist critique of the behaviour of white women in response to black and brown people has become a misogynist umbrella term for critiquing the perceived overemotional behaviour of women," the committee said.

• Sus, short for "suspicious."

• I know, right?

"Real-world concerns preoccupied word watchdogs this year, first and foremost Covid-19, and that makes sense," Lake Superior State President Rodney Hanley said in the release. "In a small way, maybe this list will help 'flatten the curve,' which also was under consideration for banishment. We trust that your 'new normal' — another contender among nominations — for next year won't have to include that anymore."

- AP