2021
Banished Words List
Lake Superior State
University: 12.31 2021 
2021 Banished Words List
Enough already with COVID-19!
People across the U.S. and around the
world let Lake Superior State University know that they’re tired not only of
the coronavirus pandemic but also of hearing, reading, and talking about
it—especially when the communication is bad or excessive.
COVID-19 terminology monopolized
submissions for LSSU’s annual Banished Words List this year. Out of 1,450-plus
nominations, upwards of 250 of the words and terms suggested for banishment for
overuse, misuse, or uselessness relate to the coronavirus. In fact, seven of
the 10 words and terms that LSSU is banishing for 2021 are about it.
Ranked No. 1 to get rid of is what
started of all this: “COVID-19” itself.
“It should surprise no one that this
year’s list was dominated by words and terms related to COVID-19,” said
Banished Words List committee members Associate Professor of English Mary
McMyne, Assistant Professor of English Julie Barbour, and Associate Professor
of English Dr. Chad Barbour. “LSSU’s Banished Words List has reflected signs of
the times since debuting in the mid-1970s, and the zeitgeist this year is:
We’re all in this together by banishing expressions like ‘We’re all in this
together.’ To be sure, COVID-19 is unprecedented in wreaking havoc and
destroying lives. But so is the overreliance on ‘unprecedented’ to frame
things, so it has to go, too.”
1. COVID-19 (COVID, coronavirus, Rona)
2. Social distancing
3. We’re all in this together
4. In an abundance of caution (various
phrasings)
5. In these uncertain times (various
phrasings)
6. Pivot
7. Unprecedented
2021 Banished Words and Terms Not About
COVID-19:
8. Karen
9. Sus
10. I know, right?
Submit a Word to Banish for 2022!
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