海角社区

COVID-19 Terminology Tops 海角社区鈥檚 Annual Banished Words List Just in Time for the Vaccination Rollout

Jan 01, 2021

Enough already with COVID-19!

People across the U.S. and around the world let 海角社区 know that they鈥檙e tired not only of the coronavirus pandemic but also of hearing, reading, and talking about it鈥攅specially when the communication is bad or excessive.

COVID-19 terminology monopolized submissions for LSSU鈥檚 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: 鈥淐OVID-19鈥� itself.

鈥淚t should surprise no one that this year鈥檚 list was dominated by words and terms related to COVID-19,鈥� said Peter Szatmary, executive director of marketing and communications. 鈥淟SSU鈥檚 Banished Words List has reflected signs of the times since debuting in the mid-1970s, and the zeitgeist this year is: We鈥檙e all in this together by banishing expressions like 鈥榃e鈥檙e all in this together.鈥� To be sure, COVID-19 is unprecedented in wreaking havoc and destroying lives. But so is the overreliance on 鈥榰nprecedented鈥� to frame things, so it has to go, too.鈥�

LSSU has compiled an annual Banished Words List since 1976 to uphold, protect, and support excellence in language by encouraging avoidance of words and terms that are overworked, redundant, oxymoronic, clich茅d, illogical, nonsensical鈥攁nd otherwise ineffective, baffling, or irritating. Over the decades, LSSU has received tens of thousands of nominations for the list, which now totals more than 1,000 entries. This year, nominations came from most major U.S. cities and many U.S. states, as well as from Australia, the Czech Republic, England, and Canada. Here are the list of the banished words and terms for 2021 and the reasons for their banishment:

1. COVID-19 (COVID, coronavirus, Rona)

A large number of nominators are clearly resentful of the virus and how it has overtaken our vocabulary. No matter how necessary or socially and medically useful these words are, the committee cannot help but wish we could banish them along with the virus itself. Coincidentally, this list arrives as does a vaccine鈥攖he committee hopes this proves a type of double whammy.听听

2. Social distancing

This phrase is useful, as wearing a mask and keeping your distance have a massive effect on preventing the spread of infection. But we鈥檇 be lying if we said we weren鈥檛 ready for this phrase to become 鈥渦seless.鈥� With north of 50 nominations, many others clearly feel the same, and the tone of their reasoning ranged from impatient to heartfelt.

3. We鈥檙e all in this together

This phrase was likely intended as a way to keep everyone feeling safe and calm at the start of the pandemic. However, as the virus made its way across the globe and nation, it became clear that we are all dealing with COVID-19 in different ways and that we confront some vastly different challenges in coping with it. As with many words that show up on the list, its usefulness has faded.

4. In an abundance of caution (various phrasings)

Yes, humanity needs to follow safeguards during COVID-19. The statistics are sobering: more than 342,000 deaths and more than 19 million confirmed cases in the U.S. and more than 1.8 million deaths and more than 82 million confirmed cases worldwide. But the phrasing about how to take preventative steps is vague. What is the standard measurement for caution, metric or U.S. standard?

5. In these uncertain times (various phrasings)

The committee agrees that COVID-19 has upended everyday life and wishes this weren鈥檛 so. But putting things into imprecise context doesn鈥檛 help matters. The blur dilutes reality and, to some, sounds like the beginning of a movie trailer. Keep as wide a berth of trite parlance as those who don鈥檛 wear masks in public. What exactly does it mean for times to be uncertain? Look at a clock!

6. 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. That鈥檚 all true and vital. But basketball players pivot; let鈥檚 keep it that way.

7. Unprecedented

It鈥檚 unheard of that a word would be repeated on the Banished Words List. Actually, it鈥檚 not. In the early years, words wound up repeated, although we try to avoid repetition nowadays. Despite the fact that 鈥渦nprecedented鈥� was banished in 2002, given that it was nominated many times this year for misuse in describing events that do have precedent, inclusion again seems warranted.

2021 Banished Words and Terms Not About COVID-19:

8. Karen

What began as an anti-racist critique of the behavior of white women in response to Black and Brown people has become a misogynist umbrella term for critiquing the perceived overemotional behavior of women. As one nominator said about reasons for its banishment, 鈥淚 would tell you why, but I鈥檇 sound like a Karen.鈥� Another critic observed, 鈥淥ffensive to all normal people named Karen.鈥�听

9. Sus

It鈥檚 a shortened version for 鈥渟uspicious鈥� in the video game Among Us. No committee members play, but our children who do explained that this multiplayer online social game is designed around identifying 鈥渟us鈥� imposters so they can be 鈥渢hrown into the lava.鈥� Complainers a) ask: How much effort does it take to say the entire word; and b) request: If that can鈥檛 happen, confine the syllable to the gaming world.

10. I know, right?

An amusing phrase flooding social media, 鈥淚 know, right?鈥� is a relatively new construction to convey empathy with those who have expressed agreement. But as one wordsmith put it, if you know, why do you need to ask if it鈥檚 correct or seek further approval? Another grammarian suggested that the desire for confirmation connotes insecurity. In other words, it鈥檚 reiterating something already seconded.

鈥淩eal-world concerns preoccupied word watchdogs this year, first and foremost COVID-19, and that makes sense,鈥� said LSSU President Dr. Rodney S. Hanley. 鈥淚n a small way, maybe this list will help 鈥榝latten the curve,鈥� which also was under consideration for banishment. We trust that your 鈥榥ew normal鈥欌�攁nother contender among nominations鈥攆or next year won鈥檛 have to include that anymore. 鈥�

For more about the Banished Words List and to nominate a word or term for banishment for 2022, go online to lssu.edu/banishedwords