Let’s not ‘circle back’ on 2021: Michigan school releases annual list of banished words, phrases

Have you ever thought, “Hmm, I could go the rest of my life without hearing someone say, ‘you’re on mute’”?

If your answer is yes, you’re not alone. That phrase accompanies nine others on Lake Superior State University’s annual list of “banished” words and phrases, an annual tongue-in-cheek tradition dating back to 1976. The list comprises submissions from around the world.

According to a press release from the university, the Banished Words List began as a “promotional ploy” for the school. It’s gone on to become a popular yearly skewering of the year’s grammatical lowlights.

This year’s list includes several COVID-19-related terms, to no one’s surprise—but the number is down from the seven pandemic-adjacent terms that were included on last year’s list.