SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. (AP) Even as vaccines are being rolled out to battle the coronavirus, wordsmiths at Lake Superior State University in Michigans Upper Peninsula say they want to kick any trace of it from the English language.

COVID-19 and social distancing are thrown in with were all in this together, in an abundance of caution and in these uncertain times on the schools 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 Thursday in a release. But so is the overreliance 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, clichd, 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 U.S. and a number of other countries.

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

COVID-19 (COVID, coronavirus, Rona). A large number of nominators are clearly resentful of the virus and how it has overtaken our vocabulary, the committee wrote. 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.

Social distancing. This phrase is useful, as wearing a mask and keeping your distance have a massive effect on preventing the spread of infection, members said. But wed be lying if we said we werent ready for this phrase to become useless.

Were 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. Thats all true and vital. But basketball players pivot; lets keep it that way.

Unprecedented.

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, 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 wont have to include that anymore.