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List Of Banished Words For 2011: 'Viral,' 'Mama Grizzlies' Take Top Spots

First Posted: 01/02/11 12:14 PM ET   Updated: 05/25/11 07:20 PM ET

The dawn of 2011 brings us all a fresh start -- and thanks to Lake Superior State University, we know which words and phrases to cleanse from our vocabularies as we begin anew.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, two Palinisms made Lake Superior's "Annual List of Words Banished from the Queen's English for Mis-use, Over-use and General Uselessness," which is in its 36th year. Techie terms like "epic" and "fail" also garnered their fair share of nominations, but the ubiquitous term "viral" ultimately came in at No. 1. "This linguistic disease of a term must be quarantined," nominator Kuahmel Allah said.

Since 1976, Lake Superior State has compiled lists of words ready to be discarded from the global lexicon. Previous suggestions for banned words include "shovel ready," "battleground states" and "family values." See the school's website for more on why this year's winning words triumphed (or, rather epically failed).

What do you think? Is it about time these words be retired? Leave your thoughts in the comments section.

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The dawn of 2011 brings us all a fresh start -- and thanks to Lake Superior State University, we know which words and phrases to cleanse from our vocabularies as we begin anew. Perhaps unsurprisingly...
The dawn of 2011 brings us all a fresh start -- and thanks to Lake Superior State University, we know which words and phrases to cleanse from our vocabularies as we begin anew. Perhaps unsurprisingly...
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Widespread Panic
does anyone really care??
176 Fans
09:57 PM on 02/01/2011
I couldn't stand "epic" and "fail" or worse yet using them combined "epic fail" when it was cool to use them. Would love to see them fade away as fast as possible.
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hetrose
And it harm none, do what you will.
1165 Fans
12:35 AM on 01/16/2011
Aw, heck! For a moment I thought we were banning Momma Grizzlies. Now I see it is only the phrase. What a let down.
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xposure23
20 Fans
02:55 PM on 01/15/2011
Wow. The continued downward spiral of this website with thses lame and moronic stories just amazes me.
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Twocentsworth245
3 Fans
11:17 AM on 01/04/2011
While "viral" and "Mama Grizzlies" are two excellent candidates for banishment, allow me to nominate a couple of words I personally would like to see banished, "awesome," and "compromise," the latter I'd especially like to hear the President banish from his vocabulary where the Republicans are concerned. "Awesome" has been overused and overabused for so long now that its meaning long ago became trivialized. Everything is NOT "awesome"!
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joedd434
2 Fans
09:06 AM on 01/04/2011
HuffPo writers (especially headline writers), you REALLY need to read this, and heed this!
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verylargehat
1038 Fans
04:59 AM on 01/04/2011
The word that should be banished is "elite."

The people who say "elite" are usually elite themselves - wealthy, connected republicans who are projecting something negative on someone or some group, usually democrats.

When people say "elite," aren't talking about wealthy, connected people. No one has a problem with rich people. They are in fact, disparaging smart people. And ought to be banished for ever more.
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Dianne Breaux
6 Fans
 
01:48 AM on 01/04/2011
Duuuuuuuu and And? should be banished.
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Mike Stempo
0 Fans
07:23 PM on 01/03/2011
I am intrigued at how Sarah Palin always gets under the HuffPost's skin. It has reached new levels of juvenility. The vacuous nitpicking is guffaw worthy.
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okayItsjustme
1 Fans
07:19 PM on 01/03/2011
Last but not least, please stop saying "duh". Yes, because when you say "duh" it makes me look really stupid right?
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okayItsjustme
1 Fans
07:16 PM on 01/03/2011
"In all honesty". "To tell you the truth". "Can I be honest with you for a minute?" What where you doing before?

Back in the day and you are about 17. Back when? Last week?
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Mike Stempo
0 Fans
07:25 PM on 01/03/2011
We used to play a game called business bullschitte bingo in meetings where all attendees had a "bingo" card with all of the tired corp phrases. As we sat through the tiring day we'd mark up our cards, first person to get the line would yell BINGO! Quite irreverant for anal corp culture!
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okayItsjustme
1 Fans
07:01 PM on 01/03/2011
"Undocumented worker"! Oh, you mean illegal alien?
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okayItsjustme
1 Fans
06:56 PM on 01/03/2011
I hate hearing people say "at the end of the day..." Why, did it take you til the end of the day to figure it out? Does nothing count until the end of the day? Obnoxious and not cool! Also the misuse of the word Nazi! Everyone who does something that you do not like is NOT a Nazi! If people are going to say this, at least know what the hell it means! In general I wish people would stop bitching about things from the past in order to explain away present misbehavior! Give it a ret already!
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EyesWideShut7
16 Fans
04:09 PM on 01/03/2011
It does not surprise me that a school in the UP of Michigan would choose words and or phrases such as these.. For any of you that do not know what the UP of Michigan is like, it is hundreds of miles of woods, filled with nothing but bears, hicks, and snow mobiles. Obviously these words are most likely not in their everyday vocabulary. Language was created for communication and those words serve their purpose. What I can not stand however, are individuals that do not know the difference between to, too, or two.... or there, their, or they're.... your and you're... or put an S on on the end of Walmart "Walmarts" or Ford "Fords"...
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Mike Stempo
0 Fans
07:26 PM on 01/03/2011
What's a u-per to do?
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okayItsjustme
1 Fans
08:15 PM on 01/03/2011
"Why, thar aint no won ta read to cepten them thar bears..." "tah aright Maw, we gots us a snowmobile" Pip, pip cheerio! If you keep your eyes wide shut, you can pretend that the rest of the world does not even exist!
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EyesWideShut7
16 Fans
04:53 PM on 01/04/2011
Good one, I'm from there so ya I should know.
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daneff
0 Fans
03:52 PM on 01/03/2011
how about the phrases "my bad" or "I'm like...".? have had both of those up to here.
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Sharon Walthew
0 Fans
03:35 PM on 01/03/2011
I cringe whenever I hear that someone "went missing." Good grief! That's so wrong for so many reasons, it boggles the mind. How about "been missing since.." or "disappeared on.." ?
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