SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- A Michigan university said its 40th annual list of "banished" words includes "bae," "polar vortex," "hack," "skill set," "swag," and "foodie."
Lake Superior State University said its annual "List of Words Banished from the Queen's English for Mis-use, Over-use and General Uselessness" was chosen by members of a committee from submissions by the public.
Topping the list this year was "bae," a term of endearment that came into common use this year. "Meaning 'before anyone else.' How stupid! Stop calling your boyfriend 'bae,'" Evie Dunagan of Manheim, Pa., wrote in submitting the word for banishment.
LSSU said it got a head start on banishing the word "Polar Vortex" in the spring, when students "burned" a snowman named "Mr. Polar Vortex."
The school said the word "hack" was banished for "over-use and misuse" stemming from the popularity of tips and tricks dubbed "life hacks."
"Suddenly things that once would have been called 'tips' are now being called 'hacks.' It can't be because the one word is shorter or easier to say; and the actual accepted meanings of 'hack' have nothing to do with suggestions for doing tasks better or more efficiently -- quite the opposite, really," wrote submitter Sharla Hulsey of Sac City, Iowa.
The school said it is finally adding "swag" to the list after receiving numerous nominations during the past few years.
Other words making this year's list include "skill set," "foodie," "curate," "friend-raising," "cra-cra," "enhanced interrogation," "takeaway," and "nation" used as a suffix by sports fans.
