Cleaning Quote by E. B. White
“Dentistry is more impressive in town-what the rural man calls cleaning the teeth is called "prophylaxis" in New York.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The New York Times Book Review", 1947
The quote contrasts sophisticated dental terminology in urban settings with plain language used in rural areas, highlighting cultural and linguistic differences.
In simple terms: Urban dental terms sound fancy compared to rural plain speech.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how language reflects social context.
Themes
language
culture
communication
Mood
reflective
observational
Type
analytical
observational
When to use this quote
- urban dental clinics
- rural health education
- public health messaging
Key Concepts
sociolinguistics
professional jargon
Questions to Reflect On
- How does professional jargon affect patient trust?
- What are other examples of urban‑rural language gaps?
A Different Perspective
The quote may oversimplify rural speech and ignore regional variations.
![“I don't know that Brandy [Burre] would ever categorize herself as being trapped, but I felt like I saw her being trapped. When she's cleaning the room and she puts the labels on the toys, that was something that my wife, who's also friends with Brandy, was very adamant that we try to capture. My…” quote by Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/222/robert-greene-498_adamant_i-don-t-know-that-brandy-burre-would-eve_70659.jpg)
![“Any small business owner wears many hats. We [New View Window Cleaning] are the salesman, bookkeeper, scheduler, cleaner, customer complaint department, etc. If you aren't organized and willing to do all these things (at least in the beginning) you are better off working for someone.” quote by Tony Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/afd/tony-evans-1635_better-off_any-small-business-owner-wears-many-hats_78297.jpg)
