--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's very easy, when things like the gay…" description: "\"It's very easy, when things like the gay marriage write-in happen, to get sick of how people view language and say, \"ah, come on it's just a dictionary..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ff/kory-stamper-11455_children_it-s-very-easy-when-things-like-the-gay_1310549.jpg" --- # It's very easy, when things like the gay marriage write-in… ![“It's very easy, when things like the gay marriage write-in happen, to get sick of how people view language and say, "ah, come on it's just a dictionary." But then you hear from people who say if you take out "retarded" it won't exist anymore, and there will be no slurs for people to call my child…” quote by Kory Stamper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ff/kory-stamper-11455_children_it-s-very-easy-when-things-like-the-gay_1310549.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ff/kory-stamper-11455_children_it-s-very-easy-when-things-like-the-gay_1310549.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ff/kory-stamper-11455_children_it-s-very-easy-when-things-like-the-gay_1310549.jpg) > “It's very easy, when things like the gay marriage write-in happen, to get sick of how people view language and say, "ah, come on it's just a dictionary." But then you hear from people who say if you take out "retarded" it won't exist anymore, and there will be no slurs for people to call my child. And that's just heartrending.” [Kory Stamper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kory-stamper/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Language evolves with usage; removing words doesn’t erase concepts, it changes how we discuss them. **In simple terms:** Words change meaning over time. Key Takeaway Focus on intent, not just terminology. Themes language social norms politics Mood reflective critical Type analytical commentary When to use this quote - education - parenting - media commentary - policy debates Key Concepts semantic shift political correctness Questions to Reflect On - How does language shape thought? - Can we change attitudes without changing words? A Different Perspective Simply deleting words may not address underlying biases. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anymore Slurs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anymore-slurs-4334245/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Dictionary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictionary/) [Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Gay marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay-marriage/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [My children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-children/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Retarded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retarded/) [Say Retarded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-retarded-3822387/) [Sick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sick/) [Slurs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slurs/) [Slurs People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slurs-people-4334244/) ## Related quotes > [My sister is also retarded. Across the board. She's a one hundred per cent, honest to goodness, born that way retard. I learned a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-mcfarlane/my-sister-is-also-retarded-across-the-board-she-s-a-one-hundred-per/) [Bonnie McFarlane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-mcfarlane/) > [With "marriage," the word gets applied to same-sex marriages by proponents and opponents alike. That means the word itself is changing, and we reflect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kory-stamper/with-marriage-the-word-gets-applied-to-same-sex-marriages-by/) [Kory Stamper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kory-stamper/) > [Back in the 19th century, our marketing folks decided to play up the refined usage angle because prescriptivism was very popular: our dictionary is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kory-stamper/back-in-the-19th-century-our-marketing-folks-decided-to-play-up-the/) [Kory Stamper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kory-stamper/) > [It's difficult to sit down and write a letter back saying, "you know what, even if we remove the word from the dictionary, people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kory-stamper/it-s-difficult-to-sit-down-and-write-a-letter-back-saying-you-know/) [Kory Stamper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kory-stamper/) > [There's a measure of prescriptivism and descriptivism in every dictionary. Prescriptivism believes that the language should mirror the best practices of English, and editors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kory-stamper/there-s-a-measure-of-prescriptivism-and-descriptivism-in-every/) [Kory Stamper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kory-stamper/) > [Words have always been political, and that means that, in many people's minds, dictionaries are political. Because that's what dictionaries do: they do words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kory-stamper/words-have-always-been-political-and-that-means-that-in-many-people-s/) [Kory Stamper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kory-stamper/) > [A lot of people thought oh, we caught the dictionary in racism, or all it takes is a whole bunch of people saying that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kory-stamper/a-lot-of-people-thought-oh-we-caught-the-dictionary-in-racism-or-all/) [Kory Stamper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kory-stamper/) > [“It is best, in fact, to assume that every verbal illustration you write will offend someone, somewhere, at some point.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kory-stamper/it-is-best-in-fact-to-assume-that-every-verbal-illustration-you-write/) [Kory Stamper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kory-stamper/) > [“Certainly, it is important to be polite, and nobody should think that using racial or ethnic slurs is acceptable. But political correctness has morphed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/certainly-it-is-important-to-be-polite-and-nobody-should-think-that/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [“You know, one of these days, I'm actually going to take offense if people keep throwing out these slurs. And then things are going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/you-know-one-of-these-days-i-m-actually-going-to-take-offense-if/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [Remember that time slurs over everything, let all deeds fade, blurs all writings and kills all memories. Exempt are only those which dig into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/remember-that-time-slurs-over-everything-let-all-deeds-fade-blurs-all/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Refrain from excessive use of abusive language and racial slurs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/refrain-from-excessive-use-of-abusive-language-and-racial-slurs/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Its almost Thanksgiving! A day when you get to hear your extended family use racial slurs for groups are not taking away their jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-kirkman/its-almost-thanksgiving-a-day-when-you-get-to-hear-your-extended/) [Jen Kirkman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-kirkman/) > [Fury is an entirely appropriate response to a system that sends young people to kill other young people in a war that never should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/fury-is-an-entirely-appropriate-response-to-a-system-that-sends-young/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [If you bury your face in your tear-stained pillow and beg God to please send you your soul mate, may you not slur your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brezsny/if-you-bury-your-face-in-your-tear-stained-pillow-and-beg-god-to/) [Rob Brezsny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brezsny/) ## More by Kory Stamper > [“Under ordinary circumstances, we learn to speak before we learn to read, and anyone who has tried to learn a foreign language knows that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kory-stamper/under-ordinary-circumstances-we-learn-to-speak-before-we-learn-to/) [Kory Stamper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kory-stamper/) > [“Then Eric talked for half an hour about the Albanian word for”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kory-stamper/then-eric-talked-for-half-an-hour-about-the-albanian-word-for/) [Kory Stamper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kory-stamper/) > [“Like many things that are claimed as Western inventions, grammar was first practiced in the East. According to scholars, there is a rich tradition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kory-stamper/like-many-things-that-are-claimed-as-western-inventions-grammar-was/) [Kory Stamper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kory-stamper/) > [Whenever you try and simplify how people speak, it's just hard to squish them into a simple rule. Language doesn't work that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kory-stamper/whenever-you-try-and-simplify-how-people-speak-it-s-just-hard-to/) [Kory Stamper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kory-stamper/) > [“We think of English as a fortress to be defended, but a better analogy is to think of English as a child. We love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kory-stamper/we-think-of-english-as-a-fortress-to-be-defended-but-a-better-analogy/) [Kory Stamper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kory-stamper/) > [“It is best, in fact, to assume that every verbal illustration you write will offend someone, somewhere, at some point.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kory-stamper/it-is-best-in-fact-to-assume-that-every-verbal-illustration-you-write/) [Kory Stamper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kory-stamper/) > [“It wasn’t story (good or bad) that pulled me in; it was English itself, the way it felt in my braces-caged mouth and rattled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kory-stamper/it-wasn-t-story-good-or-bad-that-pulled-me-in-it-was-english-itself/) [Kory Stamper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kory-stamper/) > [“Removing racial slurs from the dictionary will not eliminate racism; removing “injustice” from the dictionary will not bring about justice. If it were really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kory-stamper/removing-racial-slurs-from-the-dictionary-will-not-eliminate-racism/) [Kory Stamper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kory-stamper/) > [What makes autocorrect really interesting for a lexicographer is we read in a very weird way. A lot of times we'll catch things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kory-stamper/what-makes-autocorrect-really-interesting-for-a-lexicographer-is-we/) [Kory Stamper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kory-stamper/) > [I make the case in the book that Standard English, that language we all aspire to live and move and have our being within,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kory-stamper/i-make-the-case-in-the-book-that-standard-english-that-language-we/) [Kory Stamper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kory-stamper/) > [“bor·bo·ryg·mus \\ˌbȯr-bə-ˈrig-məs\\ n, pl bor·bo·ryg·mi \\-ˌmī\\ : intestinal rumbling caused by moving gas (MWC11)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kory-stamper/bor-bo-ryg-mus-bo-r-b-rig-m-s-n-pl-bor-bo-ryg-mi-m-intestinal/) [Kory Stamper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kory-stamper/) > [“Person, Place, Thing (Noun); Describes Action (Verb); Modifies Nouns (Adjective); Answers the W Questions (Adverb); Joins Words Together (Conjunction); Things We Say When We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kory-stamper/person-place-thing-noun-describes-action-verb-modifies-nouns/) [Kory Stamper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kory-stamper/) > [A lot of people thought oh, we caught the dictionary in racism, or all it takes is a whole bunch of people saying that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kory-stamper/a-lot-of-people-thought-oh-we-caught-the-dictionary-in-racism-or-all/) [Kory Stamper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kory-stamper/) > [Words have always been political, and that means that, in many people's minds, dictionaries are political. Because that's what dictionaries do: they do words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kory-stamper/words-have-always-been-political-and-that-means-that-in-many-people-s/) [Kory Stamper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kory-stamper/) > [“It’s not all “molly” and “asshat.” The etymologies of some words are, for the lexicographer and average joe alike, boring.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kory-stamper/it-s-not-all-molly-and-asshat-the-etymologies-of-some-words-are-for/) [Kory Stamper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kory-stamper/) [Explore all 60 Kory Stamper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kory-stamper/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. 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I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? 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