--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wondered what steps I could take to…" description: "\"“I wondered what steps I could take to remove the word ‘moisture’ or even ‘moist’ from the English language; I really hated the way it sounded and alwa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/penny-reid-1063_english-language_i-wondered-what-steps-i-could-take-to-re_1884027.jpg" --- # I wondered what steps I could take to remove the word… ![“I wondered what steps I could take to remove the word ‘moisture’ or even ‘moist’ from the English language; I really hated the way it sounded and always went out of my way to avoid saying it. I also really didn’t like the word slacks” quote by Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/penny-reid-1063_english-language_i-wondered-what-steps-i-could-take-to-re_1884027.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/penny-reid-1063_english-language_i-wondered-what-steps-i-could-take-to-re_1884027.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/penny-reid-1063_english-language_i-wondered-what-steps-i-could-take-to-re_1884027.jpg) > ““I wondered what steps I could take to remove the word ‘moisture’ or even ‘moist’ from the English language; I really hated the way it sounded and always went out of my way to avoid saying it. I also really didn’t like the word slacks”” [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Discomfort with certain words can drive personal linguistic preferences, reflecting deeper aesthetic sensitivities. **In simple terms:** Avoid words you dislike. Key Takeaway Choose language that feels comfortable. Themes language personal preference aesthetics Mood irritated reflective Type personal observational When to use this quote - writing - public speaking - social interactions Key Concepts semantic aversion linguistic habits Questions to Reflect On - Which words trigger discomfort for you? - How can you express the same idea without them? A Different Perspective Avoiding words may limit expressive richness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Avoid Saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avoid-saying-1180108/) [English language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/english-language/) [Moist English](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moist-english-2679814/) [Remove Word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remove-word-1531759/) [Word Moisture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/word-moisture-2679813/) [Word Slacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/word-slacks-2679815/) ## Related quotes > [People often ask me, "What's the difference between couplehood and babyhood?" In a word? Moisture. Everything in my life is now more moist. Between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-reiser/people-often-ask-me-what-s-the-difference-between-couplehood-and/) [Paul Reiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-reiser/) > [Do you know what happens when you simply remove the 't from the word Can't? Once you figure it out, do it; because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/do-you-know-what-happens-when-you-simply-remove-the-t-from-the-word/) [Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/) > [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/) > [When I was very young, I would occasionally stick 'f\*\*\*\*' where I knew something contentious might happen so that the editor could remove the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/when-i-was-very-young-i-would-occasionally-stick-f-where-i-knew/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Every scientist should remove the word 'impossible' from their lexicon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/every-scientist-should-remove-the-word-impossible-from-their-lexicon/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [I try to avoid saying anything positive about any presidential candidate for fear that if I actually like them then I will kill their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/i-try-to-avoid-saying-anything-positive-about-any-presidential/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [Where do I really belong? I avoid saying everywhere - which switches all too easily to nowhere. Instead, when pressed, I call myself a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benoit-mandelbrot/where-do-i-really-belong-i-avoid-saying-everywhere-which-switches-all/) [Benoit Mandelbrot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benoit-mandelbrot/) > [There are some things people avoid saying in interviews because they sound pompous or sentimental or too mystical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-walcott/there-are-some-things-people-avoid-saying-in-interviews-because-they/) [Derek Walcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-walcott/) > [“-I hate that. I hate that people can't just say what they mean. -You don't. Not always. -I never say anything I don't mean.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-dorst/i-hate-that-i-hate-that-people-can-t-just-say-what-they-mean-you-don/) [Doug Dorst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-dorst/) > [The single and most dangerous word to be spoken in business is no. The second most dangerous word is yes. It is possible to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-wyse/the-single-and-most-dangerous-word-to-be-spoken-in-business-is-no-the/) [Lois Wyse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-wyse/) > [“One way to appreciate people is to avoid saying and or doing things that will hurt them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faithful-akpaloo/one-way-to-appreciate-people-is-to-avoid-saying-and-or-doing-things/) [Faithful Akpaloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faithful-akpaloo/) > [I try to avoid saying 'fantastic' too often and 'obviously' is a dangerous word for all broadcasters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-lineker/i-try-to-avoid-saying-fantastic-too-often-and-obviously-is-a/) [Gary Lineker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-lineker/) > [“Criticism is something you can easily avoid by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/criticism-is-something-you-can-easily-avoid-by-saying-nothing-doing/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“I realize that I cannot say enough. So. Since I cannot say enough, at least I will avoid saying to much".”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/i-realize-that-i-cannot-say-enough-so-since-i-cannot-say-enough-at/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I've learned to always avoid saying "always"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-fowler/i-ve-learned-to-always-avoid-saying-always/) [Martin Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-fowler/) ## More by Penny Reid > [“No. Since I first saw you. Since I first laid eyes on you and felt sorry for every beautiful thing that was made no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/no-since-i-first-saw-you-since-i-first-laid-eyes-on-you-and-felt/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“I didn't care about embarrassing myself further. What was one more debit of mortification when my balance sheet was already in the red by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/i-didn-t-care-about-embarrassing-myself-further-what-was-one-more/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“He was the dehydrated horse. He had to drink water himself. He had to want it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/he-was-the-dehydrated-horse-he-had-to-drink-water-himself-he-had-to/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“she’s too quiet about it.” “Isn’t that the point of leading by example?” Kat frowned at her ball of yarn, more of a tangled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/she-s-too-quiet-about-it-isn-t-that-the-point-of-leading-by-example/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“Boy bands are sent by God to aid women of all ages in their quest to avoid reality, but specifically to trick young women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/boy-bands-are-sent-by-god-to-aid-women-of-all-ages-in-their-quest-to/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“Because knowledge is only a cage if you dwell in isolation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/because-knowledge-is-only-a-cage-if-you-dwell-in-isolation/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“Breathless and Wretched, the new fragrance by Calvin Klein.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/breathless-and-wretched-the-new-fragrance-by-calvin-klein/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“Proposing is like giving someone your dick and a sharp knife, then waiting to see what they do next.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/proposing-is-like-giving-someone-your-dick-and-a-sharp-knife-then/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“I felt abruptly as though I’d just been peed on. I didn’t want to be peed on. \*\*\*”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/i-felt-abruptly-as-though-i-d-just-been-peed-on-i-didn-t-want-to-be/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“Why are heroines in romantic novels—despite their cleanliness and enviable lifestyles—so unlikeable? It’s like they’ve been hit with a vanilla ninny stick, devoid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/why-are-heroines-in-romantic-novels-despite-their-cleanliness-and/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“this post-modern individualism is harmful, that we—Western society—have become lazy in our dependencies and relationships. To say, ‘Don’t attempt to love another until you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/this-post-modern-individualism-is-harmful-that-we-western-society/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“You’re a good kisser.” It sounded like an accusation. I shrugged, giving her a satisfied smile. “I practice.” Her gaze sharpened. “Oh?” “Yes. With my pillow. And a watermelon that one time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/you-re-a-good-kisser-it-sounded-like-an-accusation-i-shrugged-giving/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“Why do you look like that, Duane?" "Like what, Cletus?" "Like your heart is diseased.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/why-do-you-look-like-that-duane-like-what-cletus-like-your-heart-is/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“I was planning to sort my comic books based on level of second wave feminist influence.” “As opposed to first wave?” “Yes, well, Susan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/i-was-planning-to-sort-my-comic-books-based-on-level-of-second-wave/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“\*fist bump\* \*high five\* \*bottom pat\* … too far?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/fist-bump-high-five-bottom-pat-too-far/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) [Explore all 296 Penny Reid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) ## More English language quotes > [“Fine’s a funny word, don’t you think? 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Once all the context items are in place, this is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiro-adachi/hear-me-now-or-regret-it-later-everything-you-write-must-be-read/) [Jiro Adachi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiro-adachi/) > [It was Ronald Reagan who used to say that the 10 most frightening words in the English language are, "I'm from the federal government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/it-was-ronald-reagan-who-used-to-say-that-the-10-most-frightening/) [P. J. 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