Words We Can’t Print in D Magazine

Posted on May 23rd, 2012 2:25pm by Tim Rogers
Filed under robletting

Mike, Zac, and I got into a discussion about words that you just can’t print (the words, not the discussion). These aren’t vulgarities. They are perfectly fine words that, for one reason or another, simply don’t work in print. “Facsimileing” got the discussion started. The gerund form of the word looks insane. I think at D Magazine it will always have to be “making a facsimile of something.” Here are the other we (and others) must avoid:

Niggardly. It’s a perfectly fine word and totally unrelated to that other N-word. But it’s essentially the same damn word. Too dangerous.

Whinge. It means nearly the same thing as “whine,” so, in context, readers will think we meant to use “whine,” and that zany “g” will make them think we goofed. Our readers are smart, but I think “whinge” trips up even smart readers.

Pussy. Get your mind out of the gutter. I’m talking about an infection. The problem here, of course, is that studies have shown that 87 percent of Americans have their minds in the gutter.

Lightninging. Mike brought this one up. He claims that if it’s thundering outside, then it should also be lightninging. Mike is insane. This is not a perfectly fine word. We’re not printing it.

14 comments

  1. The letter N can create awkward moments even on your favorite word game show.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMghvnqDhT8&feature=related

    @ 2:32 pm on May 23, 2012

  2. You won’t print “lightninging”? Pussy.

    @ 2:47 pm on May 23, 2012

  3. I consider myself a smart reader, but I get tripped up on “whinge.” (I also get tripped up on pussy.)

    @ 2:56 pm on May 23, 2012

  4. RAB’s comment = win.

    @ 3:48 pm on May 23, 2012

  5. Once disrespect became a verb, there were no more rules. No lightninging when that happened.

    And if you really want to be entertained, listen to the average educated person, for example, the everyday NPR interviewer or interviewee, try to employ a preposition correctly. To golly, it’s hilarious. In fact, just pay attention by your own office mates when they aren’t on their guard.

    @ 3:51 pm on May 23, 2012

  6. This morning, I typed “reimagining” into a tweet about the new Gatsby flick and didn’t like the look of it.

    @ 3:59 pm on May 23, 2012

  7. By the way, nothing preserves and reinforces the positive functional utility of the N-word like referring to it coyly as “the N-word”. The word “n*gg*r would have withered into ridiculous obsolescence decades ago were it not for our dedicated preservationists.

    @ 4:08 pm on May 23, 2012

  8. many moons ago, an unfortunate restaurant reviewer at the DMN described a portion at a restaurant as niggardly, and the chef happened to be black. much hand-wringing ensued and niggardly was struck from the list of acceptable words

    @ 4:11 pm on May 23, 2012

  9. I find “pussy” to be a far more cringe-inducing word than “pussy”. Really. Ex: a pussy sore. It’s just gross.

    @ 4:33 pm on May 23, 2012

  10. Whinge is thrown around significantly less niggardly on the otherside of the pond.

    @ 4:50 pm on May 23, 2012

  11. What about skinflint? Is that off limits too?

    @ 7:10 pm on May 23, 2012

  12. I’m gobsmacked

    @ 10:27 pm on May 23, 2012

  13. Mastication?

    @ 10:38 pm on May 23, 2012

  14. Don’t lie … Steve Blow dropped by the office for a roundtable yesterday afternoon.

    @ 9:12 am on May 24, 2012