The Political Correctness Debate

The debate about political correctness (PC) is one of the most heated and politically charged language discourses. It concerns the question of whether language can and should be deliberately changed to avoid offending or marginalising particular social groups, and whether such changes represent progress or censorship.

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What Is Political Correctness?

Political correctness is the practice of choosing language that avoids offending, excluding, or marginalising groups of people based on characteristics such as race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, or age. Politically correct language replaces terms considered offensive or outdated with terms considered more respectful and inclusive.

Key Definition: Political correctness — the practice of choosing language that avoids causing offence to or disadvantaging members of particular social groups, typically by replacing terms considered offensive or exclusionary with more respectful alternatives.

Examples of Politically Correct Language Change