Words don’t have to be this blatantly offensive to cause offense. Watching what you say isn’t as easy — or even as all-fire important

By Scott Swedenburg

Was it the right decision? I don’t know for sure since we took a presumably safer route and never tested teaser copy with that word. Are there other words that you avoid because of a bad experience in the past or in anticipation of a problem?

The words we use in politics, sports, media and religion all are becoming harder and more offensive. But at the same time, the reading public seemingly is becoming more sensitive. A lot of us aren’t sure what to say anymore for fear of offending one group or another — liberal or conservative, black or white, male or female, gay or straight, Christian or Jew or Muslim.