# Is "niggardly" an acceptable word for a 4th grade teacher to use? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 4, 2002, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-niggardly-an-acceptable-word-for-a-4th-grade-teacher-to-use/126968 "2002-09-04T15:45:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-niggardly-an-acceptable-word-for-a-4th-grade-teacher-to-use/126968/221 "2012-12-30T20:09:16Z")
I thought I commented about this in 2002, and was looking forward to reading my reply, but it appears I didn’t. I’m sure that my views are different now then then. IMHO It’s not OK to use such a word unless circumstances brought it up outside her control, such as a student used it and she needed to talk about it because of that. This a a great example where one may be technically right, technically there is no wrong in that word, but morally that word is too close and the students too young to understand how much hurt such a reference by association can be, and to release young students with such a word on their lips that they now feel is OK and adult sanctioned to use that can cut people so deeply is wrong (again IMHO). ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-niggardly-an-acceptable-word-for-a-4th-grade-teacher-to-use/126968/222 "2012-12-30T22:28:57Z")
My first thought: Not in ten years, since there was that big stink about a teacher that used it… oh. Never mind. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-niggardly-an-acceptable-word-for-a-4th-grade-teacher-to-use/126968/223 "2012-12-30T23:15:43Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > I thought I commented about this in 2002, and was looking forward to reading my reply, but it appears I didn’t. I’m sure that my views are different now then then. > > IMHO It’s not OK to use such a word unless circumstances brought it up outside her control, such as a student used it and she needed to talk about it because of that. > > This a a great example where one may be technically right, technically there is no wrong in that word, but morally that word is too close and the students too young to understand how much hurt such a reference by association can be, and to release young students with such a word on their lips that they now feel is OK and adult sanctioned to use that can cut people so deeply is wrong (again IMHO). “Such a word”? Can you list other “such” words that fall under your prohibition? If anything, we should promote using more of “such words,” being sure that the audience is made aware of the spelling, the pronunciation, and the meaning. Otherwise, we doom ourselves to going through the same ridiculous hoops every time someone who is not sufficiently educated decides to take umbrage and we find ourselves treading on tiptoe whenever “such words” show up in conversation. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-niggardly-an-acceptable-word-for-a-4th-grade-teacher-to-use/126968/224 "2012-12-30T23:53:38Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > Can you list other “such” words that fall under your prohibition? Speck? Kook? Chunk? Whoop? I don’t want to offend anybody, after all. ---
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-niggardly-an-acceptable-word-for-a-4th-grade-teacher-to-use/126968/225 "2012-12-31T03:57:53Z")
I generally use stingy instead of niggardly but I do use niggard as its the best word to describe someone who always tries to minimise what they pay. The alternatives are worse “ **Tightarse** ” is bad because it may be misconstrued as homophobic or sexist. “ **Jew** ” is bad because it perpetuates stereotypes. “ **Cheapskate** ” has connotations of always trying to buy the cheapest low quality thing, not on trying to minimise the cost of high-quality things. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-niggardly-an-acceptable-word-for-a-4th-grade-teacher-to-use/126968/226 "2012-12-31T04:30:02Z")
I’m having a hard time with the concept that there are words that Teachers Should Not Use because they sound like other words that would be offensive to some people. As Magneto put it: “I thought you lived in a school…” Yes, I know, Faraday cage, he was wrong. SHUT UP. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Zagna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@El\_Zagna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Zagna)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-niggardly-an-acceptable-word-for-a-4th-grade-teacher-to-use/126968/227 "2012-12-31T05:18:41Z")
Then there are the countries that you should never mention like Nicaragua. And Niger. I don’t care how you pronounce it, the spelling is too close for comfort. ---
**Author:** ![denquixote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@denquixote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/denquixote)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-niggardly-an-acceptable-word-for-a-4th-grade-teacher-to-use/126968/228 "2012-12-31T06:55:06Z")
I sure hope none of those teachers is a stamp collector. If one of the parents finds out s/he is a philatelist all hell might break loose. And it would do no good to say that FDR was a fan of philately, that would just make it worse. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-niggardly-an-acceptable-word-for-a-4th-grade-teacher-to-use/126968/229 "2012-12-31T13:13:53Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > I thought I commented about this in 2002, and was looking forward to reading my reply, but it appears I didn’t. I’m sure that my views are different now then then. > > IMHO It’s not OK to use such a word unless circumstances brought it up outside her control, such as a student used it and she needed to talk about it because of that. > > This a a great example where one may be technically right, technically there is no wrong in that word, but morally that word is too close and the students too young to understand how much hurt such a reference by association can be, and to release young students with such a word on their lips that they now feel is OK and adult sanctioned to use that can cut people so deeply is wrong (again IMHO). Is it true that your father was a chronic masticator, and that your mother was a thespian in college? ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-niggardly-an-acceptable-word-for-a-4th-grade-teacher-to-use/126968/230 "2012-12-31T14:47:53Z")
I don’t use that word because there are other words that mean the same thing, and it does have a “bad word” undertone. Same with snigger. And I get really upset when people use the word “gyp.” ---
**Author:** ![HookerChemical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/278dde/32.png) [@HookerChemical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HookerChemical)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-niggardly-an-acceptable-word-for-a-4th-grade-teacher-to-use/126968/231 "2012-12-31T18:32:06Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > I don’t use that word because there are other words that mean the same thing, and it does have a “bad word” undertone. Same with snigger. > > And I get really upset when people use the word “gyp.” This thread’s discussion is very similar to one I’ve had with my wife. She teaches a foreign language, which makes homophones and “bad words” even more interesting. Annie summarized my thoughts. Just because it sounds like something bad doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use it. I’ll add the caveat that that only applies if the origin isn’t the same. Since “gyp” is (probably) derived from “gypsy” and perpetuates a stereotype, I request that people consider that origin and meaning when I hear them use it. I see little difference between “That shady salesman jewed me,” and “That shady salesman gypped me.” The first would be considered anti-Semitic by most people. The meaning and orgin of the second are very similar. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2013, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-niggardly-an-acceptable-word-for-a-4th-grade-teacher-to-use/126968/232 "2013-01-01T02:36:40Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > I don’t use that word because there are other words that mean the same thing, and it does have a “bad word” undertone. Same with snigger. > > And I get really upset when people use the word “gyp.” The difference being that gyp is an actual slur, both etymologically and as it is used. Neither niggard nor snigger have any connection to any ethnic slurs beyond a couple of phonemes or the letters that identify them. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2013, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-niggardly-an-acceptable-word-for-a-4th-grade-teacher-to-use/126968/233 "2013-01-01T06:43:00Z")
Dang, I used to be a lot calmer in Great Debates. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2013, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-niggardly-an-acceptable-word-for-a-4th-grade-teacher-to-use/126968/234 "2013-01-01T20:55:42Z")
So because ignorant, stupid people , take offence at a word, because they’re ignorant stupid people and don’t understand its meaning or its origins, everyone else has to tiptoe around them to save offending them ? No sorry P.C. is bad enough without also having to cater to morons who don’t even understand basic words. And yes the word is basic, its not unusual, its not esoteric, its not foreign, its not exotic. Its basic English, no more no less. Are we going to deprive our kids of a decent education in case we offend total fuckwits who should be reading a dictionary instead of getting all hurt and upset, the poor little dears ? And always remember ! Its Chalkboards, not Blackboards. We don’t want to emotionaliy traumatise any fuckwits do we ? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2013, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-niggardly-an-acceptable-word-for-a-4th-grade-teacher-to-use/126968/235 "2013-01-01T21:00:16Z")
> [@Lust4Life](#): > > So because ignorant, stupid people , take offence at a word, because they’re ignorant stupid people and don’t understand its meaning or its origins, everyone else has to tiptoe around them to save offending them ? No. The posts in this thread are mostly made ten years ago. Surely that’s adequate time for you to read them. ---
**Author:** ![Anduril](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c0e974/32.png) [@Anduril](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anduril)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2013, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-niggardly-an-acceptable-word-for-a-4th-grade-teacher-to-use/126968/236 "2013-01-01T22:01:38Z")
If people are bothered by the word because they misunderstand, surely the best thing to do is to educate them. If they are bothered by the word simply because its pronunciation is too close for comfort to the “N” word, then we can all help them by correcting them that they are in the wrong for being bothered by it because the words are utterly distinct. In other words, I’m all for correcting the person that needs correcting. Is the person using the word “niggardly” to needle African Americans? Then, we should censure that person. Is someone complaing over another person’s legitimate use of the word “niggardly”? Then we should correct that person. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2013, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-niggardly-an-acceptable-word-for-a-4th-grade-teacher-to-use/126968/237 "2013-01-01T23:26:02Z")
> [@Lust4Life](#): > > And always remember ! > > Its Chalkboards, not Blackboards. This is just silly. It is “chalkboard” because there has not been a black one built in decades. (Even when I was in school–a ve-e-e-r-r-ry long time ago–they were green glass rather than black slate.) Once more, the energy expended to decry “political correctness” would be better spent fighting the ignorance of those who decry “political correctness,” instead. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-niggardly-an-acceptable-word-for-a-4th-grade-teacher-to-use/126968/238 "2013-01-02T00:58:30Z")
> [@Anduril](#): > > If they are bothered by the word simply because its pronunciation is too close for comfort to the “N” word, then we can all help them by correcting them that they are in the wrong for being bothered by it because the words are utterly distinct. How is that correcting them? In other words, how is that person incorrect? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-niggardly-an-acceptable-word-for-a-4th-grade-teacher-to-use/126968/239 "2013-01-02T01:01:28Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > How is that correcting them? In other words, how is that person incorrect? If that person believes that I’m saying “nigger” when I say “niggardly”, that person is incorrect. If that person believes people shouldn’t say “niggardly” because people might think they’re saying “nigger”, that person is also incorrect. And if that person believes that “niggardly” means “like a nigger,” then that person is staggeringly incorrect. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-niggardly-an-acceptable-word-for-a-4th-grade-teacher-to-use/126968/240 "2013-01-02T01:38:45Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > If that person believes that I’m saying “nigger” when I say “niggardly”, that person is incorrect. If that person believes people shouldn’t say “niggardly” because people might think they’re saying “nigger”, that person is also incorrect. And if that person believes that “niggardly” means “like a nigger,” then that person is staggeringly incorrect. Read what I quoted. That’s not any of these examples. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-niggardly-an-acceptable-word-for-a-4th-grade-teacher-to-use/126968.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-niggardly-an-acceptable-word-for-a-4th-grade-teacher-to-use/126968.md?page=13)