<p>I want to use the word “■■■■■■■■” in my essay, but not in the mentally ■■■■■■■■ meaning, if you know what I mean. As in like…“That’s ■■■■■■■■.” It’s going to be in a quote from an actual conversation I had with someone. Would the readers find this offensive?</p>
<p>Haha sorry for such a bizarre question but I wanted some thoughts…</p>
<p>Depends on the context. You need to ask this question of someone who is reading your essay. Do you have such a person? Some of the parents on the Parent Forum review essays, if asked.</p>
<p>Hmmm… Would it be tastefully used? The rule of thumb is pretty much that you can say what you want, as long as it’s quoting something, but you don’t want to be offensive either. For a completely random example, if you were talking about how you grew up in a racist community, yet you somehow managed to become worldly and love all cultures, and you wanted to include the n-word in a conversation that you had, that would be a no-no. If the reader was black, they could be offended. In the same token, you wouldn’t write “He said, ‘I’m not a fan of African Americans.’” either. You’d compromise and write, “He said, ‘I don’t like blacks.’” Do you get what I’m saying? </p>
<p>So unless it’s an integral part of your essay, I’d change it with a more politically correct synonym that still gets your point across, such as “stupid,” “dumb,” or “idiotic.” </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Well, I was actually going to use the term to self-deprecate, haha… I want to show some humility but I don’t want the word “■■■■■■■■” to seem like I am making fun of the mentally challenged… I would only be making fun of myself</p>
<p>I would not make fun of anyone using “■■■■■■■■”.</p>
<p>It could work if used to reveal the character of the person being quoted, assuming that the person being quoted is not you.</p>
<p>Be careful that you keep the focus of your essay on you. Don’t get sidetracked onto someone else.</p>
<p>This question is ridiculous… not only because of the idea of using slang in a formal essay, but for the fact of it’s highly offensive, ignorant connotation.</p>
<p>If you have to ask the question, the answer is “yes”. Don’t use it - you never know who’s going to be reading your essay.</p>
<p>I’ll be glad to read it and give you feed back</p>
<p>College admissions people don’t mind teen slang if that’s how you express yourself, but “■■■■■■■■” is WAY over the line if it’s not in the “mentally handicapped” category. </p>
<p>As others have said: If you have to ask, the answer is definitely no. Even if you’re trying to impress that you’re not a robot and that you are a unique person to admissions, ■■■■■■■■ is a BAD word to do it with.</p>