In keeping with our Banned Books issues, our featured words are related to censorship. Despite their subtle differences in meaning, if you apply the duck test, it’s still censorship. One of the best ways to protect our freedoms is to expand our vocabularies, so we can understand these subtle differences.

“There are lots of would-be censors out there, and although they may have different agendas, they all want basically the same thing: for you to see the world they see… or to at least shut up about what you do see that’s different. They are agents of the status quo, not necessarily bad guys, but dangerous guys if you happen to believe in intellectual freedom.” Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft 

Interdiction is the act of forbidding or prohibiting something.

Bowdlerization is the act of deleting or modifying written passages that have been deemed inappropriate or indecent.  Thomas Bowdler was an English physician known for publishing The Family Shakespeare, a version of the bard’s word that had been edited by Bowdler’s sister Henrietta with the goal of making them more appropriate for 19th century proper ladies and children to enjoy.

Proscription is the act of forbidding or prohibiting something, to condemn or forbid as harmful or unlawful.

Abrogation is the repeal or abolition of a law, right, or agreement. Many writers argue that censorship is an abrogation of their First Amendment right to free speech.

Impermissible means too bad to be allowed. People often attempt to censor works because they disapprove of the ideas being presented or the actions of the people discussed.

Expurgation means to cleanse something that is morally harmful, offensive, or erroneous.

Blue pencil is a term used to describe editing or making cuts in a manuscript, movie, or other work. Censors often blue pencil works by removing passages they deem offensive.

Conspiracy of silence is an expression to describe the behavior of a group of people of any size who by general unspoken consensus don’t discuss, mention, or acknowledge a certain subject(s). Censorship can occur because a group refuses to acknowledge the existence of people represented in written works or society who are not like them.

Quashing refers to the rejection or voiding of something, to suppress or extinguish summarily and completely. Censorship attempts to quash new ideas or suppress truths that may offend some people.

Quelling is putting an end to something, subduing, or silencing someone, often with the use or force or political power.